‘Last Chance Saloon’ For Historic Mines Rescue Centre As Councillors Set To Decide On Building’s Future

Plans to bring a historic building in Wrexham back to life will be heard by councillors tomorrow afternoon – with a listed Mines Rescue Centre potentially becoming a community training building once again.

The Mines Rescue Station, located on Maesgwyn Road, opened in 1913 to train men in helping find survivors of mining accidents. Amongst those who trained here were men who took part in the mission to rescue miners from the 1934 Gresford disaster, when an explosion claimed the lives of 266 people.

The centre closed in the 1980s and was handed to the fire service and subsequently entered private ownership. Most recently it has been a derelict building, almost subject to total illegal demolition in 2010 after its listing.

Earlier this year plans were submitted to Wrexham Council to help restore the building to a ‘functional state’ by converting it into accommodation and a museum with an associated cafe (full details of which can be found in this report, although we understand suggested condition 9 has been removed).

Tomorrow the plans to transform the site will be heard by members of the planning committee, with the application recommended for approval by councillors.

George Powell, known for his involvement with Wrexham Warehouse Project, told us: “We were approached to look at the Miners Centre as a derelict building to see if we can get involved. I initially bought the building personally on agreement to hold it in state until the charity could get the funding to take it over.”

“We have met up with ex-miners to discuss what is the best option for the building and worked with the architects to put a plan together.

George also spoke of a schools project, where memories from miners will be recorded before they are lost: “Over the last few years we have lost quite a few of them, the idea is to get young people through the schools to work with the older miners.”

Speaking about the practical development of the building he added: “It is not just about sending in builders, it is about getting retired people, or people who want a change and train in construction to get involved in the project. We are not rushing the project, we are doing it at a pace that the local community can benefit from gaining skills and being part of the bigger picture.

“The ultimate thing at the end of it is it will be a training centre again and it will continue for what it was originally built for – training people in the community.”

“Hopefully planning will be given on Monday, and work will start on Tuesday morning and hopefully it will be a very successful project.”

Alan Jones from the North Wales Miners’ Association Trust told us: “It is so important to the heritage of Wrexham, that was the centre for all the rescue work for every pit in North Wales. People trained there when they were doing the hydro electric work up in Snowdon.”

Speaking of not losing heritage, he added: “The hot and humid chamber is as it was left the day they walked out. I think it is so important we keep that to show people. The children, when you talk about humid chambers, they do not know what you are talking about.

“It is a fantastic building, it was paid for by the coming together of mine owners, they did not skimp on it.”

Using an example of children no longer knowing what a bar of soap looks like, due to the use of press bottles and even hover dispensers, Alan pointed out ‘we need to retain what we have got, to show people what went on in Wrexham’.

He added that he believed this was possibly the last chance to save the centre, stating: “I think it is in the last chance saloon, honestly, the state it is in.”

Brynyffynnon councillor Phil Wynn said: “People may have read the application on its own and thought gosh what is going on? They see cafe and museum, we have been involved in delivering museum at the Llay Miners Institute, and in effect that is open on demand so as and when a group visits. There won’t be droves of people going there but it will be open to the general public.”

We enquired if there was any VVP funding, however was told that had been possible due to ‘timing issues’, but avenues ‘remain open’ along with other partial funding possibilities.

(below, drone shot of the site in 2013)

The proposals have faced criticism from a few local residents, who say parking issues in the area will be exacerbated and that it is ‘unfair to subject residents to 2.5 years of building work to create bedsits, museum and a cafe’.

However in a report due before councillors next week, the planning officer notes: “I am satisfied that the proposed development is acceptable in planning terms.

“It will allow for a positive reuse of a statutorily protected building which is at significant risk of deterioration, its unique construction and historic fabric making it very difficult for other viable uses.

“I therefore consider that the planning merits outweigh any negative perceived impact of the development and recommend accordingly.”

The application will go before Wrexham’s planning committee tomorrow 4pm 3rd July. For those who cannot attend the meeting it will be webcast live on the Wrexham Council website.

Neville Dickens Stripped Of Life Vice-President Role at Football Club

The report before councillors recounts criminal behaviour by former owner local businessman Neville Dickens, who pleaded guilty and was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £1,700 costs for partially destroying the historic centre without permission after it was listed by Cadw back in 2010, “Some unauthorised demolition work was undertaken at the site shortly after the building was listed causing significant damage to the training gallery and chambers to the rear. Court action was taken regarding this criminal offence, and the then owner of the property was successfully prosecuted.”

Coincidentally within a few days of the possible start of the revival of the Mines Rescue Centre, Neville Dickens also featured in a meeting at the nearby football club where a fan resolution to remove him as Lifetime Vice-President of the club was resoundingly passed.