Concerns voiced over empty Llan properties

* The Old Bank building off the A5.

The chair of Keep Llangollen Special has voiced his concerns about the new of empty shops and commercial premises in the town centre.

Mike Edwards said: “Llangollen is relatively fortunate that there is currently a relatively low vacancy rate amongst shops, but Jades Home has recently closed down and there are many other vacant or underused buildings which the local authorities are failing to tackle.

“For example, the Old Bank Buildings in Berwyn Street, the chapel opposite, the old Job Centre and the old seed factory on the A5 and so on.”

He added:  “If Denbighshire County Council allow Sainsbury's to build out of town and the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board relocate the Community Hospital to a health centre also on the edge of town and take with it the chemist, dentist etc, which is what they propose, it will ruin our vibrant town centre.”

Along the same lines, Mr Edwards has just received a response from Denbighshire County Council to comments he sent in about the authority’s draft priorities for 2012-17.

Tony Ward, the council’s improvements priority manager, writes to Mr Edwards: “Although the priorities for this council have not yet been agreed, I would be surprised if ‘Developing the Local Economy’ did not feature prominently in the Corporate Plan once it is agreed, and that many of the issues your raise were not included within that priority.  

“The intention is for the corporate priorities to last for the 5 years of this council term, and the detail of all the draft priorities has rightly not yet been developed fully. Once the Corporate Plan is agreed, the council will develop a programme of work to help deliver the priorities, and the issues you raise are clearly relevant to that discussion and are extremely valid. I certainly recognise many of your comments from conversations I have had with other members of the public and also with some Members of the council.  

“Your comments will be passed on to our Elected Members when the Council meet to debate the content of the Corporate Plan on 9th October 2012, and you are more than welcome to come to that meeting if you wish. I will also pass on your individual comments to the relevant Heads of Service so that they can consider your comments in the planning and delivery of those services.”

 

* The old chapel opposite.

* The former Jades at Home store in Castle Street.

 

* Former Job Centre in Castle Street.