Posted: Sun 1st Apr 2018

Welsh Assembly to open ‘innovate’ new Shrewsbury HQ to ‘link South, Mid and North Wales’

Wrexham.com for people living in or visiting the Wrexham area
This article is old - Published: Sunday, Apr 1st, 2018

As it is after midday – this was of course an April Fool! You can see others from today: Protestors occupy Holt / Farndon bridge as it is selected as ‘Brexit Hard Border Trial Site’ , Welsh Assembly to open ‘innovate’ new Shrewsbury HQ to ‘link South, Mid and North Wales’‘Blimp of Welsh air’ to be taken to Walsall as Wrexham unveils new twinning partner.

Enjoy those? Here are some more from previous years…  2017: Council To Launch Helicopter Tours Of Gresford Roundabout Potholes, Queues Outside Guildhall As Thousands Log Off Facebook & Register To Vote Instead, Clean-up Operation Underway As Police Station Tower Falls Over In Storm 2016: ‘Bubble Bus’ For Wrexhamites Shopping In Chester, St Giles Set To Get ‘Digital Clockface’ In Upgrade Plans 2015: Plan To Put Roof On Eagles Meadow Shopping Centre 2014: Possible ‘HMP Chester’ Name For Wrexham Prison 2013: A483 To Become Toll Road In New Trial 2012: Council Declare Wrexham as ‘Capital City of Wales’. We didn’t exist for 2011…!

 

Original ‘Fool’ from this morning below….

The Welsh Government have come up with an innovative solution to improve communications between South, Mid and North Wales.

The Welsh Government have been under increasing pressure to bring some services nearer to the electorate and business community here in North Wales and there are similar demands across Mid Wales.

Reacting to budgetary pressures Welsh Government officials have been asked to ‘think outside the box’ to bring communities closer, and it appears they have gone further, not just outside the box – but outside of Wales by just over nine miles.

Mr Mel Charles who leads the Assembly Governments Think Tank says that The Assembly will be opening a new 7500 sq meter ‘HQ’ style office on the new Battlefield Enterprise Park on the edge of Shrewsbury with a department there having the specific aim of dealing with cross regional issues affecting North and Mid Wales.

Mr Charles said: “The initiative is really common sense in that communication wise Shrewsbury is the obvious choice for a cross regional centre.

“Train lines from Mid Wales lead to Shrewsbury and the main line from Wrexham also led to Shrewsbury. Add to that the fact that Cardiff had excellent train links with the Shropshire town. It all seems so logical.”

Below is the earmarked site from the development documentation:

The report which has gone past its first hurdle at the Assembly will result in considerable financial savings for The Assembly and concludes ‘that alone will benefit the people of Wales’.

Mr Charles added: “I don’t expect any negative responses to the move as The Assembly already had trade offices in Brussels, New York and London. So why should Shrewsbury be seen as any different? We will be bringing the people of North and Mid Wales closer to one of our Offices and the Battlefield premises – on which we have already signed an introductory lease – will be much cheaper than offices currently in use in Llandudno Junction.”

Mr Charles said: “The finances stack up as following Brexit we will be closing Brussels and those costs will more than cover the cost of The Battlefield operation.”

Wrexham.com believes the move to Shrewsbury is not such an innovative idea as in the 1950’s The Welsh Football Association often held its committee meetings in Shrewsbury as it was easier for members to travel to the Shropshire county town than endure long journeys to or from North and South Wales.

Sandra Fleese, who chairs a North Wales Business Community Group, has welcomed the move. Sandra said: “It will be ideal for our members as it will cut the journey time by half and will avoid expensive over night stays.

The final versions of the proposal is expected to be put before by the Assembly sometime before the Summer break allowing Mr Mel Charles to sign the lease by September.

Top picture – North Wales, with the mock up of the HQ from planning documents, and where the Battlefield Park site is.



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