Council plans to close community centre meet opposition

A council plans to shut a community resource centre and turn it into an adult daycare facility – but councillors across the political spectrum have united in opposition.

The deputy leader of Wrexham council said moving the adult day care service from the Cunliffe Centre to Acton Community Resource Centre was part of the financial trade‑off needed to keep Wrexham's libraries open.

Under the plans, Cunliffe Centre is tied into a wider project to build new social housing in Rhosddu, near Wrexham.

All five Wrexham county councillors have joined forces to challenge the plans, with a petition in opposition nearing 500 signatures.

Councillor David Bithell said plans to revamp Acton Community Resource Centre to replace the Cunliffe Centre were linked to a required £185,000 saving in the Libraries and Resource Centre budget.

He said councillors approved the saving during the 2024 budget process, and council officers were "tasked with finding these efficiencies".

In February, Wrexham council confirmed it intended to keep all of its libraries open across the county after strong public feedback from the consultation.

Bithell said repurposing the building was not the same as closing it - despite a previous Wrexham council statement saying plans would mean community groups would have to find new homes.

He said: "We want to clarify that we are not closing Acton Resource Centre, but repurposing it to accommodate the day care opportunities service currently based at the Cunliffe Centre, which supports vulnerable people who need our help."

Bithell said a meeting was held with local councillors about the project to turn Cunliffe Centre into 59 new council-owned homes in Rhosddu.

"This is so important, when we have a waiting list of nearly 3,000 people in desperate need of council accommodation," he said, adding that it was "disappointing" that some councillors were not supportive of the plans.

He added that Acton Community Council no longer contributes any financial support to the running of the building, and stopped their contribution of £30,000 at the end of 2023.

A petition to save the community centre has been set up by Labour councillor Corin Jarvis and is now approaching 500 signatures.

The issue has seen councillors unite across the political divide, with Plaid Cymru, Labour, Conservative and independent councillors all campaigning to save the centre.

The issue is due to be discussed at a council meeting later this month.