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| Wrexham £250m super-prison plans backed | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Proposals for a 2,000-inmate super-prison for Wrexham have been given outline planning permission. | |
| At Monday's Wrexham council planning meeting, 14 councillors voted for the jail, with one against and three abstentions. | |
| The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) announced in September that the former Firestone site was its choice. | |
| However, opponents have raised concerns over the consultation and the disruption the prison might bring. | |
| Located on the Wrexham Industrial Estate, the UK government says the new prison will create 760 jobs at the jail - generating £23m a year for the local economy. | Located on the Wrexham Industrial Estate, the UK government says the new prison will create 760 jobs at the jail - generating £23m a year for the local economy. |
| The plans include three four-storey house blocks, up to 18m (59ft) in height, with a compound surrounded by a fence that would be 160m (525ft) from the nearest homes at Pentre Maelor. | |
| But officials say the area is already dominated by industry and businesses, according to a report to the council planning committee. | But officials say the area is already dominated by industry and businesses, according to a report to the council planning committee. |
| "The prison buildings will be no closer to Pentre Maelor and the warehouse buildings of the F Lloyd Penley site or buildings of the Hydro Aluminium site," they say. | "The prison buildings will be no closer to Pentre Maelor and the warehouse buildings of the F Lloyd Penley site or buildings of the Hydro Aluminium site," they say. |
| More than half the prison workforce is expected to be local, and it is estimated that expenditure in the Wrexham economy will be equivalent to another 80 full-time jobs. | More than half the prison workforce is expected to be local, and it is estimated that expenditure in the Wrexham economy will be equivalent to another 80 full-time jobs. |
| "The selection of the site for an important piece of national infrastructure is a significant and positive endorsement of both the Wrexham Industrial Estate and the County Borough," the report adds. | "The selection of the site for an important piece of national infrastructure is a significant and positive endorsement of both the Wrexham Industrial Estate and the County Borough," the report adds. |
| "Furthermore, the location of a major employer in the county borough will result in job opportunities for local people that currently do not exist." | "Furthermore, the location of a major employer in the county borough will result in job opportunities for local people that currently do not exist." |
| Opposition | Opposition |
| However, Abenbury Community Council, which represents the Pentre Maelor area, strongly objects to the development. | |
| It complains of "insufficient consultation with the local community, either during the process of identifying the site or after the announcement of the selection of the former Firestone site". | It complains of "insufficient consultation with the local community, either during the process of identifying the site or after the announcement of the selection of the former Firestone site". |
| Residents have also questioned the findings of traffic surveys, noise levels during construction, and ecological impacts. | Residents have also questioned the findings of traffic surveys, noise levels during construction, and ecological impacts. |
| The charity, Butterfly Conservation Wales, has also objected to the plans. | The charity, Butterfly Conservation Wales, has also objected to the plans. |
| It says the site is a "key landscape" for the Grizzled Skipper butterfly - and one of only five "robust populations left in Wales". | It says the site is a "key landscape" for the Grizzled Skipper butterfly - and one of only five "robust populations left in Wales". |
| But responding to the concerns, planning officers at the council concluded: "These proposals will deliver significant investment in a site on the Wrexham Industrial Estate that has been vacant for a lengthy period of time and deliver much needed additional employment opportunities in the area." | |
| Councillors were recommended to approve outline planning permission, but on the condition of funding for a number of community projects. | |
| Those include £15,000 for three years to fund a Sunday bus service in the area, and £20,000 for three years to extend bus services to Wrexham General rail station. | Those include £15,000 for three years to fund a Sunday bus service in the area, and £20,000 for three years to extend bus services to Wrexham General rail station. |
| The report also called for a scheme of "ecological mitigation measures" for land next to the site, and the long term-management of those areas. |