AN APPLICATION to build 362 homes in Llay has been approved by councillors.

Permission to build on the site was granted by First Minister Carwyn Jones on appeal last year, however earlier this month councillors voted to defer reserved matters relating to the application pending a site visit.

Videos and images by Craig Colville

Members of Wrexham Council's planning committee visited the Gresford Road site in Llay yesterday to get a closer look for themselves before deciding the outcome.

The site visit saw a heavy presence from local residents campaigning against the planning application, with campaign leader Denis Owen saying: "we want them on our side."

Following the site visit the councillors returned to the Guildhall to begin a long debate on the future of the site.

The main talking points of the meeting revolved around the removal of the 200-year-old wall and hedgerow to create driveways, the impact on road safety that the new driveways and increased traffic would cause and whether the land was safe to build on owing to former mineshafts underneath the field.

Councillor for Llay, Rob Walsh, said: "What drives me and my community is that this application is done properly.

"I would like to see the stone wall preserved and for me with the hedgerows, I feel that local wildlife will be damaged by ripping them out."

Cllr Walsh had concerns regarding the estate being used as a shortcut between Gresford Road and the Straight Mile, saying: "Unless something magical happens, any road through the estate will be used as a rat run."

There was much back and forth regarding the direction that any new houses on Gresford Road should face, with Cllr Walsh suggesting that for safety reasons they should back onto the road rather than have a driveway.

He said: "Having driveways onto the main road has an element of risk to it. I think with a bit of imagination we could have the driveways pointing inwards."

And regarding the mineshafts under the field, Cllr Walsh said: "For the sake of the residents, lets get to the bottom of this. Let the residents see what is going on with this land."

Andrew Atkinson, councillor for neighbouring ward Gresford, said: "I am in agreement with other councillors. I believe that the hedges and walls should be retained.

"Serious thought and attention should be paid to traffic and I hope land issues are looked at before a determination is even considered."

An initial vote to amend and refuse the application was put forwards, with five members of the planning committee voting for, five against with one abstention with the deciding vote being given to chair of the committee Councillor Mike Morris, who voted against the amendment.

Following the defeat of the amendment the application itself was put forward, with once again five voting for, five against and one abstention. In line with his duties Cllr Morris once again cast the deciding vote, this time in favour of the application.