Flintshire Council leader hails plans to regenerate ‘key community’ of Shotton

Plans to regenerate a “key community” in Flintshire have been praised by a leading politician. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

It follows proposals to create a master plan for Shotton being approved in a bid to tackle anti-social behaviour problems in the town. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Flintshire Council has received an increasing number of concerns about crime in the area, which officials warned could hamper its prospects if they are not addressed. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Despite the issues, council leader Ian Roberts has now said he believes the town has huge potential thanks to its existing transport links. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Speaking at a virtual meeting of the local authority’s ruling Labour cabinet yesterday (Tuesday, 16 February), he said: “I’m very much in support of the development of the Shotton master plan, which was driven by a number of issues during the summer. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We held a meeting with local members where we discussed those issues and a number of areas that need attention will get very immediate attention.
“Shotton is a key community which is at the physical heart of the Deeside conurbation. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“It contains one of the greatest concentrations of banks in the county and it does have transport advantages of regular bus and rail services. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“It has connections with Wrexham and Liverpool, and it has a considerable amount going for it. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“As a council, we need to ensure that we progress the work in our town centres and in our communities.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Cabinet members highlighted a number of recent investments in the area, including the creation of the Hwb Cyfle adult day centre, the brand new £11m Plas Derwen pupil referral unit and the Tŷ Calon Community Hub. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

There are also plans in the pipeline to redevelop Shotton railway station and Deeside Leisure Centre. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Cllr Roberts also welcomed the backing of North Wales Police after commending a recent increase in police presence in the town. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

He said: “It’s very interesting to note that the police have been very co-operative with this venture. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“I note that recently the new inspector for Flintshire has been very active in Shotton. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“It is particularly welcome that police appear to be returning to communities.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Senior councillors supported the creation of an action plan to improve the town centre, as well as a task force to oversee it. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The completed master plan is due to be brought back to cabinet members in July for further approval. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Liam Randall – Local Democracy Reporter (more here). ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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