PLANS to move forward with the demolition of a notorious former children’s home in Wrexham have been unanimously approved.

It comes despite a former resident of the Bryn Estyn home, which was at the centre of a scandal over physical and sexual abuse, calling for the building to be saved.

Members of Wrexham Council’s ruling administration were told on Tuesday that the site could be used as the location for a new primary school.

It would serve land earmarked for 1,600 new homes in the area’s Local Development Plan.

Assurances have also been given that the decision will not affect the Erlas Victorian Walled Garden group, who currently lease part of the site to provide training opportunities for adults with learning disabilities.

Speaking at an executive board meeting, Cllr Phil Wynn (Ind) said mothballing the building, which later served as office space, was currently costing the education department £36,000 a year.

He said: “As I see it, this a waste of public money and I have been pushing officers over the last year to bring this report to the executive board at the earliest possible moment.

“One of the reasons why there has been a delay in bringing this report to executive board is that we wanted assurances from Cadw they had no specific interest in having the building listed.

“Once the building is demolished the cost for that site will return to zero but the education department will retain an interest in the plot of land because it’s significant in size.

“As has been outlined, there is potential through the Local Development Plan for the building of 1,600 new houses in that locality which will dictate that we need a primary school to serve that community.”

Cllr Wynn, lead member for education, said officers had looked at the possiblility of keeping the existing building and converting it into a primary school.

However, he said they concluded that it was not possible.

The Jillings report, which was published in 2013 after being kept confidential almost two decades, concluded there was “extensive” mistreatment of youngsters at the home during the 1970s and 80s.

After closing in 1984, the building later became known as the Erlas Centre and was used by workers at Wrexham Council.

A review carried out during 2011 found the property was surplus to requirements, but plans to remove it have not been moved forward until now.

However, former resident Keith Gregory, who has spoken out about the abuse he suffered during his four-year stay at the home, said before the meeting that he wanted to see it preserved.

The former Smithfield county councillor said: “We had bad things happen to us in that home, but to a lot of people it was still our home.

“It wasn’t the building that hurt us, it was the people who were employed there.

“Wrexham has lost a lot of its buildings and heritage and it’s a lovely building.

“I go down to the Victorian gardens there quite often and for me, I think it helps to be honest.”

Following the executive board’s decision, a series of ecological surveys will be carried out to allow the demolition to go ahead.

Council leader Mark Pritchard (Ind) said it was expected to be knocked down by September 2020.