There were complaints that Wrexham didn't need a new theatre

Councillors voted last month to abandon the �6m project and now that decision has been ratified by the authority's executive board, which consists of its leading members.

Work on the theatre and conference centre was due to start this year, but money problems and local opposition blighted the project from day one.

A �4.6m grant awarded by the Arts Council of Wales to help fund the project will now have to be paid back.

Following the decision last year by the full Wrexham Council not to build the theatre, its trustees said they felt "let down".

But John Marek, the Wrexham AM, said he was delighted at the decision.

"I believe that following the full council vote the executive board could do no other," he said.

The executive board had to seek legal advice before approving the council's decision, after the theatre's board of trustees raised concerns about the vote.

However the matter was investigated and it was found there were no legal reasons not to abandon the scheme.

Community theatre

Many people living locally objected to the project, claiming there was no need for another theatre in the area.

The William Aston Hall is nearby, as are the Stiwt in Rhos and Clwyd Theatr Cymru in Mold, Flintshire.

Dr Marek said he would now press for a community theatre to be built next to the William Aston Hall at Newi, the higher education college in Wrexham.

Last October the company due to build the 400-seat venue pulled out just weeks before starting work.

And when Wrexham Council contacted the company behind the second placed tender to do the work, it found the firm had gone into administration.