Abenbury Community Council Prison Concerns

Local residents’ representatives have taken their concerns and opposition to the proposed “Super Prison” to be located on the Wrexham Industrial Estate to the Leader of Wrexham Council.

At a meeting yesterday the Chair and Vice Chair of Abenbury Community Council, together with the Local County Councillor Cllr Michael Morris met Cllr Neil Rogers and Strategic Director Lee Robinson, to set out the concerns of the people of Pentre Maelor who would be living directly under the shadow of the 35 acre, four storey, 1,500 “Super Prison”.

Cllr Ray Squire who lives directly opposite the former Firestone factory site, believed to be the favoured site, said: “Not one local person has said to me that they want this Prison and all are concerned with the environmental, safety and traffic impact that it will have if it goes ahead.

“They are concerned with what effect will such a prison have on house values and insurance costs. We wanted to make sure that the Leader of the Wrexham Council understood the strength of feeling locally against the proposal. We tested him on the Economic benefit assumptions the Council has made and on the reality of there being any jobs for local people, on the potential safety issues and on what plans there will be to deal with all the extra traffic.

“Will the Council be able to, through the Planning process, ensure the visual, noise and light impact is minimised?”

Cllr Eric Williams, Vice Chair said. “We know that we alone will not stop this project but we wanted to make sure Wrexham Council heard clearly that there are real concerns and to ask that Wrexham Council will do everything in it’s power to minimise the impact and maximise the benefits to the residents most directly affected.”

Cllr Michael Morris said: “We are pleased that the Leader took time to hear the arguments and now understands the strength of feeling locally. He has given us an assurance that Abenbury will, in future, be consulted as the scheme is progressed.”

The Leader of Wrexham Council Cllr Neil Rogers responded by saying: “I am pleased with the frank way Abenbury Community Council  have expressed their concerns about the impact on Pentre Maelor .

Whilst recognising the economic benefits this facility brings to Wrexham, it is, however, subject to the Ministry of Justice making their final decision on the location for a prison.  That decision will then be subject to the planning process.  I have given an assurance to Abenbury Community Council that they will be consulted as part of this process.”