Members of the National Trust have rejected two resolutions at the charity’s AGM which had called for plans to build houses on the outskirts of the Erddig estate at Rhostyllen, near Wrexham, to be halted.
Around 35,000 National Trust members voted in each of the two ballots, rejecting the resolutions put forward by opponents of the proposal by a ratio of nearly two to one.
'The proposed development is needed to provide for the long term future of the hall at Erddig and its surrounding parkland,' said Iwan Huws, the National Trust’s Director for Wales.
We have worked with the local community and its elected officials to ensure that the proposal meets the needs of the local area, both in terms of the type of housing and the facilities that are needed.
The proposals are going through the democratic planning process, with the council’s planning committee due to consider the proposals for the second time in the near future.
Whilst the proposals have received strong support from parts of the local community, including the local Community Council, there have also been strong objections from others.
We appreciate that development of this nature will rarely be universally welcomed, and fully respect the right of people to express their views in this way.
We are pleased that our members have had the opportunity to consider and debate the proposals in this way.'
The resolutions, to bring an immediate halt the development and ‘remove’ Trust staffed involved in the project, were rejected by 22,158 votes to 14,382 and 24,957 votes to 10,158 respectively.
Members were able to vote at the AGM event itself and in advance of the event, through online and paper ballots. Following a good debate at the AGM, at which the complexities of the issue were explored, there was a clear show of hands to reject the resolutions.
The outcome of the resolutions will be discussed at the next meeting of the board of trustees.
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