Posted: Tue 10th Nov 2015

Wrexham Council to Retain Groves Site & Coleg Cambria Pull Out On Site Takeover Deal

Wrexham.com for people living in or visiting the Wrexham area
This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Nov 10th, 2015

Coleg Cambria have formally withdrawn from negotiations to acquire the Groves site in Wrexham prior to a Council meeting on the topic.

This morning members of Wrexham Council’s Executive Board met to discuss proposals to retain the former Groves School site which was due to be sold off to Coleg Cambria.

The school itself has remained vacant since its closure in 2003, with part of the building demolished back in 2013. At present the site consists of the ‘Grove Park Grammar School For Girls’ building, an area of cleared ground, hard play areas and areas of amenity grassland playing field.

Last year Wrexham.com reported that plans had been put forward by Coleg Cambria to buy the former Groves site and develop a modern education facility, which would have provided the opportunity for the college to provide places for an additional 500 pupils and create ‘broader curriculum activities’.

However last week it was announced  that Wrexham Council were conducting a bat related u-turn and had announced plans to retain the site for the development of a new school.

The decision to retain the site is noted in the Executive Board Report, which states: “The priorities of the Council have changed, with the need to find land for additional school places in Wrexham town centre becoming more important. With this in mind, it is proposed that the Council retains the Groves site for its own use.”

Speaking today Council Leader, Mark Pritchard said: “The council are working on Local Development Plan (2) and the forecast population growth from the Welsh Government shows that the population in Wrexham is likely to grow by over 20,000 between now and 2028. This will increase demand for school places in Wrexham Town Centre, with existing schools already under pressure on restricted sites.

“Since the Council owns the former Groves site, it makes sense to keep it and use it to make a school for future provision.”

However the decision to retain the site was met with some uncertainty, with Cllr Alun Jenkins that the decision could be ‘premature’ and there are risks.

Cllr Pritchard noted that there are ‘always risks on everything’ however it is about how they mitigate the risks and deal with them, adding: “We do have to cater for education provision in the town. I think all elected members know that if we were to work in partnership with the college and sell it,  we would have to look for an alternative site.

“It would be foolish for us now, with LDP 2 (Local Development Plan 2), population growth and demand for education provision, to move forward and sell that site.”

Questions were also raised on how Wrexham Council’s priorities had changed, with Cllr Andrew Bailey stating: “There is a lack of reasoning in this debate as to why we need it. It is a knee jerk reaction, we need a consultation. I’m presuming when you say priorities of council have changed, have the priorities changed in which group?”

Cllr Michael Williams said: “There is bigger demand for primary education than ever before. In order to address that need to increase capacity we are bringing another batch of school alterations to the Executive Board in January to do extensions and increase capacity.

“That can’t go on, eventually we hit a saturation point. We won’t have enough primary schools to meet the demand in the town centre.”

Cllr Pritchard added: “With regards to the growth population would like to remind Andrew of the local development plan and things being said by AMs, MPs, and elected members that we didn’t have any forward thinking or planning.

“We went through planning policy panel which the Labour party endorsed and supported. We went to Full Council which Labour supported the recommendations to support Local Development Plan 1. Went to Executive Board, which the Labour Party supported.

“On occassion I get a little fed up of attacking us for having no vision. We did have vision reason it was thrown out on two areas – gypsy and traveller sites and thant we didn’t identify enough sites and the number of properties we would build in wrexham. That’s why it wasn’t supported by the inspector, but all the way through the process every elected member supported it at scrutiny and the Executive Board.”

Perhaps preempting today’s Executive Board decision, shortly before the item was due to be discussed a statement from Coleg Cambria was issued to Wrexham.com, stating: “At a meeting of Coleg Cambria Governors on Monday 9th November 2015, Board members noted the decision of Wrexham County Borough Council’s proposal to “withdraw from the negotiations to sell the (Groves) site and to retain it for education use”.

“Coleg Cambria respects WCBC’s intention, and it was therefore resolved that the college will withdraw from its plan to purchase the Groves.

“Coleg Cambria has ambitious plans for the development of all of its sites, particularly in Wrexham. The college will now proceed and re-direct its expenditure to multi-million pound major developments and improvements at its Yale Grove Park and Bersham Road sites.

“This will support the college’s aims to provide excellent education and skills training for the people, communities and economy of Wrexham. Coleg Cambria looks forward to working closely and positively with WCBC and other partners in developing these exciting new proposals to support the regeneration of Wrexham.”

Councillors voted unanimously in favour of ceasing negotiations for the disposal of the former Groves School site to Coleg Cambria.



Spotted something? Got a story? Email [email protected]



Have a look at...

Rare newts thriving after north east Wales pond restoration

Plans Submitted to Create Studio Flat Above Wrexham Fast Food Restaurant

Football Banning Order issued to Wrexham man for ‘pyro offences’

Ambulance Service ‘expecting the Bank Holiday period to be a busy one for us’

Reminder to check for Schools Essentials Grant before window closes at end of May

Wrexham AFC Women Awarded first UEFA License and FAW Tier 1 License renews for 2024/25 Season

“Disrespectful” easter egg hunt in cemetery cancelled after backlash

Free Easter Egg Hunt in Wrexham city centre tomorrow!

“No suspicious circumstances” say police after elderly woman found injured in Caia

Pilgrimage: The Road Through North Wales to launch on Good Friday

Fast-growing Wrexham bakery on the lookout for 20 new apprentices

A view from Wrexham’s Member of Parliament