CONCERNS are growing over the lack of any definite plan for the old Vicarage site on Rhosddu Road in Wrexham.

The old Vicarage, also known as 'Centre 67' was owned by the council and used by the social services department. 

The building was bulldozed earlier this month.

The stated intention by the council leader Mark Pritchard was that the wider site would be cleared for council housing.

A protest took place in November, with concerned residents making their feelings clear about the demolition. 

Now local councillor Marc Jones, who wanted the building to be retained and adapted into the new scheme, has expressed concerns that there is no plan in place to develop the site. 

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He said: "I've backed council housing on the overall site because it's needed for local residents. But the council leadership insisted that the old Vicarage had to be demolished to enable the scheme to go ahead. I've questioned this because the building could have been incorporated into any new development and would have retained a feature of the local landscape.

"So I'm very concerned to hear from the chief officer in charge of housing and assets that it's only now that a 'master plan specification has been commissioned to go out for tender to look at this site to enable the development of this site, which will look at various options for the site'.

"On top of that, there is no specific funding allocated for developing the site - the same response confirmed that Housing Revenue Account funds are available for new social housing building but there is none allocated as yet for this site. 

The Leader: The demolished site The demolished site (Image: Cllr Marc Jones)

"The delay in commissioning a master plan means the site will lie idle - possibly for years - while the coalition running this council decides what to do with the land. There is nothing to stop it, as things stand, from selling it to the highest bidder. People on the housing waiting list in Rhosddu deserve better than that after all this talk of delivering social housing."

Cllr Jones, who represents the Grosvenor ward for Plaid Cymru, added: "The overall site consists of the demolished building, Greenacres and the Cunliffe Centre. While Greenacres is being emptied of council staff, there is also no clarity on the future of the Cunliffe Centre, which provides a valuable service for adults with disabilities. Staff and service users also deserve some clarity and reassurance one way or another after seeing the old Vicarage demolition."

Wrexham Council did not want to comment.