THE main waiting area at Wrexham Bus Station is set to be closed to the public on evenings and Sundays in a bid to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Roller shutters have been installed to block access to the main concourse at the station after 8pm on weekdays and all day every Sunday.

It comes after senior figures at Wrexham Council said there had been a number of security incidents, some of which were highlighted in national media reports.

The authority’s lead member for transport said it had led to the town gaining a negative image, meaning new measures were required to protect passengers.

Cllr David A Bithell blamed people who were not using the station to travel for causing the problems, but pledged the shopping area of the station would not be affected by the changes.

In a report, he said: “Over recent years, the bus station has been the subject of a number of a national press stories relating to anti-social behaviour.

“These publications and accompanying images painted a very negative picture of the bus station and the overall image of the town.

“Whilst the situation has improved through actions taken to increase levels of security and cleaning, problems with anti-social behaviour continue to blight the bus station, particularly during the evening and weekends.

“The congregating of “non-bus passengers” each evening has resulted in complaints from the travelling public who indicate that the bus station is sometimes not a pleasant environment in which to wait, nor does it represent a positive image of the town for residents or first-time visitors.

“As the number of bus service departures reduces significantly during the early evenings and there are only a few services operating on a Sunday, the roller shutter door will be closed by mobile security patrols from 8pm each evening and the concourse area will also remain locked all day on Sundays.”

Cllr Bithell said funding for the shutters had been provided by the Welsh Government as part of general improvements to the bus station.

The works will also see the installation of new electronic information

signs so members of the public can access timetable details when the concourse is closed.

The new arrangements will be reviewed and monitored after a six-month period.

Cllr Bithell added that the council was considering options for how the information office at the station will be run after it terminated its arrangement with an external company sooner than expected.

Concerns had been raised after it was revealed that Transervis Ltd, which was responsible for operating the facility, had entered liquidation.