Action to Be Taken at ‘Derelict’ & ‘Eyesore’ Site

A planning application for a temporary solution to a Gresford site was unanimously refused by Wrexham Planning Committee and the local county councillor is now seeking action.

The site, which had been an antique shop at the former 7 Chester Road, Gresford had planning permission granted in February 2013 for the demolition of the previous building and erection of a wine bar.

However despite the demolition having taken place a report put before Wrexham’s Planning Committee last week that stated no further progress on building is likely, leaving the site as a ‘builder’s storage yard’.

Gresford councillor Andrew Bailey sought and achieved an enforcement notice on the site earlier this year and during the meeting pressed planning officers to now use the powers they have to tidy the area, which he described as “an eyesore.”

He expressed during the meeting his and the community’s frustration that this notice had not been acted on in the four months that have elapsed since it came into force.

After the unanimous decision not to grant the temporary fix of a screening wall and fence Councillor Bailey said: “I am really pleased that all my fellow councillors from all groups represented on the council refused this permission and expressed the common view that action on this eyesore area is long overdue.

“Everyone can rest assured that I shall now be pressing officers to take all the appropriate steps to get this site tidied up.”