Top businessmen call for Wrexham to become North Wales regional capital

A campaign has been launched to secure official recognition for Wrexham as the regional capital of North Wales.

The call came from a trio of top local businessmen at a meeting of the influential group, Wrexham Business Professionals, that's made up of the town's accountants and solicitors

Around 80 key figures from area’s business and financial community came together in the Catrin Finch Centre at Glyndwr University for the latest meeting of the group.

Amongst guests were the patriarchs of two of Wales’ top bakeries, both based in Wrexham – Alan Jones, chairman of the Village Bakery and Philip Gerrard Jones, chairman of Gerrards Bakery.

They pointed out that Wrexham is the largest town in North Wales by some distance and is home to the biggest industrial estate in Wales and the second biggest in the UK.

The successful duo also referred to a Royal Mail survey showing that the LL11 postcode, which covers a large part of Wrexham county borough, has been named in the top 10 most desirable places to live in Wales.

The study, undertaken for Royal Mail by the Centre for Economic and Business Research, calculated the most desirable areas by looking at factors like good schools, access to green spaces, good employment prospects, the availability of affordable housing and average commuting times.

Taking some of the top spots were Bradley, Brymbo, Brynteg, Bwlchgwyn, Coedpoeth, Cymau, Ffrith, Gwersyllt, Gwynfryn, Llandegla, Minera, Rhosrobin, Stansty and Tanyfron.

Alan Jones, whose family firm has three bakeries in the Wrexham area and was named as Wales’s fastest growing in 2013 and Wales' fastest growing manufacturer last year, isn't surprised by the findings of the survey.

He said: “Over the past few years companies such as mine have seen some amazing growth and the new access road to Wrexham Industrial Estate has given us an even greater advantage. We also have so many other important assets, like Glyndwr University and the museum.

“Given that Wrexham is clearly such a great place to live and to work, I absolutely think it should be officially recognised as the capital of North Wales.”

Philip Gerrard Jones, chairman of Gerrards, the oldest family firm of craft bakers in Wales established in 1838 and also based in LL11, agreed, saying: “It’s excellent that parts of our borough have been confirmed as so desirable because we need to attract lots more people to work in the new jobs that are now being created in the area as we head out of the recession.

“With all that’s going on here economically at the moment Wrexham really ought to be designated as the capital of North Wales.”