A MOTOR parts store manager says over-zealous traffic wardens are killing off trade at his Wrexham town centre premises.
Dave Evans, the manager of Motormania, on King Street, says he is looking at moving to alternative premises because council enforcement officers are ‘ticketing’ his customers in great numbers.
In recent weeks, he claims, business at the store has been down up to 60 per cent year-on-year because customers keep getting parking tickets.
According to Mr Evans, regulations along King Street were changed about three years ago, so vehicles can only park on the road outside the store to unload.
However, it has only been in the past few months, he says, that officers have launched a crackdown on those drivers parking illegally, which he says has hit Motormania’s sales.
He is calling on the authority to introduce legitimate on-road parking spaces to encourage trade on King Street. “It has absolutely destroyed my trade since they started,” he said.
“Recently, I’ve had five customers who have parked outside for less than a minute and got a ticket.
“This is normally a busy time for us, but last week we were down 60 per cent on the same time last year.
“I’ve got four lads working here and it’s just not on.
“At the moment, I’m chasing two shops elsewhere (in order to move premises) where there is parking.”
Mr Evans also said enforcement officers had made the wider area around King Street a ‘no-go’ for motorists, with wardens and police officers also penalising drivers using nearby Duke Street as a short-cut.
Martin Wright, Wrexham Council chief transportation and asset management officer, said: “The enforcement officers are doing a good job ensuring that parking restrictions are adhered to which contributes a great deal to reducing congestion in the town centre, particularly during the busy Christmas and New Year period.
“They will continue to keep a close watch on town centre parking and issue tickets to those who flout the restrictions.”