Andrewmackembailey
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[quote quote=151544]Just an observation on the new frontage of the Guildhall it would appear to be open ended.
In the statement by the Leader of the Council, he states that the frontage will reduce anti social behaviour and increase security of the building.
My questions are 1. How does this frontage reduce anti social behaviour. 2. How does an open ended frontage increase the security of the building and staff.
I would suggest that at a time of fiscal difficulties and cuts in services perhaps this is the wrong time to spend the reported £11,000 on a project which appears to be purely a cosmetic job on the frontage of the building.[/quoteNow now pierce the council raised more than £11k in the budget consultation estimating £15k from charging for extra green bins. Rubbish for rubbish and it is us that are GREEN!
sorry to spoil your fun but can report the defibrillator is back in place – a case of “ crossed wires” – no pun meant of course.
Don’t expect me to go into details and matter of lesson learned but security is now in place.As ( the other ) Andrew makes clear the phone box is a Community Council initiative so it is the 14 members that “ are being effective.”
P.S. – I declare ( a partial ) interest.As we don’t want to add to “ the traffic problems “ in benighted Llay – does that mean we can keep our doctors surgery in Gresford.
Hi Council Watcher- as you say the cut to the bus subsidy in 2013-4 was indeed made and I acknowledge that. It was ,to my memory ,passed without protest by the whole council,including David Bithell’s Independent group , and any amendments such as cuts to the mayoralty did not include this item. I would further point out that the current Lead member for the Environment has had 4 subsequent budget rounds as either Deputy Leader or Lead Member to reverse this in whole or part but has neglected to do so.
As you say fewer people use certain bus routes and one factor may be the deteriorating town centre but as part of Labour leading Councils 1996-2005 and ( briefly) May 2012-September 2014 a few steps were taken . A new bus station in the early years ,replacing a series of stand that had festered for aeons, new inner and outer link roads, the start of the Western gateway and the development of the new Asda site and Eagles Meadow to replace this.
In my opinion there are many factors for town centre deterioration,not unique to Wrexham- internet shopping – the world wide crash – the current Uk government’s solution for this of increased austerity ( if you have not got the money you can’t ( or shouldn’t) spend it.) However one Local factor that certainly does not help is the downgrading of Wrexham’s Economic Development department in the past few years.Gresford now run their own “ independent “ library and regularly get books donated to sell on to others as a way of fundraising. You can drop them off to the library – on Vicarage Lane – just above the Plough- during opening hours ( Tuesday 2-5 pm ) ( Wednesday 2-5 pm ) ( Friday 9-5 pm or ( Saturday 10-1.0 pm ) .
[quote quote=144449]
No one could ever accuse Gresford’s Andrew Atkinson of being camera shy, I will bet all comers he will be snapped at the reopening of McDonald, Pappa John’s, and the proposed new coffee shop within the same building. For those unfamiliar with this self publicising individual, fear not, local publications will be clattered in his photo over the coming months, Ty Pawb opening, Techniquest launch, King Street bus station refurb, local scout groups that raise anything over a quid, all the low hanging fruit, all you could ever NOT want in a local politician.
Yes because you never see our MP or AM snatching any photo opportunity they get?
He’s obviously got under the skin of Labour in Wrexham. Reading these infantile posts i’ve come up with a brilliant idea, lets have a men only council with a minimum age of 75, you know like it used to be under Labour. Whatever you do, do NOT have young people from various trades on the council as this could upset the old boys club that used to exist.[/quote]
Dick – check your history. The last time Laboour had an overall majority on the council was in the first few years of WCBC and > 1/3 of our group was female and in those days I was < 50 – never mind 75. And the only female leader of WCBC was a Labour member .
NOW the HARD work begins having to promote Young People’s services ,when virtually all youth clubs have gone and to promote Anti Poverty when most of us can point out where the pressure comes from. However recognition,if not congratulations from the FIRST Gresford councillor to be on Wrexham’s Executive Board ( 1999-2004) and ( September 2014-May 2015 sic)
Somehow my full text got lost so I will add two points.
The listing was done post Assembly elections so they were in “ the rear view mirror.”
Secondly the mass of the neglect of the “ empty Graves” fell under the non-Labour alliance (2005-2012) hence the incoming minority administration taking the steps we did to address this situation . It is to their eternal shame that some of my 2012 “ colleagues “ reneged on their 2012 contract with their electorate in this ( and many other ) respects.
[quote quote=143507]Dear Mr Bailey, if I can recall when Mr Skates got involved with the listing of the Groves it could have been misconstrued he was supporting the listing of the building due to the fact the assembly elections were on the horizon. This was evident when Carwyn and lesley Griffiths joined in at the protest in order bail him out of the mess he dug himself into.The result a derelict building costing all the taxpayers in the county borough and then you have the ordasity to blame the council shame on you.the blame is clearly on labours and plaid’s doorstep.[/quote]
One trouble with your scenario Derek is that the application to list came AFTER the 2016 Assembly elections so if “ the elections were on the ) it was a recognition of this that led the Labour group elected in 2012 to initiate discussions with Coleg Cambria to make a positive use of the building. If it is my audacity ( sic ) to point out that the Tory- Independent led executive board in November 2014 pulled the plug on that strategy it is ,unfortunately for your argument , a matter of fact. As to Plaid winning the fight in the Council on this I am perplexed as to how their 2 members of the council ( out of 52 ) managed to do this ,especially as neither had great attendance in the last year of the previous Council !
