SOME of Wrexham’s biggest planning issues are to come under the spotlight.
The former Groves School in the centre of Wrexham, the old Ruabon brickworks in Hafod Road and the former Minera Quarry will all go under the microscope at public hearings, which start next week.
As part of the process to develop its latest Local Development Plan (LDP), Wrexham Council is staging the exhaustive examination procedure at its Guildhall headquarters from Thursday.
The 17 separate sessions will last until Wednesday, February 29.
Other key issues to be considered will be the provision of accommodation for gipsies and the possible development of the former Flexsys and Air Products sites in Acrefair.
Also under consideration are far-reaching planning strategies for new and affordable housing, protection of the countryside and the rural economy.
Each hearing will take evidence from council officers and other interested parties.
Among those lined up to address the session on Tuesday, February 21, when the future use of the Flexsys and Air Products sites are discussed are members of the Plas Kynaston Canal Group, who have an ambitious plan to create a boating marina at nearby Cefn Mawr.
On the same day, the suitability of the long-disused Groves School site in Powell
Road for mixed use development will be discussed.
Other development sites on the hearing’s agenda include land at the former Ruabon brickworks in Hafod Road, the former Minera Quarry and Bersham Colliery tip.
The question of whether the amount of new housing proposed is appropriate to meet the needs of the county over the next few years will be examined at the session next Thursday.
The next day, topics for discussion will be the provision of accommodation for the gipsy and traveller community, special care housing and whether the LDP makes sufficient provision for affordable housing.
Provision of land earmarked in the LDP for employment land will bediscussed on Tuesday, February 9, when the merits of a number of sites will be considered.
These include Stansty Lodge, between Mold Road and the A483 at Wrexham, Tyn Twll Farm at Holt Road and Kingsmoor Park, Bryn Lane, Wrexham.
On Wednesday, February 22, a hearing will look into the suitability of a number of sites for housing.
Included on the list are the former Brother site at Croesnewydd Road, the former Hightown Flats and the former gasworks site at Rivulet Road.
A Wrexham Council spokesman said: “All sessions are open to the public.
“Invitations to speak are controlled by the planning inspector in response to representations made at earlier stages of the plan.
“All those who can speak have been informed by the Inspector.”