Disabled to lose car park

[AVOW99]

AVOW that runs Shopmobility in Wrexham has raise an objection to the Planning Permission that has been submitted for the development of the new Wrexham Police Station in the Orial Gallery which is part of the Library. The objection is not about the substantive building change but the removal of 8 dedicated Blue Badge car parking spaces for by people who are disabled.
The Council have put forward an amendment which is to make Egerton Street between Arnolds and the RBS Bank Blue Badge use only. These would not however be marked bays or give safety for people existing their cars. There would be no provision to make the spaces long enough to ensure a car with a ramp would be able to park to unload someone in a wheelchair.
The 8 spaces are used very frequently by users of Shopmobility and the conversion in Egerton Street or the addition of 8 spaces in the Library Car Park would not be suitable. The extra distance from the Library car park for someone to be pushed in a wheel chair or have to walk with the aid of a stick is too far.
Anyone who has a disability or is a carer is urged to submit their concerns to the Council before the Planning Committee meeting on the 4th January.
People can also email [email protected] with any concerns or comments.

[AVOW99]

Many thanks to Wrexham.com and readers for showing their support for this issue the number of signatories has now hit the 200 mark.
The briefing for the Planning Committee Members is currently being prepared and everyone’s comments are very much appreciated.
Please keep promoting the link to the petition–
https://www.change.org/p/wrexham-county-borough-council-disabled-people-in-wrexham-need-car-parking-protected?recruiter=388033108&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=share_email_responsive

[AVOW99]

Many thanks to all of the Wrexham.com readers and supporter who have signed the petition objecting to the removal of the Blue Badge Disabled Car Parking in Rhosddu Road. Over 250 people have objected and these have been submitted to the Council together with a a briefing sheet for all Planning Committee Members outlining the issues that have been raised.
The Planning Meeting is being held on Monday 4th January at 4.00pm and can be viewed on the Council web cast
https://www.wrexham.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/204732

[AVOW99]

As reported on Wrexham.com the Planing Application for the new Police Station based at the Oriel Gallery has been deferred again pending the applicant addressing the issues over the 8 Blue Badge Disabled Car Park spaces on Rhosddu Road.
Many thanks to those of you who signed the petition which has 262 objectors listed.
I can give an assurance to all Objectors that despite the Planning Officer stating in the meeting that he was only ‘aware’ of the objections that these had been submitted on time and duly acknowledged by the Council so could have been included in the papers for the meeting today.
AVOW look forward to working with the Developers and/or Council Officers to find a solution that meets the requirements of the Disabled community in Wrexham.

(BY EMAIL)

MR JOHN GALLANDERS
AVOW
21 EGERTSON STREET
WREXHAM
LL11 1ND

Your Ref/Eich Cyf
Our Ref/Ein Cyf
Date/Dyddiad
Ask for/Gofynner am
Direct Dial/Rhif Union
E-mail/E-bost

P/2015 /0691
04/01/2016
Philip Forster
01978 298786
[email protected]
MODIFICATION AND EXTENSION TO ACCOMMODATE NEW POLICE FRONT OF HOUSE WITH ASSOCIATED EXTERNAL WORKS
LIBRARY ARTS CENTRE RHOSDDU ROAD WREXHAM

Dear Sir/Madam

Town and Country Planning Act, 1990

Thank you for your correspondence regarding the above. I have passed your communication on to the case officer who will read it before making a recommendation / decision.
If you wish to follow up your correspondence, please contact the case officer direct on the telephone number shown above.
There may be an opportunity for you to speak at the Planning Committee. Details of this are available on our website at http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/planning or by contacting the Administration Team on telephone no. 01978 292016. After the Council has made its’ decision, the Decision Notice will then be posted on our website, http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/plans

Yours faithfully

Head of Community Wellbeing and Development Annwyl Syr/Fadam

Deddf Cynllunio Gwlad a Thref 1990

Diolch i chi am eich gohebiaeth ynghylch yr uchod. Rwyf wedi cyfeirio eich gohebiaeth at swyddog yr achos a fydd yn ei ddarllen cyn gwneud argymhelliad / penderfyniad.
Os dymunwch wneud ymholiad am eich gohebiaeth, cysylltwch â swyddog yr achos yn uniongyrchol ar y rhif ffôn uchod.
Efallai y bydd cyfle i chi siarad â’r Pwyllgor Cynllunio. Mae manylion hyn ar gael ar ein gwefan sef http://www.wrecsam.gov.uk/cynllunio neu drwy ffonio’r Tîm Gweinyddu ar 01978 292016. Ar ôl I’r Cyngor wneud ei benderfyniad, bydd yr Hysbysiad o Benderfyniad wedyn yn cae eu postio are ein gwefan, http://www.wrecsam.gov.uk/plans

Yn gywir

Pennaeth Lles Cymunedol a Datblygu

[BenjaminM]

I have held off from commenting until now, but I find it bit rich of John Gallanders to object to the loss of 8 disabled parking spaces on Rhosddu Rd. for ostensibly (if I read him correctly) users of the Shopmobility facility on Egerton St.
He makes no mention of the existing arrangements for Shopmobility customers that exist adjacent to King St. bus station (8 in total) of which only 2 were in use this afternoon, none I might add, displaying a blue badge. Or indeed the fact that there there is provision for parking 10 vehicles in the AVOW yard, only 1 of them solely dedicated to disabled parking. If the loss of the 8 spaces on Rhosddu Rd. is so alarming that Planning permission has been deferred because of it, wouldn’t it be a nice gesture if the staff of the AVOW offices gave up their privileged parking and then clients would have no distance to walk would they?

[AVOW99]

Benjamin
Thanks for you comments and observation which I would like to respond to making the situation clearer.
In respect to the car parking located between Shopmobility and Trinity Church these are not designated exclusively for the users of the service and can be used potentially by any motorist. Often these spaces are taken up by staff working in the bus station /shops. As the space has never been subject to a Road Traffic Order no enforcement action can be taken.
In respect to the AVOW car park this is used by only a few AVOW staff as we have contract car parking permits in Eagles Meadow that staff pay for themselves- the majority of spaces are for other organisations within the building who like AVOW have people regularly going in and out to meetings or home visits as part of the services provided.
The 8 spaces an Rhosddu Road are not only used by users of the Shopmobility service but also large numbers of people who access shops and services in the King Street, Egerton Street, Lord Street and Duke Street area where there are no designated disabled parking bays.
If you would care to come into AVOW we would be more than happy to discuss in more detail.

[BenjaminM]

Thank you for your response but would you care to explain why, in the area mentioned adjacent to the bus station there is a sign indicating the area is for Shopmobility use only?

[Born Acorn]

It’s most likely because those signs are old – shopmobility used to be in the end area of the bus station.

[AVOW99]

Shopmobility was transferred to AVOW in September and external signage is of a historical nature.

[AVOW99]

The current update is that the planning application is going to the Planning Committee on Monday. The proposal is still to remove the 8 spaces and make 5 by Shopmobility. AVOW have made representation that this is totally unacceptable as this is a significant reduction for this part of town and the shops and services. The number of spaces within the existing Library Staff Car Park exceeds the 20 that the Police require for operational vehicles and there appears little reason why the space of the 8 needs to be incorporated.
A challenge has also been raised because the Council have not conducted an Equality Impact Assessment which is a legal requirement when there are any changes to services of this nature.
The meeting is at 4.00pm at the Guildhall and is open to the public or can be watched on the Council webcast.

[Author]

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