Wrexham Users Shocked by Sudden Acton Community Centre Closure

Published: 22 April 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Residents of Acton and the wider Wrexham area have expressed “total disbelief” following the sudden announcement that a beloved community resource centre is to be permanently closed and repurposed. The Acton Community Resource Centre, which has served as a vital hub for local groups, classes, and social gatherings for decades, is set to be converted into an adult daycare facility under new council proposals. The move, which was reportedly decided “behind closed doors,” has left long-term users shocked, with many claiming they were given just a few months to find alternative venues for their essential community services.

The backlash intensified this week as local councillors from across the political spectrum—including representatives from Plaid Cymru, Labour, the Conservatives, and Independents—united in a rare show of cross-party solidarity to oppose the plan. Critics argue that Wrexham Council failed to conduct any meaningful impact assessment or public consultation before making the decision. Councillor Corin Jarvis, who has launched an online petition titled “Save Acton Community Resource Centre,” described the situation as “robbing Peter to pay Paul,” suggesting that while adult daycare is a necessary service, it should not come at the expense of an existing community pillar.

For the hundreds of people who rely on the centre, the closure feels like a betrayal of local trust. The facility currently hosts a diverse range of activities, from parent-and-toddler groups to senior social clubs and mental health support sessions. Users have described the announcement as “sudden and upsetting,” noting that for many, the centre provides their only regular opportunity for social interaction. “We walked in on Monday to be told the news, and by the afternoon, the plans were already public,” one regular attendee noted. “It feels like the council has already written us off.”

Wrexham Council, however, has defended the move as a pragmatic solution to a growing social care crisis. Officials stated that the nearby Cunliffe Centre, which currently provides adult daycare, is no longer “fit for purpose” and requires significant investment. By moving those services to the Acton site, the council claims it can provide higher-quality care while vacating the Cunliffe land for much-needed social housing. Council Leader Mark Pritchard acknowledged the frustration but maintained that the building’s transition is part of a “long-held aspiration” to modernize the borough’s service delivery and address the housing shortage.

As a special meeting has been called to discuss the future of the site, the “strength of feeling” in Acton remains high. Protesters have pointed out that a brand-new housing estate was recently built adjacent to the centre, bringing in hundreds of new families who were promised a local community space that is now being taken away. As the petition nears several thousand signatures, the council faces a difficult choice: push forward with its “behind-closed-doors” strategy or pause the closure to allow the community a say in the fate of the building they have called home for decades.

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