Wrexham Business Meeting Cancelled After Row Over Location

A regulation forum for Wrexham and Flintshire businesses has been cancelled after a row broke out over its location.

The meeting organised by both Wrexham and Flintshire councils had been due to take place at the Holiday Inn in Chester on Thursday this week.

However, an angry resident contacted Wrexham Council questioning the decision to hold it over the border and said that they believed it showed a lack of faith in the hotel industry of both counties.

In their response a Wrexham Council official stressed that this was not the case and that the decision to hold the meeting in Chester was “an attempt to maximise attendance”.

Councillor for Gwersyllt West Arfon Jones slammed the authorities’ choice of venue, describing it as “unacceptable”.

He said: “Local firms need all the support they can get at the moment so taking council staff out of the county is unacceptable.

“If this was an event to promote better regulation of local businesses I fail to see how taking them to Chester would assist them.

“If regional trade organisations, and one wonders which region we’re talking about here, find Chester more convenient than a venue in Flintshire or Wrexham, then they need to be persuaded to come to the county and not pandered to.

“A change in mindset is needed among certain officers in both Flintshire and Wrexham to ensure that such a poor decision isn’t repeated.”

The meeting has since been cancelled until both local authorities find a venue in either Wrexham or Flintshire.

Cllr Jones added: “I am pleased the two councils will be rearranging the event at a venue in either Wrexham or Flintshire; this is a victory for common sense.”