‘Social Deployment Station’ For Ambulance Staff Set For Approval

Plans to create a ‘social deployment unit’ in Pandy for Welsh Ambulance staff are set for approval.

In an application due before Wrexham’s Planning Committee next week it has been recommended that plans to erect a portakabin for Welsh Ambulance staff at the Gresford Colliery Club are approved.

The portakabin will measure 8.4m in length and just under 3m wide and 2.6m in height and will provide operational staff with a location to stand down and take rest breaks during their shifts.

Initial plans for the small development were revealed in May 2015, with the location chosen for its position to large residential areas and the fact it is adjacent to the A483 – allowing for a quick response to the north Wrexham area.

Several objections to the application have been raised by the Gwersyllt Community Council who fear that the area is becoming ‘over-developed’. Concerns were also raised about the proximity to the Gresford Miners Memorial.

Addressing the concerns regarding the location becoming overdeveloped, Head of Environment and Planning Lawrence Isted noted in his report that the ‘structure will have a minimal impact on the visual amenities of the area, being limited in scale and its location in close proximity to the Gresford Colliery Recreation Club’.

Mr Isted continues onto say: “Whilst the building will project 3m closer to the Memorial, the unit will be seen against the backdrop of the Club and approximately 20m away and would have a negligible impact on the setting of the memorial.”

The community council have also called for clarification on the hours the facility will be in use, whether drugs and medicines will be kept on site and if neighbouring residents had been consulted on the use of sirens in the late evenings / early hours.

It is noted in the report that it is not anticipated that day time use will be ‘problematic given background noise including traffic on the A483’. However discussions are underway to see if it would be ‘possible to not use the sirens until they were away from the site and on the A483’.

Mr Isted concludes: “I am satisfied the proposal is acceptable and will have a negligible impact on the visual amenity and the setting of the Memorial. I am in discussions with the applicant to minimise the impact of sirens on nearby residents.

“I do not consider the site to be over developed and the building and parking bays will have a negligible impact.

The application will go before Wrexham’s Planning Committee at 4pm on Monday 25th July. For those who can’t attend the meeting, it will be webcast live on the Wrexham Council website.