A WREXHAM university has been accused of hypocrisy for celebrating the opening of a new £4m sports facility in the same week it fenced off part of a playing field.

Glyndwr University is holding a joint event with the Football Association of Wales on Sunday to officially open the new National Football Development Centre at Colliers Park in Gresford.

However, campaigners have hit out after the university put fencing up to restrict public access to a large section of a field on Dean Road in Rhosnesni on Monday, September 16.

The move forms part of an ongoing battle between the institute and local residents over its plans to gain permission for 74 houses on the land, which were rejected by Wrexham Council in July.

Rhosnesni councillor Mike Davies said he welcomed the new state-of-the-art football facility in Gresford, but criticised the university for seeking to profit from a space which is regularly used by children to play sports.

The Leader:

Campaigners have hit out after Glyndwr University put fencing up to restrict public access to a large section of a field on Dean Road in Rhosnesni. Image: Danielle Sinclair

He also called officials ‘insensitive’ for holding the ceremony on the same day as commemorations to remember the 266 men who lost their lives in the Gresford Colliery disaster.

He said: “The Dean Road field is an important part of our community and it’s where local children have played football and other sports for generations.

“We want to maintain this important green space for everyone to use, especially for young people who get so much out of playing sports in their community.

“We’re also surprised that Glyndwr is arranging this public launch on such a sensitive day as it clashes with the anniversary of the Gresford mining disaster.

“Considering the name of their new sporting facilities, which also commemorates the miners that perished, it’s grossly insensitive and suggests that Glyndwr has lost touch with its community roots.”

The Leader:

Chains and padlocks were placed round a gate on Holt Road, Wrexham to prevent members of the public from accessing the site. Image: Tracy Powell

Last month, the university put chains and padlocks round a gate onto the field.

Staff also installed signs stating it had withdrawn permission for people to use the space it wants to sell to developers to fund improvements to its main campus.

Officials claimed the new fences were installed to prevent a recent spate of vandalism and said room had been left to allow Borras Park Albion Football Club to continue playing on the site.

They added they had consulted with the North Wales Miners’ Association Trust about the timing of the opening event at Colliers Park.

The Leader:

A Glyndwr University spokesperson said: “Since we have withdrawn permission for public access to our land at Dean Road, our property has been subject to vandalism and where previously we have covered the costs of maintenance and security at this site, we are no longer in a position to justify the cost of this.

“Therefore, we need to secure the land by other means and the installation of a fence has commenced.

“We are continuing to work with Borras Park Albion Football Club to retain a football pitch, which is why the fence is not covering the full area of land that we own.

“The opening of Colliers Park was specifically chosen by the FAW for the 22nd of September to pay further respects to the memorial of the Gresford Colliery disaster.

“It has been designed to be sensitive to the timings of the memorial service, which will be attended by local dignitaries – as well as staff members of the Football Association of Wales – prior to the opening of Colliers Park.”