Wrexham FC fans wishes taken into account says planning boss

WREXHAM’S chief planning officer has said he will take into account Wrexham fans’ wishes to protect The Racecourse ground from being developed on in years to come.

Reds’ supporters have launched a petition to secure the future of the stadium by having it recognised in the council’s forthcoming local development plan (LDP) as an area protected and reserved for leisure facilities.

The emerging LDP will eventually replace the current Wrexham unitary development plan (UDP) and will be the key framework for future development in the county borough up to 2021.

Wrexham Council’s chief planning officer Lawrence Isted says that, although the final decision will be taken by councillors, he will bring the plea to the attention of the planning policy panel, who are responsible for overseeing the preparation of the LDP.

In his response he says: “At the moment the LDP (local development plan) policies have not been drafted so I will certainly take your suggested course of action into account when doing so.

“I cannot at this time say whether The Racecourse ground justifies a specific policy or designation in the LDP or whether it should be covered by general policies for the protection of community facilities.

However, I fully appreciate the importance of the issues that you have raised and I will bring them to the attention of the planning policy panel.

“It will be for the elected members who serve on the panel to recommend how The Racecourse ground should be dealt with in the LDP, although the final decision on the content of the deposit LDP will rest with the council’s executive board.”

He adds: “Please rest assured that I and members of the council fully appreciate the strong feelings among many people in Wrexham regarding the future of The Racecourse stadium and the role which it plays as a venue for sporting and cultural events in North Wales and that we will give the matter careful consideration in the deliberations on the local development plan.

“You will also be aware that in the recent past the council has approved planning applications for the redevelopment of land to the south of the ground with the express intention of helping secure its continued operation and the construction of a replacement stand.”

The petition already has well over 1,000 signatures.

You can be signed by logging on to www.petitiononline.com/LDPWFC21/petition.html.