Controversial ‘Disposal’ Of Haywards Field To Be Debated

Controversial proposals to sell off land in Llay for affordable housing purposes will go before councillors tomorrow afternoon.

The decision to sell off land at Nant y Gaer Road, Llay for housing purposes has been met with strong opposition by many local residents since the decision was initially announced.

Tomorrow the Executive Board will meet to consider ‘objections received to the proposed disposal of land forming part of an open space for the purposes of an affordable housing development and to determine whether to proceed with the disposal’.

The decision to sell off Haywards Field for housing purposes has been met with strong opposition from local residents, with a petition with 2000 signatures previously being submitted to Wrexham Council.

However the Executive Board report (viewed in full here) states: “The site at Nant Y Gaer Road, Llay was approved for inclusion within the Affordable Housing Project by Executive Board on 17 November 2009 and further approved for disposal to Wales & West Housing for affordable housing development on 11 December 2012.

“The proposal complies with the Councils existing policy on development on public open space, however to address and mitigate residents’ concerns the initial development proposal has been amended to increase the amount of public open space which is to be retained within the site.”

Initially it was proposed that the land was used to build 21 new homes. However an amendment to the report was put forward in July proposing that the land is used for areduced development of six x 2 bedroom houses, eight x 1 bedroom apartments and two x 2 bedroom bungalows.

A petition in support of the proposed development was received on 2nd September 2014. The petition is signed by 456 individuals with the following preamble – “We the undersigned support the building of affordable homes to be built on Heywards Field for Llay residents only.”

The report goes onto note: “The development of affordable housing at this site is being supported by way of a Social Housing Revenue Grant of £920,000 from the Welsh Government with the
balance being funded from private finance secured by Wales and West Housing.

“By way of information, qualifying developments eligible for this grant must commence during 2014/15 for completion by March 2016. It has been brought to the Council’s attention that, should this development not progress, this funding will be lost to the County Borough.”

However there are still objections from local residents, with Appendix Two of the document’s reports (viewed in full here) listing a total of 28 comments of objection opposing the decision to sell off the land.

One comment from a Llay resident reads: “I have lived in Llay 85 years. My children, grand children and great grand children have all had the pleasure of playing on this land. Now it may all
be taken away from the community. There are more suitable sites, i.e. main road (old grav). Please think very carefully or the village will become an overcrowded community, with no green area to enjoy.”

While another adds: “I am writing to strongly object to this valuable open space being disposed of. I have lived in Llay all my life and feel that this open space is a vital asset to the community. At a time when we are being bombarded with messages from health officials that we should get out more and exercise, our open space is more valuable now than ever. This field is used by people of all ages for recreational activities.

“In these difficult times when services are being cut, surely the use of open space that doesn’t cost anything should be preserved.”

Another comment listed states: “I object to the proposed building on what is one of the last remaining green spaces on the north side of Llay. I frequently use this and find it incredible that only the greenfield easy option is being considered. There are other areas in the village that would benefit from building homes – the brownfield car parks owned by the Council between 1
st/2nd Aves, at Nant-y-Gaer Rd and between 6th/Oak Tree Avenue. Why aren’t these considered or alternatively along Council Street between Newhouse Ave and the Chip Shop.

“Its also of great concern that the council choose to ignore a petition of 200+ names that originally objected with this latest proposal conducted in such a manner that its lucky anybody found out about it. It seems you are going to revisit this until you get your way and ignore the wishes of the village people – not democratic – bully tactics.”

The report was initially due to go before the Council Executive Board in September, however the resignation of 10 Labour councillors meant the meeting was postponed until October.

The report notes: “The proposal complies with the Councils existing policy on development on public open space, however to address and mitigate residents’ concerns the initial development proposal has been amended to increase the amount of public open space which is to be retained within the site.”

Rob Walsh from Save Hayward`s Field Campaign Group said: “We are campaigning to save a green field in Llay from being gifted away to Wales & West housing developers. This will be discussed in Agenda item No.6. This is what we are going to do on Tuesday:

“The Save Hayward`s Field group will gather outside the Guildhall between 1.30-1.40pm. We will be carrying placards asking for the field to be saved and not built upon.

“We have invited to members of the Executive Board to meet us at 1.40pm outside to receive our petition that contains over 2000 signatures, just in case they have not seen it. It will be interesting to see how many of them decide to take up our invitation.”

The report will be considered by the Executive Board tomorrow afternoon at 2pm. For those who can’t make the meeting, it will be webcast live on Wrexham Council’s website.

If you are watching it live on the internet, you can also join in via the Council’s ‘Live Chat’ !