News image
Page last updated at 10:15 GMT, Wednesday, 2 July 2008 11:15 UK

Plea to 'kick start' �5m centre

Caia Park estate
The estate has been described as one of the most deprived in Wales

A skills centre on a deprived estate has been delayed because of a �300,000 funding shortfall, it is claimed.

The �5m centre, in Caia Park, Wrexham, will aim to teach teenagers skills in the media and creative arts.

North Wales AM Janet Ryder raised the matter at Welsh assembly question time and asked First Minister Rhodri Morgan whether funding could be provided.

A Welsh Assembly Government spokesman said it was helping to "formulate an application for funding support".

Plaid AM Ms Ryder said Wrexham Council had donated the land for the centre which has been earmarked for the old Caia Park Youth Club.

She said the �300,000 was needed to cover pre-building costs.

She told the first minister that the centre would be in "the most educationally deprived ward in Wales - Queensway in Caia Park".

"The council has now gifted the land, but there is a sticking point and that is the �300,000 of pre-building costs to the project," she said.

"As this is a unique collaboration in the most deprived educational ward in Wales, will the assembly government consider providing the funding needed to kick-start the project?"

The assembly government said later: "The Wrexham 14-19 Network has submitted proposals for the construction of a new purpose-built skills centre in the town.

"We are working closely with the network to assist in developing the business case and in formulating an application for funding support, to take these proposals forward. "




SEE ALSO
Estate 'crackhouse' closed down
08 Feb 08 |  North East Wales
Credit union members compensated
06 Feb 08 |  North East Wales
OAP's sit-in demo at day centre
18 May 07 |  North East Wales

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites


FEATURES, VIEWS, ANALYSIS
Has China's housing bubble burst?
How the world's oldest clove tree defied an empire
Why Royal Ballet principal Sergei Polunin quit

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

AmericasAfricaEuropeMiddle EastSouth AsiaAsia Pacific