WREXHAM is losing out on visitors - and revenue - in favour of Broughton, Chester and Oswestry because of issues with parking.

A new survey has found that people's experience of both council-run and private car parks in Wrexham is turning them off visiting - meaning they are going to other towns and retail parks to spend their money instead.

The survey, commissioned by Wrexham MP Sarah Atherton, explored parking issues people faced when visiting the town.
67 per cent of people who completed the survey said they were not satisfied with parking options in Wrexham - with 64 per cent saying they would like cheaper parking options.

Ms Atherton said she supported Wrexham Council’s schemes such as “free after 11” and “click and collect” to encourage more people to visit the town by car.

But she said more could be done - including cheaper tariffs for parking.
The survey also raised the issue of the location of council car parks - with respondents saying they were not conveniently situated for their needs and suggesting that had a knock-on effect with people choosing to park at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

Ms Atherton said: “As we recover from the pandemic and look to support the regeneration of Wrexham, it is important that the parking options attract people into Wrexham rather than push them away. The number of responses that mentioned going to other towns because of the parking options in Wrexham was high and it is incumbent on all stakeholders to look at how this can be reversed.

“I fully support the efforts being made by the council to encourage people back into our town, such as the ‘free after eleven’ scheme, and given that parking costs were one area of concern from respondents this seems a sensible initiative for getting people onto the high street. As we exit Covid-19 restrictions, it is important that car parking initiatives continue to attract people into our town, so I hope to see well-considered initiatives such as these continue.”

Overall, 67 per cent of respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement “I am satisfied with the parking options in Wrexham”.

The survey suggests that changes to shopping and socialising habits has increased people’s dissatisfaction with parking in Wrexham.

One respondent said: “I don’t shop in Wrexham anymore.”

Another submission added: “I can go to Broughton – spend all day in the shops, cinema, coffee, lunch – and not face any parking issues or charges. Others go to Ellesmere Port where parking is free. Wrexham is uncompetitive, which has accelerated its decline as a shopping centre.”

In relation to the location of the car parks, one respondent said: “There’s not much Council parking in the north and west of the town – apart from Island Green – so everyone parks on the public street or at the hospital.”

When asked what changes they would like to see, 64 per cent of people completing the survey said cheaper parking fees would encourage them back to the town. However, less than ten people wanted to see free parking in the town.

One of the main issues highlighted by people answering the survey was the perception of parking fines and enforcement measures at private car parks.

This has been a longtime cause of complaint in the town.

Ms Atherton said she would be raise the issue at the UK Parliament as the issue of private car park companies was nationwide issue rather than being specific to Wrexham.

Ms Atherton added: “The results of this survey show that these concerns have not gone away and, despite valiant attempts from the Council, many of the issues relating to Island Green have not been resolved. Therefore, I will be bringing these results to Parliament to highlight these experiences."

The parking survey ran from April 1 to July 11 this year and it received 276 submissions.

What people said in the survey:

  • “Wrexham Council, with all their restrictions and harsh enforcement measures don’t make you feel welcome.”
  • “I was once given a ticket for parking at a council car park when both ticket machines were out of order.”
  • “I had problems at Island Green, being fined £90 for not paying when I know that I did pay. However, I hadn’t kept my ticket as proof so when I lodged a complaint I got nowhere.”
  • “The machine to pay for tickets was broken. I then received a fine for not having a ticket and was threatened by the parking company when I complained.”
  • “Other towns operate cheaper for short stay. 30p for an hour, 50p for two hours. The car parks in these towns are used much more.”
  • “The car parking charges in Wrexham have driven people away from the town.”
  • “From Wrexham I can be in Broughton in fifteen minutes, or Chester Park & Ride and then for £2 I can park all day.”
  • “I just don’t go to Wrexham anymore. I’d rather shop in Oswestry or Chester. The parking prices are reasonable in Oswestry and Chester has a Park & Ride at a reasonable price.”

What Wrexham Council say:

Councillor Mark Pritchard, leader of Wrexham Council, said: “We worked tirelessly with elected members and business in the town to offer free parking after 11am to support all the town centre businesses and to encourage people to use our free car parking to support all the businesses in Wrexham.

“We did have a pilot scheme offering free parking before 11am but the outcome was that people working within the town were parking there all day, and the whole reason for offering free parking was to encourage visitors to shop in Wrexham.

“We have also introduced a click and collect scheme on the high street, allowing shoppers to pick up items they have pre ordered from traders.

“We lose money as a council on free parking that could be spent within the environment department, however we felt that it was important to support the business in town and to continue to offer the concession.”