“Fantastic” Plans From Brymbo Heritage Area Could Get Council Backing

A multi-million pound regeneration and tourism project in an important heritage area could get the backing of Wrexham County Borough Council ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

After years of development, consultation with residents and partners and early stages of funding, the Brymbo Heritage Group is ready to deliver the first phase of its vision for the area – a major scheme which will redevelop and promote the area’s historical assets. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Since the early 1990s, the Heritage Group has worked at redeveloping the former site of Brymbo Steelworks, which closed in 1990. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

After attracting funding and support from a number of organisations – including the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Princes’ Trust – the Brymbo Heritage Group is now able to begin the development stage of its wide-ranging project. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Running from the spring of 2017 to the end of 2018, this phase of the project will involve environmental and engineering surveys; detailed design work and community engagement. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In preparation for its first phase of works, the Group – via the Brymbo Heritage Trust, set up to support the project – will begin making appeals for funding, and has approached Wrexham Council to back its bids for further funding. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A report recommending that Wrexham Council support the Trust’s proposals, and that the Trust be supported in its work by officers from the council, will go to Executive Board next week. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It also recommends that the council write a letter of support on behalf of the Trust, which could then be used to help secure vital funding. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Hugh Jones, Lead Member for Communities and Partnerships, said: “The proposals put forward by the Brymbo Heritage Group really are exciting and, worthy of our support. The potential for this scheme to help revitalise the area really can’t be underestimated. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Brymbo Steelworks was the last of a long line of industrial activity in the area, along with the many other industries – including mining, lead smelting, quarrying and brickmaking – that form a vital part of our industrial heritage. Brymbo and the surrounding areas contributed hugely to the Industrial Revolution ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As well as the Steelworks, Brymbo is home to the Fossil Forest – an incredible, world-class site of huge paleobotanical significance and Wales’ prehistorical past. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I hope my Executive Board colleagues join me in supporting the Trust’s plans for regeneration, as our support will help them to deliver their proposals and attract further funding from a wider range of partners.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​