MP ignites jobs row with Wrexham Council

A FIERCE row has erupted over Wrexham Council’s record on attracting new jobs to the borough.

Clwyd South MP Martyn Jones says that when it comes to the authority’s handling of planning applications he wonders whether the ‘right hand knows what the left hand is doing’.

But council leader, Cllr Aled Roberts, says the planning committee must be allowed to operate without ‘political interference’.

The row blew up after Mr Jones hit out at the council’s recent rejection of a plan by Kingsmoor Park Properties Ltd to build two new warehouses on Wrexham Industrial Estate.

The bid was supported by TDG, a local employer which wanted to expand its existing Wrexham facility on to the site.

A second unit was also being promoted for another local company.Councillors refused permission on policy grounds as the application sought permission for two occupiers of the new floor space whereas the unitary development policy limits the site to a single occupier.

But Mr Jones launched an attack on Cllr Roberts on the basis of his comments in the Evening Leader last week in which he said North East Wales needed to attract new businesses.

The MP said: “I am stunned the council can claim to be working to support local businesses when they turn down planning proposals that could support the local economy and workers on mere technicalities.

“You do wonder sometimes whether the right hand knows what the left hand is doing.”

Mr Jones added: “TDG’s proposal would have developed the Wrexham Industrial Estate and brought new jobs into the region.

“Maybe the rigid application of the rules in this case has some deeper motive behind it.

“It does seem hypocritical to be denying opportunities to local businesses one week and then waxing lyrical about the need for more local business jobs in the area.”

Cllr Roberts hit back: “I was not aware until Martyn Jones’ press release that Wrexham Council was responsible for all the job losses within the manufacturing sector in Wrexham.

“Obviously Mr Jones does not accept any responsibility on behalf of the UK government for the area’s current economic performance.

“I would have hoped we would be working together to tackle the serious difficulties we face.

“Although Mr Jones would have us believe otherwise, there has been discussion regarding the apparent conflict between the need to follow planning law and the need to provide jobs.

“That is why the council’s Economic Development Department was a supporter of the TDG application rejected by the planning committee.”He added: “Due to our statutory responsibilities the planning committee must be allowed to operate without political interference.

“Mr Jones seems to imply that planning applications should be considered differently if they are made by big business compared to other residents.

“My comments were that this council will do everything it can to attract jobs to the area working alongside the Welsh Assembly Government and UK agencies but this will not be at the price of forcing our planners to adopt one rule for business and another for everyone else.”