Wrexham Council was delighted this week to receive long-awaited good news with a green light for the county borough’s industrial access roads scheme.
The Welsh Assembly Government announcement completes the processes of last October’s Public Inquiry into Compulsory Purchase Orders and Side Road Orders for each of the northern and southern access roads. The WAG confirmed earlier this year confirmed it would continue funding for the development of the scheme through the 2010/11 financial year.
The way is now clear for construction of the access roads. Contractors wishing to tender for the works have already been invited to express their interest. Shortlisted companies will, in June, be asked to submit tenders for the construction work. Main construction should start in spring 2011 and the new roads should be open to traffic in summer 2012.
Advance work to protect the habitats of wildlife species, install fencing and clear the site will begin in late summer this year. Diversion of some public utilities’ apparatus should also take place this year before the main works begin.
In a joint statement, delighted Leader of the Council, Aled Roberts, and the council’s Lead Member for Transport, Councillor David Bithell said: “We are thrilled that the industrial estate will at last be given the improved access it desperately needs. This will give a much-needed boost to one of the largest industrial estates in Europe, making its businesses more competitive. It will open up the door to expansion and make the estate more attractive to new businesses. This, in turn should secure existing jobs and create new opportunities for employment. The scheme will also improve the local environment and make local roads safer. This is a great day for Wrexham.”
Councillor Bithell, added, ” I am so pleased that the Assembly Government has expressed its confidence in Wrexham and in the industrial estate in particular through its continued funding of the scheme and I want to record my thanks to them for that. I am pleased too that the Minister found the case that Wrexham made for the confirmation of the Orders was justified and I thank him for his deliberation and the officers of Wrexham council for their hard work. We should now all look forward with confidence to the next phase in the life of the industrial estate.”
