Wrexham’s High Street could be transformed to help businesses recover from impact of coronavirus

The introduction of lockdown measures in March caused financial difficulties for many town centre traders.

The Welsh Government recently allowed shops to reopen their doors as some of the restrictions were eased, while pubs and restaurants have been given the green light to open outdoors from the beginning of next week.

Wrexham Council has now set out measures designed to create more space on one of the town’s main streets to ensure businesses can operate safely under social distancing guidelines.

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It includes the introduction of a new click and collect system to reduce the need for people to go into premises and for companies to be allowed to make use of the pavement where it’s safe to do so.

Meanwhile, the High Street could be closed off from 6pm to 6am in a bid to support the night time economy.

The local authority has also announced that pavement licence fees, which can cost up to £113 a year, will be suspended until March to aid the recovery process.

Ahead of a meeting to discuss the proposals next week, council leader Mark Pritchard has made an impassioned plea for people to support local firms.

He said: “I’d ask the people to come and support the town and spend your money.

“Don’t go to Chester, don’t go over the border to Oswestry, come to Wrexham and spend your money here. The local businesses need it.

“We’ve had a tough time here in Wrexham and the businesses are crying out for your local support.”

A recovery plan has been set out for the town centre, along with a marketing campaign costing £50,000 to encourage people to visit.

It forms part of a range of measures which will go to the council’s executive board for approval on Tuesday, July 14.

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In a report, Cllr Terry Evans, lead member for economy said: “Whilst the immediate lockdown period has had a dramatic impact on Wrexham town centre and wider economy of the county borough, it is the case that significant support from the council has been ongoing throughout the last 12 weeks along with financial interventions from UK Government and Welsh Government.

“Collectively these have provided some mitigation to the impacts of lockdown.

“Whilst infection and mortality rates appear to be falling in the county borough, there will be a lag time before the true impacts on the economy are known and fully understood making it imperative that the council takes action to support the unlocking of Wrexham town centre and the wider economy.”

He added: “It is important that measures taken to improve indoor and outdoor trading spaces in support of businesses do not result in detriment or inconvenience for consumers and visitors who may have relevant protected characteristics.

“The implementation of social distancing, one-way systems and ingress into pavement / pedestrianised spaces will result is some significant changes to access and layout.”