700 Name ‘Ruabon Eyesore’ Petition Handed In

A 700-strong petition by local residents has been handed to Wrexham County Borough Council calling for action to resolve a row of empty houses on Ruabon High Street.

The houses have been empty for over twelve years, and have been referred to as an eye-sore. Plaid Cymru Clwyd South election candidate Mabon ap Gwynfor raised the issue back in October, and has since been carrying out research to assist the Council in resolving the matter.

On one online version of the petition the request to Wrexham Council read: “We call on Wrexham County Borough Council to issue a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for the three empty homes on the High St, ensure that they are habitable, then work with Veterans’ Charities to provide shelter for ex-service men and women in the area.”

Mabon ap Gwynfor said, “Residents of Ruabon and beyond are fed-up with this eyesore. Something needs to be done to sort the problem out. It seems strange that we have homeless people sleeping rough or at friends’ houses on the one hand and houses standing idle on the other.

“When we mooted the idea of developing them into houses for military veterans the response was phenomenal, so I would certainly urge the Council to consider this option, especially following the kind offers we received from people to help develop the houses for this purpose.”

Resolving the issue has been complicated by legal disputes and questions about ownership of the houses. But Mr ap Gwynfor said the onus was on the council and other public bodies to bring the matter to a speedy resolution:

“We in Plaid Cymru – the Party of Wales have taken this matter on and have done what we can to assist the Council in their endeavours to get to grips with these empty houses. Our research and the new impetus that this campaign has created leads me to believe that something will be done, but it’s a question of time.

“This petition should ensure that the issue is not forgotten. I know that Council officers are working with colleagues elsewhere to determine what exactly can be done, yet I am hopeful that it will be resolved in the not too distant future.”

Cllr Arfon Jones, who is standing as Plaid’s Police and Crime Commissioner candidate in elections held at the same time as the Assembly ones, said: “As an ex Police Officer I am very concerned at the high number of veterans that are homeless and having been abandoned by the country they fought for.

“Not only have they been abandoned they are then criminalised for being homeless and for begging for survival; many end up in prison unnecessarily. They should be treated as victims and not criminals and the first things we can do to prevent this spiral of decline is to find homes for these vulnerable veterans.”