Plas Madoc To Reopen Following Wrexham Council U-Turn
Plas Madoc Leisure Centre is set to reopen after Wrexham’s Executive Board voted in favour of handing over the centre’s lease to a newly formed local Trust.
The centre closed its doors in April 2014 after Councillors decided to mothball the centre due to budget cuts. Since then a grassroots campaign has worked from scratch to create a business plan to take over the running of the centre.
The huge volume of community support was commended by all Councillors who spoke today, alongside a business plan that has been scrutinised by Business Wales as well as Wrexham Council.
Lead Member for Communities, Collaboration and Partnerships, Hugh Jones said “There is belief that what you have put forward is a viable plan. We would like you to have it as soon as possible, and will work towards the nearest date.
“In times of severe financial restraint, our contribution is in the region of £155,000 for this project, now it is the time for others to step up.”
Councillor Malcom King was the only Councillor to specifically refer to their own personal position changing, with a statement referring to the vote to close the centre earlier in the year as ‘depressing’.
Mr King was chastised by others after asking if Wrexham Council was truly behind the Trust, warning that treatment of the Splash Magic Trust now could impact future such spin outs of services to third parties.
There was a move to award an extra £50,000 in the second year of operation of the centre, however that was defeated 8 votes to 2.
Despite not getting the extra grant money those supporting Splash Magic seemed satisfied with the outcome, applauding councillors at the end of the agenda item.
Plas Madoc will now be mothballed until November 30th by Wrexham Council, by which time it is hoped Splash Magic Trust will have taken up a twenty year lease to operate the centre.
Our tweets from today’s Executive Board meeting are below…
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