'No vote' for Erddig homes plan

Campaigners want the National Trust to abandon the housing plans

Calls for a proposed housing development on Wrexham's Erddig estate to be scrapped are made after a local referendum returned a "no vote".

Wrexham Council, which ran the vote, confirmed 385 people voted against the proposals, with 209 in favour.

A local residents' committee and Welsh language pressure group Cymuned objected to the plans.

The National Trust, which owns the land, has been asked to comment on the referendum.

It claims money from the project - which would include 223 homes - would help safeguard the future of Erddig Hall and about 1,000 acres of adjoining land for enjoyment by the public.

It's been a hard slog to get this far and we hope that the National Trust will now withdraw their plans Tara Green, Rhostyllen Residents' Committee

It has also said the development would create affordable homes.

But the Rhostyllen Residents' Committee, backed by Cymuned, claim the development could cause increased traffic, environmental damage, pressure on services and loss of local identity.

The campaigners persuaded Wrexham Council to stage the referendum in the ward of Esclusham - which includes the villages of Rhostyllen, Bersham and Pentre Bychan - on Tuesday.

A council spokeswoman confirmed the figures on Wednesday.

She also confirmed that 307 people supported a vote of no confidence in Esclusham community council, with 221 disagreeing.

Tara Green, secretary of Rhostyllen Residents' Committee, said: "We're very pleased with the result.

The Trust has said money from the development will safeguard the hall

"It's been a hard slog to get this far and we hope that the National Trust will now withdraw their plans.

"If they don't, we hope that Wrexham Council's planning committee will take the referendum result into account when they consider the application.

"The turnout was 25%, which is very good when you consider that it's 30-40% in a normal election."

She said the committee would meet on Wednesday night to discuss the next stage of its campaign.

She added: "After the no confidence vote, we hope that members of the community council will now do the decent thing and resign."

Wrexham Council said the planning process was continuing and the application would go before councillors at "the earliest opportunity."

The spokeswoman said the proposed site had been zoned for housing in the unitary development plan and outline planning permission for a housing development had already been granted.