Approval Granted For £270k Investment Into Town Centre Improvements

Wrexham town centre is to see £270,000 worth of improvements in what has been described as “phase one” of an ongoing “town centre programme”.

Earlier today members of the Executive Board unanimously backed proposals to allocate the funding, which has come from the council’s Capital Reserve.

In a report presented to councillors it was explained that the money had been found via departmental budget underspends, therefore freeing up some cash that can be relocated.

The report states: “On 9 June 2017 an Information Report (HF/41/17) informed Members of the Council Fund revenue outturn for 2016/17 and the proposal to transfer £885k to the Capital reserve to fund specific projects” – for those interested in under/overspends you can read our article here!

Exact details on what the money will be used on has not been decided, however a percentage of the £270,000 will be invested into four new CCTV cameras to address anti-social behaviour in some parts of the town. Such behaviour is a frequent comment on the Wrexham.com social media accounts, and has been ‘recognised’ by Wrexham Council, and this is a definite response to concerns.

Along with the funding for town centre improvements, a further £75,000 will be invested into new Christmas lights for the town. There has been some confusion / rumours online that the full £270,000 is being spent to upgrade the town centre lights, however to clarify, this is not the case – as we reported here.

Last year thousands of pounds were invested into new lights on Queens Square, Rhosddu Road and Lambpit Street, giving that area a Christmas facelift. The funding, which will be used between 2017/18, will see the replacement of the current barbed wire Christmas lights with something more festive.

Speaking this morning Leader of Wrexham Council, Cllr Mark Pritchard described the investment in both the town as ‘phase one of the town centre programme’.

However leader of the Labour Group, Cllr Dana Davies questioned if there were plans to spend some of the funding on resources, or was the money solely being used on visual improvements in the town. Cllr Davies also queried if any decisions on what the remainder of the £270,000 will be spent on, after the purchase of the CCTV cameras.

Cllr Pritchard said: “With regards to the rest of the money, politically we haven’t decided where to spend it. There is a political discussion going on between the alliance as to where we can spend it and what it should be spent on.

“I will give you a rough idea of the discussions that have taken place so far. It could be litter bins, street furniture, new benches etc. It could be resurfacing programme within the town – certain streets not looking as good as they should do, so we’ve recognised that.

“Also we need to understand, lets call it phase one of town centre programme, every year will revisit is and invest in town. We understand how important the town is to the economy of Wrexham and what it brings in on the economic front, so we will invest in it.”

Perhaps reflecting another aspect of the no-win situation at Wrexham Council, with many supporting the Christmas lights spend but many more being very critical of the spending, he added: “The balancing of that is, and I’m sure you’ve seen the press locally this week and last week, there has been some criticism of the council because we are spending in the town. A lot of people feel we spend too much in the town and not enough in rural and semi rural areas.

“There is a balance to be taken here, however I think we have made the right judgement this time on where the money is to be spent.”

It was also noted that discussions are ongoing as to what the remainder of the underspend can be used for and that a report / another round of proposals will be presented to the board in October.