Posted: Wed 20th Oct 2021

New consultation asks residents “how strongly do you feel that Wrexham deserves to be a city?”

Wrexham.com for people living in or visiting the Wrexham area
This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Oct 20th, 2021

How strongly do you feel that Wrexham deserves to be a city?

That is one of the questions being put to residents as part of a public consultation launched by Wrexham Council as part of its bid for city status.

The questionnaire is being run by independent consultants Owen Davies Consulting from Abergavenny, which is posing a range of questions to you that fit the bid submission.

One key question is asking “Based on the application criteria how strongly do you feel that Wrexham deserves to be a city?” with a slider choice ranging from ‘not at all’ to ‘very strongly’.

Other questions include:-

  • What does Wrexham need to do to help grow its profile and prosperity?
  • How important is it for Wrexham to better promote its distinct identity, history, and sense of community?
  • If a city status application was prepared, what information would you include to demonstrate?

The council are keen to point out that feedback will be analysed and used for two things, to decide if the council should put a bid in for city status, and also help create a ‘place-making’ plan that will “ensure Wrexham has a bright and prosperous future”.

Wrexham Council is so far the only Welsh local authority considering to bid for city status after Merthyr Tydfil withdrew its campaign after receiving a negative response.

This is not the first time Wrexham has been put forward for the city status accolade, with previous attempts made in 2000, 2002 and 2012.

Councillor Mark Pritchard, Leader of Wrexham Council said: “Although exploring city status is a big part of this exercise, it’s much wider than that.

“It’s about identifying Wrexham’s strengths and weaknesses, and which opportunities we should focus on to build a bright and prosperous future.

“It’s about being ambitious and shaping Wrexham’s future, understanding what people want for Wrexham, and building a place that everyone feels part of.

“Please share your ideas. This isn’t something the council can do on its own, and we need everyone to be involved.”

Yesterday afternoon councillors had a private workshop meeting to discuss City Status, with the Civic Leaders group then asked to encourage people to take part in the public engagement exercise.

Copies of slides shown - and since actively encouraged to be shared - after the meeting yesterday.

Copies of slides shown – and since actively encouraged to be shared – after the meeting yesterday.

Councillors were shown the above information of the impact of a successful city status bid, with “pride” and “some economic benefits” being given in a now public set of slides – the other slides mainly detailing the workshop itself and the now live consultation website.

Wrexham.com understands one private assessment of ONS data on the change in population, jobs and GVA across twenty different locations (made up of new cities, past bidders, cities and towns) showed the award of city status ‘has no impact on growth’ with no statistical difference in performance to past bidders, cities and towns.

Perhaps self-identifying the general lack of engagement with consultations involving the council, they are keen to point out “this isn’t just a boring old questionnaire” but one you can “put pins on interactive maps and upload photos and other media”.

You have until Friday October 29th to share your views.

You can read more about the consultation and take part in the questionnaire via https://wrexhamplacemaking.info



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