A COUNCILLOR says the drop in visitor numbers to country parks is “a massive step backwards” for health and wellbeing.

The number of visitors to one of Wrexham’s country parks has dropped significantly since the introduction of car parking fees in May of last year.

In the eight months from April to November 2018, the number of visitors to Alyn Waters was just 11,189, down from the 19,658 recorded for a nine month period the year before.

The figures were disclosed at a meeting of Gwersyllt Community Council, which also revealed the number of cars using the car park was just 6,013, lower than the 11,933 recorded the previous year.

Although Wrexham Council has confirmed visitor numbers to all of its country parks (Ty Mawr, Nant Mill and Alyn Waters) has fallen since the introduction of parking charges they say this isn’t an unexpected result following the change.

Gresford Cllr Gwenfair Jones said the figures, which were obtained from Wrexham Council, were a real concern and while she and other community councillors expected the figures to be lower this year, were shocked because they were much lower than anticipated.

She said: “The drop is definitely because of the parking charges. I’m really concerned because people go to Alyn Waters for lots of reasons, including for the benefit of their health and this is a massive step backwards as far as health and wellbeing in the community in concerned.

“It will be interesting to know how many people have bought annual permits, because I know a lot of people who are parking on the other side of the park in Bradley and walking through.”

Cllr Jones said she was also concerned about what impact the lower footfall will have on the cafe in the park, with a decision due soon on what will happen to that facility following a recent Wrexham Council review.

She added: “We will definitely be asking questions of the council once the figures for December are in and we can make a direct comparison.”

According to the council, since the £1 daily charge to park at the county’s three country parks was introduced, the parks are very close to achieving the car park income target of £47,000 for the full year, which was set as part of the Difficult Decisions budget process.

Cllr David A Bithell said: “The drop in visitor numbers was expected due to the introduction of car parking charges but we are meeting our income targets for car parking following the Difficult Decisions consultation.”