Wrexham MP backs calls for daytime provision to tackle issues in town centre

Securing daytime provision to help people with substance abuse issues is vital to tackling problems in and around Wrexham Town Centre, Wrexham MP Ian Lucas has said.

He has written to Welsh Government Ministers to call on them to work with Wrexham councillors and officers to help develop a centre to tackle issues in the town in the daytime.

There have been several calls for a centre offering day provision for substance users and rough sleepers, with North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones stating last month that increased opening hours at the Tŷ Nos night shelter will help reduce the risk of anti-social behaviour in the town.

In recent weeks calls for additional services locally have escalated after a homeless camp was setup in the grounds of the former Groves school.

In his letter, Mr Lucas references a recent allocation of more than £2 million by the Welsh Government to tackle youth homelessness and rough sleeping across Wales. He also suggests that Wrexham Council and the Welsh Government work together to help ensure that some of the funding it spent tackling issues in the town centre.

Speaking earlier this week, Mr Lucas said: “This issue is crucial and I know Wrexham people want to see action taken – I said during the election I would work with the council to look at what could be done, and I am pleased to say that, since June, I have met regularly to work on the problem with council officers the council’s lead member, the police and others.

“One of the areas which needs examining is setting up some kind of daytime provision. While different people have different views about aspects of the issues Wrexham is facing, setting this provision up is a way of making a difference that the vast majority of people working on the issue think will have an impact.

“That’s why I am urging the council and Welsh Government to explore how they can work together and make this happen. They know that they will have my support – and I’ll keep on pushing OK Government Ministers to help, too.”

Yesterday Wrexham.com reported that a lengthy statement explaining the issues the town faces with so called ‘legal highs’ had been posted online by Wrexham Council.

Within the statement Cllr Hugh Jones, Wrexham Council’s Lead Member for Communities, Partnerships, Public Protection and Community Safety explained that issue is ‘bigger than Wrexham Council and than any other single organisation’.

However it was also noted that the issues are being faced ‘head on’ and that ‘incredible work’ is being carried out by police officers, health professionals and many more.