Chirk traveller site plans: Call for major improvements to 'dangerous' road
Major improvements need to be made to a "dangerous" road near to a proposed travellers' site at Chirk, residents have said.
The controversial plans for a travellers' site next to the Halton roundabout were discussed at a planning appeal.
The planning application was originally lodged by Mary Berry in 2015, to use the land adjacent to the bungalow on Old Black Park Road to provide seven traveller pitches but the proposals have been met with strong opposition from residents and councillors.
Mrs Berry is a member of the Berry family, who already have a relationship within the local community, having been located in the Wrexham and Shropshire areas for a number of years.
The application had been refused by Wrexham County Borough Council on the grounds of vehicular access, highway safety and visibility.
Highways consultant Jeremy Hurlestone, representing Mrs Berry, said if permission for the site was granted, there could be the potential for 50 to 70 additional vehicular movements per day.
Local resident John McMahon, who lives near to the proposed site, told the appeal at Wrexham Memorial Hall yesterday: "This road was not meant for the heavy traffic it gets, we need improvements and major money spent by the council to improve safety on this road. It needs a footpath.
"Before any more planning applications, it needs major improvements doing because it's dangerous as it is."
He said the road was also used as a "rat run" to get to McDonald's in Chirk.
Councillor Terry Evans also raised concerns about the potential site occupants' human rights, as the site was located so close to the council's highways depot, where the council's salt is stored for gritting routes during the winter months.
He said: "From a human rights perspective, the salt depot works 24 hours a day during the winter, and when the buckets on the vehicles hit the road, they're loud and will keep occupants awake at night.
"Current residents who aren't as close as the potential occupants will be are kept awake, so of course they would be too."
Concerns were also raised by residents about the proximity of the site to the airfield. Following the appeal hearing, planning inspector Melissa Hall will consider all the evidence and come back with a decision in due course.
