Asbestos Removal Begins at Groves School

Work removing asbestos from the former Groves School has begun – while a final decision on if the building will be listed, or knocked down, yet to be announced.

Earlier this morning there were reports of ‘activity’ on the former Groves site, with several vans and workmen seen on the site. Wrexham.com went past several times throughout the day and saw various fluro-clad workmen, vans and other vehicles – including a private ambulance parked up nearby.

Wrexham Council have since confirmed that work removing asbestos at the former school has begun.

It will take around eight weeks for the asbestos to be fully removed.

The asbestos removal comes as a result of an Executive Board decision at the end of April, when the continuing Groves saga took a further turn.

@aec_engineering @IanCLucas @lesley4wrexham heard from a couple of people asbestos removal work is taking place

— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) 11 May 2016

Prior to April’s meeting The Groves was set to be demolished – with demolition set to already be underway by that timeline.

However hours before a Full Council meeting in April, it was announced that an ‘independent review’ was to be undertaken – which if successful, could see the building gain listed status, although such a process has been rejected twice before.

Due to that process being exercised the Executive Board backed plans to remove the asbestos in the interim period while a decision is made. However demolition will still go ahead if Cadw decide not to list the building.

@aec_engineering @IanCLucas @wrexham am on the case!

— Lesley Griffiths (@lesley4wrexham) 11 May 2016

A decision on whether or not the former school has been listed by Cadw has yet to be confirmed, but is understood to be due shortly.