Wrexham councillors are worried about the Welsh Government’s decision to appeal a recent court ruling on the local development plan
Wrexham: Recently, the Court of Appeal sided with councillor Marc Jones regarding the local development plan. This decision was a big win for local governance.
Developers had previously challenged the plan, but the court dismissed their judicial review. It’s a relief for many in the community.
However, the Welsh Government isn’t backing down. They’ve decided to appeal the ruling, which has left many councillors feeling uneasy.
Wrexham Council has chosen not to contest the court’s decision after getting legal advice. But the Welsh Government’s move to appeal has raised eyebrows.
In a joint statement, councillors expressed their deep concern. They feel the Welsh Government is undermining local councils’ authority to make decisions for their communities.
They pointed out that while they funded their case, the Welsh Government is using taxpayer money to pursue this appeal, which they believe was already settled.
Questions were raised about who authorized this appeal and why the government is focusing on this instead of pressing issues like the NHS and child poverty.
The councillors are clear: they want a development plan that truly meets Wrexham’s needs. They don’t agree with the plan pushed by inspectors and feel they have the right to reject it.
They also accused the Welsh Government of siding with developers over local democracy. It’s a frustrating situation for those who feel their voices aren’t being heard.
In response, a Welsh Government spokesperson stated that they’ve applied to the Supreme Court for permission to appeal but couldn’t comment further due to ongoing litigation.
