Plans for “much needed hub” for Rossett community approved by councillors

A “much needed” hub for the local community is to built in Rossett after plans to demolish a disused toilet block were given the go ahead.

The existing toilet block, located near Rossett Park, is described as being more than 50 years old, but has been closed for the last five due to vandalism and unacceptable behaviour.

Rossett Community Council had proposed that the building is knocked down to make way for ‘Hwb Yr Orsedd’, a facility “at the heart of the village of Rossett intended to serve the local community in a variety of needs.”

The application had been recommended for refusal by the council’s interim planning officer, who said a lack of off street parking provision for the proposed development had been considered “unacceptable.”

However it was argued during a planning committee meeting on Monday (3 October) that many people who would use the hub would be within walking distance or could travel by bus.

Chris Guest, who spoke on behalf of the community council, said that a survey undertaken had found that 90 per cent of people who would use the hub would not travel there by car.

Picture: Planning documents

Mr Guest said: “We believe that the existing on street parking provision of about 25 spaces on the two sides of the park is sufficient to meet the needs of the hub users.

“Yes there are pinch points, with parents dropping off and collecting children from the local schools. However the rest of the time there is ample space to facilitate the visitors of the hub.

“I pass there four times a day including at ten past three when were parents were there picking up from schools and they were ample spaces around that green.

“On behalf of the the Hwb board and the community council, I urge committee members to support the application.

“We have an opportunity to replace an ugly, disused block with a vibrant, local facility and to create a hugely valuable resource for the community – something which we know people want, will use and will benefit from.

“We won’t have an opportunity like this again. If planning permission is refused the disused toilet block will deteriorate further and become even more of an eyesore than it is now.

“There isn’t anyone else in the village for the Hwb to be developed, so the opportunity to create this valuable community asset will be lost forever.”

These comments were echoed by local councillor Hugh Jones, who said it was important to “encourage a shift to sustainable transport and to make using public transport and active travel the easy thing to do in 2022.”

Cllr Jones went onto say: “We’re trying to do a building that is fit for the 21st century and the years ahead.

“The design is environmentally friendly and the only missing elements is for car parking and car parking policy, which harks back to the 20th century.

“What we’re trying to do is we’re trying to produce a development here that is fully in accordance with Welsh Government policy.

Picture: Planning documents

“In terms of accordance with policy committee in granting this application has the ability to quote policies that actually fully support this development with zero car parking.

“I would say chair there are numerous community facilities around the county borough with zero parking.

“The other fact is that we as a council have declared a climate emergency. What we’re trying to do is we’re trying to develop a building that conforms to that climate emergency policy.

“So what we’re trying to say to the planning committee is please walk the walk with us, conform to planning policy for the 21st century and recommend approval for this development.”

However planning officer Matthew Phillips said that whilst it is accepted that the development is in a sustainable location, the application has been recommended for refusal due to lack of parking.

He said: “It’s in the heart of the village and the vast majority of the users of the site would actually walk there.

“However, what I would ask you to consider is that Rossett is quite an extensive community, it covers from Trevalyn, Burton as well.

“A this is a community facility, we would expect people from all areas of the community to want to use it and be able to use it. It is likely to generate demand for parking.”

Committee members agreed that the proposed hub was in a sustainable location and could be accessed by either walking or via public transport.

A majority of councillors voted in favour of granting the application to demolish the former toilet block and to let the development of the new community hub to go ahead.