Posted: Thu 17th Jan 2013

Wrexham Station Lift Tower Branded ‘Lamentable’ In Civic Awards

Wrexham.com for people living in or visiting the Wrexham area
This article is old - Published: Thursday, Jan 17th, 2013

The Wrexham Area Civic Society last year celebrated its 40th Anniversary, and has recently held its annual Awards Evening. The intention of the presentation of annual awards is to encourage high architectural practice in buildings and environmental enhancements within Wrexham County Borough. Poor practice is occasionally shamed – which on this occasion ended up with Wrexham General station picking up a ‘prize’.

For the awards evening guests included the MP for Wrexham, Ian Lucas, the AM for Wrexham Leslie Griffiths, and the Chair of the Wrexham CBC Planning Committee, Cllr. Michael Morris. Cllr. Morris presented the awards, announced by the Society’s Chairman, Geoff Foy.

This year’s Award for New Buildings was given to the Plas Telford Extra Care Housing development, which provides 54 units through a joint venture between Clwyd Alyn Housing Association and Wrexham County Borough Council.

The Award for Restoration or Refurbishment of an Existing Building was presented to Bettisfield Windmill, on Cadney Moss, which is a completely restored 18th century corn mill. Two Commendations in this category were also given, both projects being in a Conservation Area. The first was to the Wellington Road Housing Renewal Scheme, for sympathetic external and boundary wall renovation. The second Commendation was for the Refurbishment of Roof at 11, Fairy Road, Wrexham, of an Arts and Crafts house with conical roof features.

The Award for Landscape or Environmental Improvement was given to the Smithfield Community Garden, between Crescent Road and Manley Road in Wrexham. This has been transformed from an unkempt site into a community garden, being the hard work of volunteers with assistance from the Community Council and local business. Commendations in this category were also given to the Ruabon Roundabout Feature and to the Penycae War Memorial Enhancements.

The Ruth Howarth Award is made for a significant contribution to the Wrexham Area’s environment or quality of life, not necessarily a building or landscape. The St Giles’ Churchyard Gates, made by the renowned Robert Davies of Croes Foel and erected in 1720, have recently been repaired and renovated in such a good manner as to restore and enhance their role in complementing the splendour of the Parish Church and the view down Church Street.

The Society occasionally awards a Wooden Spoon Award to highlight a conspicuous failure to fully consider the context of a development, or a failure to appreciate that design is an important part of the environment. This year an award was made for the Wrexham General Station lift tower, which gives access to platform 4. The Society considered that although the extension to the footbridge could be said to be designed to reflect and not harm the character of the station, a Listed Building, the design of the lift tower is a lamentable failure. It is uncompromisingly bleak and stark in design, materials and colouring, paying little regard to setting or context.

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Wrexham Area Civic Society will take place on Thursday 21 February. There will be a presentation entitled ‘Public Libraries In North East Wales’. It will be given by Mr. Paul Jeorrett, who is the Glyndŵr University Librarian.

Mr. Jeorrett proposes to examine the origins of the public library facilities in the United Kingdom, and will focus on some of the early examples in North-East Wales. The venue for the meeting is the Glyndŵr University library, starting at 7.15pm. There will be an informal social event after the meeting, when light refreshments will be available.

The meeting is open to all, admission is free. If you would like to know more about the activities of the Society, this is an ideal opportunity to come along and meet us. If you cannot be present there, please feel free to contact Nick Roe on 01978 293247 (daytime), or visit the Society’s website www.wrexhamcivic.co.uk

Picture: The bleak view of the tower as of yesterday, with the only redeeming feature being the huge floodlights of the Racecourse in the background. Wrexham.com believes the floodlights are visible from Chester, where they cause much envy.



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