Wrexham’s landscape and architecture celebrated at annual civic awards ceremony

An initiative behind the recent murals and art installations in the town centre are amongst those celebrating after winning an award by the Town’s Civic Society.

Over the past 12 months the Wrexham Building Art Project has created a street mural to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the end of the First World War on Marubbi’s cafe; along with street art on the shutters of Bank Street Social.

More recently it has overseen the “Wrexham, Look Up!” art installation in the Central Arcade. It features more than 200 brightly coloured paper globes hung above the shops, which were put in place to brighten up the area and remind people that the Central Arcade is a charming place to visit.

The project was amongst several to receive recognition at the Wrexham Area Civic Society’s Awards earlier this month.

The event was attended by members and guests, who included His Worship the Mayor Councillor Rob Walsh, and and the Chair of the Wrexham CBC Planning Committee, Councillor Michael Morris. Councillor Morris presented the Awards, announced by the Society’s Chairman, Geoff Foy.

The event was sponsored by Williams Financial Services Ltd. The intention of the Society’s Awards is to encourage high architectural and landscape standards within Wrexham County Borough.

The intention of the awards is to encourage high architectural and landscape standards within Wrexham County Borough. The Building Art Project won the “Ruth Howarth Award for an Outstanding Contribution to the Quality of the Environment”.

Whilst accepting the award from Cllr Mike Morris and Society Chair Geoff Foy, the Building Art Project lead, Wayne Price thanked them and Wrexham Council for their support through the Together in Wrexham Enabling Grant.

The project itself is made up of a local group born out of local businesses, artists and members of the public with a desire to put art on the buildings of Wrexham.

Wayne Price went on to say, “Thank you very much to the businesses and landlords who believed in us and our ideas to allow us to put bring public art to Wrexham town centre.

“Thanks very much to the volunteers that have helped over the last 15 months.

“This awards means the world to us because it’s unexpected, it’s nice to be recognised, but more importantly it gives creditability to what we do, we hope this will result in more landlords and businesses coming forward with buildings to work on, but also newer ways for funding projects.

“It’s been a lovely adventure so far. Special mention must go out to my employers, AMP Accounting who have given me a lot of time off for meetings, preparing buildings and painting.

“I’m looking forward to next year, we have three, possibly four projects all planned in the first half of the year.”

Volunteer Daphne Roberts who worked on the Central Arcade Globes Installation, added: “I’m proud to have played a part in this, the globes have brought many new faces into the arcade.

“We’ve now added Christmas lights to it, that were switched on by the Mayor Cllr Rob Walsh. We welcome the public to come and have a look.”

The Wrexham Civic Society exists in part to promote high standards of planning and architecture, and runs annual awards along related themes.

Other winners of the night include the Gwersyllt Community Primary School, which received an award for a new build project.

The £3 million redevelopment of the school on Dodd’s Lane marked the final phase of the amalgamation of the previous infant and junior schools.

It won the award because of what the society described as the skilful blending of the “new and old elements of the building” to “give a bright and modern feel to the site.”

Maes y Dderwen, the extra care facility on Grosvenor Road, received a commendation for a new build project and also for the conservation of an existing building of historic or architectural interest.

The facility, which officially opened at the end of last year, consists of 60 extra care apartments for people aged 60 or over who wish to live independently in a home of their own with the peace of mind of 24-hour access to care support.

The Wrexham Area Civic Society say: “It was however felt that one jarring design element was the manner in which the new build joined into the rear of the Grosvenor Road terraces.

“This is a relatively dense development that successfully slots into a town centre site providing an attractive environment for those needing a measure of support. It surely must also add to the vitality of the centre and is a welcome addition to the local economy.”

The Stiwt was celebrated for the conservation of an existing building of historic or architectural interest thanks to the restoration works that have taken place to the building’s clock and tower.

The society say that a “remarkable aspect of the restoration has been the community involvement in fund raising, a challenge when costs keep rising and the attention to detail of all those involved in doing such thorough and sustainable work.”

The new multi-million pound North Wales Police Eastern Divisional Headquarters in Llay received an award for sustainable development.

The society says that it has been impressed by the measures to “incorporate sustainability into the design process”, including rainwater harvesting to provide grey water for vehicle wash, new ponds formed onsite for amphibians, car charging points in the operational car park and intelligent LED lighting.

Other projects which received awards on the night was Colliers Park in Gresford for the regeneration through renewal or replacement of an existing site or building and the railway at Chirk for landscaping or environmental improvement.

Commendations also went to the CiCi Nail Bar (corner of Queens Street and Hope Street) for its regeneration through renewal or replacement of an existing building.

Finally the Wooden Spoon award for “failure to appreciate that good design is an important part of the environment, or failure to consider the impact of neglected buildings or sites on surroundings” – went to the terrace of vacant buildings on the corner of Bridge Street and Chapel Street.

The Wrexham Area Civic Society say: “The buildings have been left to decay and while there are significant issues to overcome in bringing them back into use, have these problems been used as an excuse to do nothing?

“The Conservation Area Character Assessment and Management Plan from 2013 recognised their historic character and advocated their re0use and upgrading by the private sector.

“However this neglect is so longstanding that we consider it is time that Wrexham Council took action through compulsory purchase action or other enforcement means to protect the quality of the surrounding environment.”

Further details and pictures of all the winners from the Wrexham Area Civic Society Awards, can be found here. Police station and Bridge Street pictures – Nick Roe.