MP demands action as tree blocks cells development stopping full service resuming at town’s Magistrates Court

Plans to build much-needed custody cells at Wrexham Magistrates’ Court are being delayed further because of a tree, with local MP Ian Lucas describing the situation as ‘grossly negligent’, with the Council Leader firing back saying council officers have been ‘upset’ with the comments.

The tree, which we are told is being considered for a protection order, is located near the court building and would need to be cut down in order for construction work on the cells to begin.

As we have long documented until the new facilities are built, all custodial cases are being dealt with in Mold rather than Wrexham – causing a great deal of inconvenience to witnesses, victims of crime and local solicitors, as well as defendants.

Mr Lucas wants assurances that the cells will be built before plans to demolish the old police station and replace it with a Lidl supermarket are considered by the council.

Wrexham MP Ian Lucas, who has campaigned for several years to have the cells built, says the saga is a ‘story of gross incompetence’ on the part of Wrexham Council, HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) and North Wales Police.

He is ‘exasperated’ by the latest setback regarding the tree and has written to Wrexham Council to demand that a solution is found.

Until recently, Wrexham Magistrates’ Court used the cells at the neighbouring police station but they are no longer available as the station has all but closed and almost all staff have relocated to new premises in Llay.

In a letter to Lawrence Isted, head of Environment and Planning at Wrexham County Borough Council, Mr Lucas talks of ‘indifference, ignorance and incompetence at every stage’ adding: “I am deeply upset that neither Wrexham Council, North Wales Police nor HMCTS saw fit to resolve the issue of custody provision at Wrexham Magistrates Court before now. This is, in my view, grossly negligent, as we now have a major barrier to the future of Wrexham having a fully functioning court because a practical issue was not resolved at an appropriate time.”

“Now we have a position where a tree is a barrier to the construction of cells and, at this late stage, I am requesting that the Council act to protect the future of an important civic and commercial facility in the town. I am aghast that I have to do so.”

On Friday we asked Wrexham Council what actions they would be taking, and when, to ensure the local court can come back to full use

Yesterday evening Council Leader Mark Pritchard sent us a statement saying he was “extremely concerned and surprised” by the comments by Mr Lucas.

It said: “To accuse Wrexham Council of gross incompetence is a disgrace. It highlights Mr Lucas’ lack of information regarding planning applications and the due process they have to go through.

“With Mr Lucas being an MP, I would expect him to know it has to go through the process fairly.

“I am sure he would have a lot to say if individuals or groups were going around Wrexham cutting down trees without following the tree preservation order.

“I am sure he would be the first to campaign to stop them and save the trees.

“Regarding the tree and the court, an application has come in and it will go through the process.

“Myself and the officers are upset about his comments and behaviour and if he thinks that running to the press, jumping up and down, kicking and screaming and making accusations of negligence will speed up the planning process he is wrong.

“I think he should apologise, I hope he does see common sense and apologises to the council and our staff in the planning department who work tirelessly to be impartial and deliver a first class service and to HM Courts and Tribunals Service and North Wales Police.

“This has been a long standing issue and he knows that. Wrexham Council can only deal with an application when it is submitted to us.”

Mr Lucas has liaised closely with concerned local solicitors over the problem and met a group of them last Thursday outside the court (pictured above).

Among them was Ian Barnes, head of the criminal and regulatory department at Allington Hughes Law in Wrexham, who said: “This is an issue that should have been resolved as soon as it was known that the police station was to be moved. To only now be dealing with it is appalling and shows a disregard for the importance of a local justice centre.

“This will not only impact on those accused of crime and local practitioners but on witnesses, victims of crime and the public who are prevented from seeing justice being administered locally.”

Wrexham was almost to be without a town centre police presence, with the new mini-station at the Library not due to be completed on time meaning Wrexham Council will let out part of Crown Buildings in the meantime.

Top pic: Ian Lucas MP (second left) with local solicitors Ian Barnes, Melissa Griffiths and Emily Carlisle, all from Allington Hughes Law, in front of the tree which is holding up work on building the cells.

Have you seen inside the new Llay Police Station? Click here for the video!