Work on new Rossett community hub could begin early next year

Plans to build a new community hub in Rossett could go ahead early in the new year.

Proposals to demolish a disused toilet block to be replaced by a community building were given the green light in October 2022. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌​‍‌​​​‌​‌‌‍‌​​​‌‌​‌‍‌​​‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​‌‌‌​​‍‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​​‌‌​‌‍‌‌

The existing toilet block, located on The Green, is more than 50 years old, but the facilities have been closed since 2017 due to vandalism. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌​‍‌​​​‌​‌‌‍‌​​​‌‌​‌‍‌​​‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​‌‌‌​​‍‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​​‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​​

A tender notice was recently published on the Sell2Wales website by the not-for-profit company behind the scheme called Hwb Yr Orsedd Ltd. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌​‍‌​​​‌​‌‌‍‌​​​‌‌​‌‍‌​​‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​‌‌‌​​‍‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​​‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​

They are seeking a contractor to carry out the demolition of the existing structure, to be replaced by a new hub to provide somewhere for groups to meet, socialise and participate in activities.

Documents accompanying the notice reveal the work could begin as soon as next month (January 2024).

The documents state: “The project was initiated to develop a community hub, on the site of the disused toilets in the park in the centre of Rossett.

“Hwb Yr Orsedd Ltd is a company limited by guarantee established to oversee and deliver the project.

“The community hub will connect and strengthen the community, it will be somewhere that provides contact, support, company and activities for all sections of the community.

“It will help address issues like isolation, deprivation and loneliness, that exist in Rossett and surrounding rural communities.

“It will be a central point for the delivery of mobile services for the community.”

The application was recommended for refusal by officers when it went to the planning committee last year.

They said a lack of off street parking for the proposed development had been considered as “unacceptable.” ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌​‍‌​​​‌​‌‌‍‌​​​‌‌​‌‍‌​​‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​‌‌‌​​‍‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​​‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​​

However, it was argued that many people who would use the hub would either live within walking distance or could travel by bus.

A majority of councillors voted in favour of granting permission for the application following the debate. ‌

UPDATE: This afternoon Hwb Yr Orsedd – the Rossett Community Hub said:

“You may have seen an article on Wrexham.Com today, regarding the commencement of the Hwb construction.
A start date has not yet been confirmed. We are currently in contract negotiations with our preferred contractor and should be able to provide an accurate start date and timetable for the build and an estimated opening date, early in the new year.”