A future for Rhosddu Vicarage

The old Rhosddu vicarage, aka Centre 67

by Councillor Marc Jones

In January, Wrexham Council’s Executive Board voted behind closed doors to demolish Rhosddu’s old vicarage.

 The decision was taken without any discussion with the local community or local councillor. The only option on the table was demolition, despite previous interest in purchasing the building for employment or turning it into apartments.

 Underlying the secret decision was a wider plan to develop the site behind - currently occupied by the council's adult social services department. The long-term intention is to vacate the site.

 As your local councillor, I'm very keen to see this wider site developed for council housing to meet the demand we have in the area. There are too many young families living in overcrowded or unsuitable accommodation who want to stay local due to work and family connections. There are 488 people on Wrexham's waiting list who have listed Rhosddu as an area they want to live in.

 I think that redevelopment can be done for the benefit of Rhosddu and also retain this important building. It's been empty for 15 years - far too long - despite offers on the building going back at least 6 years. Despite this, it's watertight and in relatively good condition.

As far as I can see, there are four options on the building:

1. Sell it to an interested party to bring it back into use (with a clause forbidding demolition)
2. Develop it for community use (a local community group could be able to access funds)
3. Incorporate it into any housing development (there are challenges in terms of costs with this)
4. If none of the above options work, demolition.

Keeping it empty for even longer is not an option, especially as the old Printworks on the other side of St James' Church has been lying idle under private ownership for a similar amount of time. 

 Now that this matter is out in the open, I'd like the community to have their say and for anyone with an interest in purchasing the building to come forward. 

 The threat of demolition still hangs over the building because the Executive Board decision still stands but assurances have been given that nothing imminent is planned. It's up to us as a community to make the case for an alternative or to find a better use for what is a very solid building with a new roof.

Send Wrexham Council a clear message by signing this petition