IMPOSING charges for on-street parking would be the “nail in the coffin” for Wrexham according to a former MP.

John Marek has raised concerns after a environment and regeneration scrutiny committee gave the nod to extra parking charges.

Councillors want to bring in an extra £450,000 a year in revenue by introducing the charges which include 50p to park in the town from 6pm to midnight.

Other proposed charges will hit tradesmen as they unload their vehicles on single or double yellow lines with plans to charge £10 for one day or £20 for seven consecutive days.

Also to be brought in are charges for on-street parking bays in the town centre at Chester Street, Holt Street, Town Hill, Brook Street, St George’s Crescent, Bodhyfryd, King Street, Egerton Street and Mount Street.

Charges will be applied between 8am and 6pm, Monday-Saturday, and would be set at 50p for 30 minutes and £1 per hour.

The issue will be discussed at a future meeting of the executive board, which will have the final say.

Mr Marek said he was worried for traders in the town if they or the transport company had to pay to unload vehicles.

“If the lorry driver is charged they will add it to their transport services and that will impact on the trader,” he said.

“It’s another tax and I feel another nail in the coffin of the town centre,” he said.

Rob Clarke, who chairs the National Market Traders Federation in Wrexham, said: “We will have to see if this has any impact on our deliveries.

“If it does we will have to discuss it at a commitee to see what actions to take.”

Mr Marek added he doesn’t agree with introducing charges for on-street parking: “If I come into town to pop into one shop I’m not going to pay for the parking, I’ll go somewhere like Asda or Tesco where the parking is free.”

- INCREASED car parking charges could lead to more congestion in a residential area of Wrexham councillors fear. Rhosddu community councillors are concerned about the effect on roads including Vernon Street and Gerald Street once extra parking costs are imposed by Wrexham Council.

Cllr Brenda Roberts told colleagues Rhosddu already had problems with residents unable to park outside or near their homes.

Police have recently carried out a purge in Vernon Street and issued parking tickets. Officers at the community council meeting said they would continue to monitor the situation in the future.