A CHARITY trust set up to raise money for Wales' first autism centre of excellence is to end. The Brondyffryn Trust announced yesterday it was dissolving the charity. Trust chiefs said the decision followed a break-down in negotiations with Denbighshire County Council over conditions and a partnership agreement. There were fears the scheme could be thrown into doubt when news of the charity's move first surfaced. But Denbighshire council officers acted swiftly to dispel fears over the ambitious project. It is proposed to integrate a new autism centre for children and adults with Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn, Denbigh. The residential complex was to be provided by a partnership involving the trust, Denbighshire County Council and the Welsh Assembly, which donated the 10-acre site. The first phase involves building three four-bedroom cottages as permanent homes for 12 young people. An existing building is to be converted into six four-bedroom flats for children who attend the school throughout the week. The project is expected to cost £3.5m. In a statement, the trust said: "Prior to building work commencing the trust required a partnership agreement with Denbighshire County Council on behalf of five other North Wales authorities to be finalised. "Twelve months on, that had still not taken place. The trust's fundraising strategy was severely hampered because of the lack of a definite timescale and a clear understanding of future developments. "Matters were brought to a head in February this year when Denbighshire County Council met to reaffirm their commitment to the project but in doing so applied conditions to the partnership agree-ment which were not compliant with the charitable trust objectives." The trustees said they felt they had no choice but to dissolve the trust. Over the next month the trust will wind up its affairs which will probably finish by the end of the month. The proposal is to integrate the centre with a new school, to replace existing overcrowded premises. A new secondary school has already been built for older pupils near Denbigh High School. Trish Holland, director of the trust, declined to go into detail but said the trust was not laying the blame at anybody's door. Denbighshire Council expressed regret at the move, but said it welcomed news the trustees would continue to assist the Welsh Assembly Government and council in developing a regional centre of excellence for autism. Chief executive Ian Miller said: "The council regrets this decision. There has been a great deal of work carried out on setting up a working partnership, which was innovative and not a simple, straightforward matter." The council's cabinet is due to meet on Tuesday to discuss its next move regarding the project. | 
