Wrexham Central station is the subject of a closure notice brought about by a planning application by Railtrack and a developer, Trinity Investments, and a public hearing was held by the RUCC for Wales on 27th November.
The North Wales branch of RDS produced a report outlining the alternatives to closing the station, focusing on the benefits of creating the property development around the station rather than over it. The report was sent to all RUCC members shortly before the hearing.
The Wrexham Birkenhead Rail Users' Association (affiliated to RDS) and Wrexham MP Dr John Marek, who employed a research assistant to look into the matter, carried out a lot of research before the hearing. This included independent surveys of people who use the train to get to Wrexham Central. The WBRUA was fortunate to have its own transport consultant, Adrian Banfield, who produced relevant statistics.
The RUCC for Wales had a sub-committee of chairman, two committee members plus the secretary. There were 76 written objections and 24 people gave verbal objections at the hearing. In the afternoon the sub-committee started their deliberations, which was something of a stage show with the audience watching the performance. We were pleased with how critical they were! After much deliberation, the committee declared that the case for hardship had been proved but decided to defer the meeting pending reports on the cost of an alternative scheme to shift the station sideways next to the Little Theatre on Hill Street - one of the key recommendations of the RDS report.
After carrying on with their discussions, the RUCC announced that Railtrack and the developer had produced a new scheme which moved the station 25 metres into the site and then proceeded to invite the presentation of the plans to the hearing. We objected, since we had not seen the plans. After making Trinity and Railtrack explain their revised scheme for an hour, the chairman announced that the new plans could not be considered as this would mean the whole closure procedure going back to square one.
The RUCC for Wales concluded by stating they had confidential information for Railtrack to consider, but would still be advising the Rail Regulator that the case for hardship was still proved. We now wait for the report from the RUCC for Wales and the final decision by the Rail Regulator which must be given by 24th February. We feel we have been proved right and feel confident about the outcome.
Rod Fairley
The Rail Regulator has over-ruled the RUCC for Wales and recommended that Wrexham Central is to be closed / relocated.12/05/97