Councillors set for ‘update’ on future of Wrexham’s Memorial Hall next month

Wrexham’s councillors are set to get ‘an update on the Wrexham Memorial Hall’ next month.

The update for the building, on Bodhyfryd, has been listed on the local authority’s forward work programme for September’s executive board.

No details of what the plans will entail have been released, with a council spokesperson telling us: “Deputy Leader Councillor David A Bithell said the Council are currently preparing a report on the Memorial Hall for consideration at the September Executive Board.

“The Council has been working with partners and fellow Lead Member Cllr Beverley Parry Jones.”

Item 7 on a budget line in recent Executive Board documents mentioned the Memorial Hall

Ty Pawb is forecast to have a budget pressure of £138k as a result of lower than budgeted for income levels.

The Memorial Hall is forecast to have an income shortfall of £77k.

The same meeting also approved the Placemaking plan that noted: “Repurpose key buildings to support more intensive and diverse uses within the centre of the city – in particular the potential reimagining of the Memorial Hall as a fitting tribute to Wrexham’s military heritage”

The report added: “The feasibility of modernising and improving the Memorial Hall is being studied to enhance its civic role and to enhance the public realm of the important war memorials.”

Success of such a project is defined as: “The building is in need of modernisation along with improvements benefiting the setting of the adjoining memorial gardens and war memorial” and therefore “Feasibility and design completed” and “Funding secured and scheme implemented”.

The Memorial Hall has long been subject to internal debate at Wrexham Council, as this FOI from 2014 revealed, where a move of the Oriel and demolition and and relocation of the police station were just rumours.