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A council's decision to make a selling point of a parcel of land's closeness to England has angered Welsh language campaigners.

Denbighshire council has put up for sale the old Rhos Street school in Ruthin.

In the sale document, there is mention of the site being close to both Liverpool and Chester, but no mention of its proximity to towns in the north west of Wales.

Robat Idris from Cymdeithas yr Iaith condemned the wording of the sale details.

He said: “Properties should be built for the benefit of local communities, not to maximise profit. It speaks volumes that the document doesn’t note the distance to towns and areas to the west. It’s disappointing that so many councils in the north are obsessed with projects like the Northern Powerhouse and chasing after links with the north west of England. They should be concentrating on creating jobs and opportunities for local people and enhancing links within our own country.”

One of the town’s county councillor’s, Emrys Wynne, also found the wording strange.

“The site’s location would make it ideal for a home that would provide elderly care, similar to the care which is currently being delivered in Dolwen, Denbigh and Cysgod y Gaer, Corwen, and which was available until recently, in Awelon, Ruthin.

“There will always be a demand for care homes of this nature, when extra care alone may not be suitable for residents. A care home facility on this site would enable the elderly residents to remain in the community where they may have lived for what could be most if not all of their lives,” he said.

He added: “The sales particulars rightly states that the site is 40 and 23 miles from Liverpool and Chester respectively, it should be pointed out that it is also within 33 miles of Llandudno, 53 miles of Caernarfon and 20 miles of Bala.”

While Ruthin town councillor, Anne Roberts, welcomed the move to sell the property she wants it to be kept for community use.

She said: “I’m so pleased it has gone up for sale at last, I would like to see it have a community use and not go to a developer for housing or the like.”

Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts, who represents the town and is the cabinet member for education, said: “We want to make sure that all the residents are fully informed of what is going on at the site. The school buildings have been put up for sale on the open market.

"The middle part of the site will go to the hospital for much needed parking and to secure its future. Which leaves the old playing fields. There will be no decision on what will happen to the old playing fields until there has been a public consultation.”

The 1.3 acre site in the centre of town is open to public tender with bids open until August 15.