Eagles Meadow could be bar and restaurant centre for Wrexham

But the arrival of Eagles Meadow divided opinion from the start.

Opening to the public on Thursday, October 30, 2008, the development created about 1,000 jobs for local people and was expected to lift Wrexham into the top 100 towns for retail in the UK.

Read more:

• Shops we have lost and loved across Flintshire and Wrexham
• Memories of the characters and life of Wrexham markets

It was to include a multi-screen Odeon cinema, 24-lane tenpin bowling venue, a 90,000 sq ft Debenhams store, Marks and Spencer (which at 55,000 sq ft of floor space, was double the size of the chain's existing one in the town centre) and H&M, opening for the first time in Wrexham, alongside other retail names.

Restaurants included Pizza Express, Frankie and Benny's, Nando's, and Starbucks.

An aerial image of the shopping and entertainment under construction shared in the Leader's Local Bygones Facebook group, certainly caused quite the debate, with many claiming it was the start of the end for the town centre.

Looking down on the Eagles Meadow construction from 165ft above.

People across the region expressed their views on the site and the future of the city. Some said the development was a mistake from the beginning, with others saying it, and the city centre, could spring to life again...

Darren Kelly: "Should have made it a place for more food outlets and entertainment and not shops.

"Keep the shops in the town centre and money should have been spent revamping the town centre, think Liverpool One, just not on the same scale."

Demolition of the flyover bridge at the Eagles Meadow construction site, March 2007.

Sharon Sansbury: "It is such a shame that they didn't use Plas Coch for all the leisure facilities, gym, bowling, cinema etc and leave the shops in the town."

Gwil Roberts: "Excellent development only blighted by the crash in the national economy just as it was nearing completion.

"I don't subscribe to all the negativity around it, I like it. Better than the dump of old the Asda and scruffy huge car park cut in half by a flyover.

"If that was the good old days then they can keep them!"

The scale model of Eagles Meadow develpment.

Dean Trematick: "What a waste of money, would have been better spent on looking after the older town buildings."

Clifford Davies: "Wrexham was ruined by this construction, it took the heart out of the town, when the town centre lost its shops.

"Bring back the Wrexham of old where it was all bustle, and for bumping into friends. I remember it well, the markets etc. Then it will be the thriving place it used to be."

Eagles Meadow, March 2020.

Bob Brown: "Should never have been built. Ripped the heart out of the city centre."

Owain Davies: "It diluted and stretched the town centre just as tougher times and online shopping took off. Unfortunate strategy.

"Both Eagles Meadow and town centre are either empty or small brand shops. Big shop names need to be enticed back to Hope Street and Regent Street and Eagles Meadow pushed (carefully) as an entertainment and food venue. Relaunch."

Artist impression ahead of the construction Eagles Meadow.

Carl Evans: "Will end up being the best pubs and restaurants in North Wales, be brilliant for the younger generation."

Kenneth Page-Jones: "The council thought they were participating in the building of another Trafford Centre, when in fact they were fragmenting the retail heart of the town even more."

Jim Davies: "Eagles Meadow Shopping Centre desperately needs saving! Could be a great venue with some investment."

Laura Hooson: "Town centre used to be thriving with its markets and shops, its a shame how when all this amazingly positive stuff is happening to Wrexham for the football club bringing us into huge focus, the visiting public from outside the area have very little else to do in the town, and what will their impressions of it really be?"

Eagles Meadow under contruction in March 2007.

Michael Mcdaid: "We, once had one of the best towns in North Wales, with shops for all shoppers, with a massive Monday market, and one of the best cattle markets in Wales.

"Our town was a picture of old building with history, a lovely place to live in. I hate what Wrexham is today, but with Wrexham AFC promotion, it may bring back some big names, and bring back the people we have lost."

• What are your thoughts? How could the site be best used to benefit the city as a whole, and appeal to locals and visitors alike? Let us know by emailing news@leaderlive.co.uk

To see more photos of the region from days gone by, and nostalgic chat, visit the Local Bygones Facebook group.