Extra £150,000 tops up investment in town centre improvements pot

Wrexham town centre is to see an investment of almost £500,000 after additional funding was allocated to carry out further improvements.

In July 2017 Wrexham.com reported that members of the Executive Board had unanimously backed proposals to allocate £270,000 to town centre improvements after a budget underspend.

Described as a “phase one of an ongoing town centre programme”, the funding has been provided from the Council’s Capital Reserve.

Speaking at yesterday’s Executive Board meeting Council Leader Mark Pritchard gave no firm details on the destination of the spending, but did say it was something he hoped to do year on year if the budgets allowed.

However questions were asked by Leader of the Labour Group, Cllr Dana Davies, about where the additional £150,000 had come from.

Cllr Davies said: “When there was revenue moved to capital, we were told the detail would be shared with councillors. I am concerned the pot has expanded.”

“The extra funding leads me to believe there is detail available. Can we have it?”

Cllr Pritchard replied to say ‘negotiations were ongoing’ with the Planning Department due to the town being a Conservation Area. He continued onto hint at the project spends, mentioning that certain materials such as granite would be required in some areas for block paving works – perhaps new pavements or similar.

Cllr David A Bithell said that meetings had recently taken place with the Strategic Director and some face to face meetings with the new Town Centre Forum and Steering Group Chairmen had taken place last week for an informal consultation.

He said said: “Officers have been working on some proposals and have some indicative costs, hence why the extra £150k has been allocated. It is not finalised, we didn’t want to come with half a story, we want to come with full indicative costs and will share when it is finalised. We are nearly there, but not quite.”

Cllr Pritchard said a fuller announcement could be due in the next fortnight to a month depending on how the discussions go.

Lead Member for Economic Performance and Regeneration, Cllr Terry Evans said he ‘welcomed the investment’ and looked forward to ‘major improvements’ on street lighting, CCTV, the bus station and street furniture in various areas of the town centre.

Cllr Pritchard added: “It is a phased approach and hopefully every year we will find the money and we will do phase two next year.

“I believe we have six or seven phases. I think for too long we haven’t spent enough money in the town and I hope we will continue on this journey.

“We all know the town needs money and we need to do that. I hope every year we can bring a report to the board for the phased approach.”