FAO: POLICY SECTION
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
WREXHAM COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL

July 2009

Dear Sirs,

Online Petition in Favour of WREXHAM LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2006-2021. LDP

The RED PASSION community website consisting of Wrexham fans from all corners of the globe and including residents of Wrexham Borough, wish to encourage councillors on the planning policy committee, to agree by way of majority, that The Racecourse Stadium, Mold Road, Wrexham, should be clearly identified in the LDP as an area which is protected and reserved for leisure activities, in particular in its role as the Football Stadium in North Wales for hosting international sporting events and major cultural programmes. The stadium has been used for this purpose since 1877 and the current pitch since the turn of the last century.

The North Wales Economic Forum has identified the Stadium as the regional venue for events such as international football, rugby and other team events. This theory is borne out by the stadium currently being used as one of only four venues in Wales for the junior World Cup Rugby tournament and the only venue in North Wales. The North Wales Economic Forum has adopted the N. Wales sports strategy which singles out the Racecourse Ground for this purpose. The Welsh Assembly Minister for Sport, Culture and the Welsh Language accepted this document formally as the basis for WAG policy development relating to North Wales and sport and physical activity. We are of the view to secure the ground through the Local Development Plan is therefore in line with national policy.

The Welsh Assembly Governments position is that looking at Wales as a whole, it is important that the residents in the North should be able to access such major events in their own region and not be reliant on venues in South Wales. The importance of this policy position is reinforced by the physical activity and health and well-being agendas in particular the opportunity to see at first hand the stars of Welsh sport has a cathartic effect on young people and children in terms of raising their enthusiasm to be active themselves. The influence of participation in sporting activity is recognised by the World Health Authority [WHO] as promoting health and wellbeing and improving quality of life.

Strategically the location of the Racecourse Stadium in Wrexham is ideal for a twenty-first century venue for international sport in particular in relation to the transport infrastructure. The Stadium footprint is close to the main road routes and, perhaps more importantly in terms of environmentally less-damaging transportation methods, is adjacent to the railway station and the national train network and is within walking distance of the central bus station.

Whilst being conveniently located in logistical terms, the Stadium is also well-sited to allow pedestrian access to the supporting facilities of the town itself food and refreshment premises, hotels and general shops.

From a Wrexham viewpoint, the loss of such an important leisure facility in the County Borough at this existing location would have a hugely detrimental effect in terms of:-

economic impact;
promotional awareness re: Wrexham across the international community;
the health and well being of the County Borough.
landmark entrance to an important artery into the town
damage Wrexhams aspirations to City status

We would also like to point to the civic pride that the residents of Wrexham have in this impressive facility and its undoubted heritage. Through the outstanding perseverance of a Wrexham fan, the Racecourse Stadium has secured a record as the oldest International football stadium in the world that is still in use today. This is an outstanding legacy for the Borough to be extremely proud of and naturally to wish to protect.

The Red Passion Community website would therefore request that for the powerful reasons detailed in this letter, the Racecourse Stadium be included as detailed in the Local Development Plan [LDP] and secured for our future grandchildren for generations to come. We would be grateful if you are able to acknowledge receipt of our online petition.

Yours faithfully,


The RED PASSION community.


www.redpassion.co.uk

Re: Fans Lobbying to Protect Racecourse.