Executive board offer limited response over questions on Old Vicarage in Rhosddu

Wrexham Council are set to re-tender for the demolition of the Old Vicarage in Rhosddu, with questions over how compliant the move would be with wider policies unanswered.

The old vicarage also known as Centre 67, on Rhosddu Road, is due to be demolished after Wrexham Council announced plans to clear the site to make way for social housing.

The council-owned building, which has been vacant since 2005. Wrexham Council say clearing the site will allow them to “progress with looking at future options for the land – including detailed work on a masterplan”.

At an executive board meeting on Tuesday (12 July),  Grosvenor Cllr Marc Jones queried a range of council spending, including: “We have a quote for the demolition of the Old Vicarage.

“Can you confirm that due to rising costs this is going out to re-tender £20,000 pounds and ongoing, has already been spent on scaffolding and I don’t see that in the budget.

“So we’re looking at potentially £70-£90,000 to knock down this building.

“The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors have made a study saying that reuse is far more environmentally friendly than demolition and new build.

“I’m asking the question, is this in keeping with our commitment to the Well-being of Future Generations Act as well as our declaration of a climate emergency to continue with this policy?”

Cllr David A Bithell appeared confused over what building was being referenced, asking if it was “Centre 67” – which Cllr Jones confirmed it was.

Cllr Bithell answered: “The decision was made at a previous Executive Board and that decision has already been made.

“We will provide you the relevant detail on costs outside the meeting.”

Cllr Jones came back unhappy his question had not been answered, re-asking “Will you consider the Well-being of Future Generations Act and the declaration of a climate emergency? These things have happened since the decision was made. That’s my point.”

Cllr Bithell replied, again not answering that precise point, “I understand what you are saying. The decision on Centre 67 has been made. We will provide you after the meeting with the costs and any additional costs.”

The business of the meeting moved on with no more detail added.

This is not the first time specific questions over the building have not been answered. The future of the site has been discussed previously by councillors at both Executive Board and Full Council via a SGM called to halt demolition.

As we reported the demolition also managed to get infront of the Planning Committee much to some confusion from some councillors, as the issue debated was to ‘ensure that the demolition works didn’t adversely impact upon adjoining trees’  rather than the building itself.

The local councillor Marc Jones observed at the time, “All we will be deciding basically is where to put the toilets and where to park the bulldozers.”

When the building reappeared on local planning lists, with an update noting, “The proposal complies with Schedule 2, Part 31 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995. Planning permission is not required.”

We asked Wrexham Council if there was a date for demolition booked in, and also asked why the issue had gone before Planning previously however was then deemed not required.

No detail was given aside from the tree issue being ‘resolved’.