Report due ‘in very near future’ that could give clarity on future of Groves

The people of Wrexham council soon know the council’s desires for the long dormant Groves site.

In June last year Wrexham Council restarted a process to find a use for the Groves after a deal fell through with a possible medical training company, and Wrexham Football Club looking elsewhere with bigger ambitions for training facilities.

A year on from that we asked Wrexham Council Leader Mark Pritchard about the site, asking if there is any update for the future of the former school and playing fields.

Cllr Pritchard said, “There are ongoing conversations with reference to the Groves, and hopefully there will be something brought forward, as a report, in the very near future.”

“As you are fully aware we have asked all departments to see if there’s an opportunity that they could use the building, because Mark Drakeford did say that it was up to Wrexham Council to put proposals forward for the building”.

Wrexham.com was aware of that, as the information came via a question to the First Minister from us – something that previously some council insiders have told us surprised the local authority, with a mixture of delight and puzzlement why the authority had not discovered it for themselves.

As we previously reported the Groves school building was subject to a listing hokey-cokey, with it being listed / challenged / relisted after court action and a final independent decision by then Cabinet Secretary Mark Drakeford.

The Council Leader reiterated previously stated ‘ambitions’ to put two schools on the site, however pointed to the Welsh Government listing of the old school building as to why that was not taken forward adding, “I believe now because they listed it, they have a duty, and there is an expectation from the people of Wrexham for the Welsh Government, whatever that building is used for in the future that they’d pay for it because they listed it.”

“Everybody I have spoken to accepts that principle, whether the Welsh Government will do that, who knows.”

The expected use of the Groves site has historically been mentioned as one reason why the nearby Nine Acre field has been earmarked for plans for a new school, with a planning application expected imminently to enable the building of that new school.