Fire crews check ‘bonfire’ as Camp Groves evaporates back into Wrexham

Wrexham.com for people living in or visiting the Wrexham area

This article is old - Published: Sunday, Sep 24th, 2017

Fire crews have attended the former site of ‘Camp Groves’ after it has been vacated over the last 72 hours.

Rumours surfaced on Friday that the site was being vacated with those on there ‘choosing to move on’, evidenced with the collection of tents to the west of the old school buildings slowly vanishing.

On Saturday afternoon fire crews were on the Groves site inspecting the remains of what has been described as a ‘bonfire’, as pictured above, of various items that had been left.

Earlier this month in two reports to Councillors it was stated the Groves site had 10-11 people living on there with a ‘Gold Level Group’ working at helping sort out the issue. In a non-public report we saw a 90 day period was referred to, believed to be expiring towards the end of October, which would see a medium term plan developed as it was thought the Groves was ‘not suitable for a longer term base’. It was stated that due to changes in the weather it was believed that ‘individuals are likely to move onto alternative winter locations’, however what those locations were and if they had been prepared for them was not stated.

It is not known if the move over Friday into Saturday was a planned move in conjunction with local services or Wrexham Council. Speaking with some Councillors they say they have had no communications to suggest that was the case. We are told there has been no indication circulated to Councillors stating any intervention had taken place, nor a directed move into services or a specific secondary location.

On Friday evening those visiting Wrexham.com or following our twitter would have the following tweets appears – from Wrexham Town Centre PC Dave Bates, and then later from the Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones and Wrexham Executive Board Lead Member Councillor Terry Evans.

Increase in ASB in @wrexham town centre today as many now moving off groves site. Surely we must find somewhere for homeless to go?

— Dave Bates (@NWPPCDBates) September 22, 2017

Following this tweet we replied with the following as there appeared to be a more visible ‘cohort’ of people in Wrexham town centre, anecdotally due to the wind down of Camp Groves.

It was an impossible task trying to keep up with different groups across the town today. Would love to find a solution to this problem!

— Dave Bates (@NWPPCDBates) September 22, 2017

After the above was publicly posted, Councillor Terry Evans tweeted:

@Wrexham @NWPolice we need high visibility police officers in town on foot patrol all this police PR is rubbish dump the cars @ArfonJ

— Cllr Terry Evans (@terryevans) September 22, 2017

This had a response from the PCC who was tagged into the above tweet:

Did you tell the @NWPolice that in the Crime & Disorder Scrutiny Committee last week Terry? @wrexham

— Arfon Jones (@ArfonJ) September 22, 2017

The PCC widen out the response to include the Council’s Deputy Leader Hugh Jones:

Lead partner for Crime and Disorder is @wrexhamcbc and @hugh_wre Terry. #CSP

— Arfon Jones (@ArfonJ) September 22, 2017

Councillor Terry Evans tweeted:

I agree we need a meeting in wrexham be good if you could attend. https://t.co/1GV9MfgZLA

— Cllr Terry Evans (@terryevans) September 22, 2017

What I understand is the lack of police on the beat In Wrexham that’s what people are telling me,as I patrol the town that what I witness https://t.co/0UeLUpKnYd

— Cllr Terry Evans (@terryevans) September 22, 2017

You are the commissioner and you are from wrexham you know what’s going on don’t blame Cllr jones for your bad management. https://t.co/8xcB3EeYVo

— Cllr Terry Evans (@terryevans) September 22, 2017

This provoked a response from the PCC:

There has been no reduction in the Safer Neighbourhood Team in Wrexham @NWPolice put perhaps you need to discuss with Supt Goss #operational

— Arfon Jones (@ArfonJ) September 22, 2017