County now 'aims to improve' reprieved youth centre field

* Mike Edwards' recent picture of the youth centre field.

The youth centre field's recent reprieve from being earmarked for housing will allow the county council to improve it and increase its use.

That's the word from Denbighshire in response to a question from llanblogger about why it has just been removed from the list of candidate sites for possible future development.

Earlier this week we reported how a campaign backed by local Assembly Member Ken Skates and the area's two county councillors had urged the council to withdraw proposals which would have seen houses go up on land on Willow Street, including the football pitch next to the youth centre.

The site, covering one hectare, is currently used for youth club and pitches and it had been suggested for residential development when it appeared in the list of candidate sites for Denbighshire's next Local Development Plan (LDP).

Mr Skates wrote to Denbighshire's chief executive Judith Greenhalgh last August to raise his concerns and to call for the site to be withdrawn from the list of 11 proposed plots for new houses.

Mr Skates also said he was concerned that Llangollen county councillors Graham Timms and Mel Mile were not consulted on the plans before they were published last year.

Cllr Graham Timms said earlier this week: “After a long battle I am delighted that the youth club and football field has been saved for Llangollen’s young people."

A spokesman for Denbighshire County Council has since said: “The football pitch site is not included in the LDP as a possible housing site to allow the council to work with partners to investigate whether we can improve the football pitch and increase use.

“The youth club remains in regular use and this important local service will continue.”

Local resident Mike Edwards recently wrote to Cllr Timms to express his concern about the current state of the field.

In an email, a copy of which was sent to llanblogger: "I am very concerned that the football pitch has been out of commission for months being cordoned off where SG Estates have constructed a below-ground soak-away for the Vicarage Road Development.

"The area has remained in this condition for sometime meaning it is unavailable for local youths to use. There is no sign of any final reinstatement work and no consultation or communication with residents to keep them in the picture, it’s our town and our facilities after all."

Steve Griffin, managing director of SG Estates responded: "The final seeding for the football pitch will be carried out when we have suitable weather."