Knitting the town together
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Posts
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Problem is the TIC is non statutory — how long do you think it is before it gets the chop . Joining the Town Centre Manager functions, TIC , Markets Inspector, Destination Wrexham and similar may make some savings as some of the work is overlap. If these roles are about bringing people into the town perhaps all retails will in a short period of time be asked to pay towards the roles — or will it be a charge on the rates. Retailers in Eagles Meadow pay a service charge which includes promotional activity — look out retailers the extra charges are on the way.
Wrexham town centre (and then the broader economic workings) need a fresh start. The current layout, the way it all works, and it’s economic output is a product of the last 20 to 30 years. It is way ‘behind the curve’. A fresh start with fresh thinking, is needed to deliver for today’s market.
@99DylanJones 13008 wrote:
Problem is the TIC is non statutory — how long do you think it is before it gets the chop . Joining the Town Centre Manager functions, TIC , Markets Inspector, Destination Wrexham and similar may make some savings as some of the work is overlap. If these roles are about bringing people into the town perhaps all retails will in a short period of time be asked to pay towards the roles — or will it be a charge on the rates. Retailers in Eagles Meadow pay a service charge which includes promotional activity — look out retailers the extra charges are on the way.
Good point and hence the second comment about transferring it into private hands with a mere Council over-view.
I’m not sure why yiu even need the Council — why can’t we be really radical in Wrexham and form a Town management company responsible for all elements of infrastructure as well as developments. Sort out the funding formula and money collected from the town centre business and residential properties is handled by the management company. This will mean that the company will have a single focus which is how to keep the Town Centre viable — as a private entity if something is not working then they have to react to deal with the issues.
This single focus is so different from the current arrangements when there is a pull on budgets to be spent between something in the town or social services, education etc.
There are so many opportunities for this type of development if leadership could be identified in the private sector.
This would certainly make sure that funds collected from businesses in the form of rates is actually used for the purpose intended.I agree it is a major step but at present it feels like there is no even a bridge between the Council and the public or the Council and the business community. T
Every time anything new is proposed the drawbridge to the Guildhall is pulled up and firmly secured!
Perhaps it is time to give serious consideration to the establishment of a political party that has the backing of the business community of Wrexham — we are a long way past main stream political parties having a genuine interest in the needs of the community and business sector- their positions are so fragile self preservation is at the top of their agenda.
Economic growth which creates jobs is not in the control of the Council but with businesses – businesses create profits, wealth, jobs and reinvestment — non of this is provided by the Council so why are we all relying on them to bale out the town.
Businesses rise to the challenge and take on the troubles- there are ways out but only if people work together NOW.It’s a 40 minute bus ride to Chester. I don’t know about anyone else, but I would rather nip into town for what I need, rather than go into town and then wait for the next bus into Chester. But that’s just me.
No one, and I mean NO ONE has to walk to Eagles Meadow, and this is something people just do not get. The 7 and 8 Caia Park services, the 146 Whitchurch service, the 41 and 42 Industrial Estate Services and I believe the 15 Brymbo service ALL go to Eagles Meadow, both on the way in and on the way out of town. So NO issue of having to walk there. The same can be said for Plas Coch. At the moment, the 13 service, the Town Link (for the next 7 days) one of the Summerhill services and a Mold service all regularly visit the Plas Coch retail park on the way into and out of town. I don’t get this idea of people having to walk and frankly, it seems like a lame excuse.
Parking? Well everyone hates the parking in Wrexham. I don’t actually drive so don’t know the cost of parking but I believe it’s an unacceptable cost for drivers. So, how about some sort of deal whereby residents can have a specific bus pass to allow public transport to actually still exist and get rid of any problems with parking costs?
All ideas I think are great but nothing will work without the people who shout and scream about it being so bad actually sticking around to do something. Can’t complain if you’re never here right?
@Alunh 12980 wrote:
The problem with getting people to either consume in Wrexham or invest in Wrexham is that people will only do these things if it is in their interests. Those folk who choose to travel to Chester by bus to do a quick shop do so because it may well be easier to do this than arrive in King Street and walk a long way to (say) Eagle’s Meadow. Same logic applies to businesses and where and when they invest.
Other towns do, however, adopt creative responses.
One way of knitting the town together is by allowing as much short term free Car Parking as is possible in the proximity of the centre. The obvious Car Park to do this is Market Street which is close to several destinations as well as opening up (say) Lambpit Street for the same. I think someone on here mentioned that Llandudno benefits from this. Clearly the town bus scheme might have been another but this seems to have failed. A 3rd approach could be to have a long hard look at the pedestrianized areas in the town.
There must be other ways of knitting the town together.
Any good ideas that would work in practice and which have been noted in other towns?
We have to ask who will be attracted to Wrexham, and why. To the town centre to shop, and to socialise …and to the other parts of a Wrexham.
We have to ask what other places attract the same people …whether it’s a place to shop … or to spend quality time shopping, eating, or playing
Wrexham is a commuter belt? Most people go out of Wrexham (County) to work …people also go out to shop and for enjoyment?
Hundreds of millions of pounds are spent every year in Wrexham on community needs (public services). We have to start talking about what happens with all those hundreds of millions, how we spend part of it better (its a lot of money), and we have to recognise that more and more people. Are going to places other than a Wrexham.
We have to spend the communities monies differently if we are to change things, we have to use a different outlook than we have as things have declined, we have to understand how to attract people to Wrexham rather than competing with neighbouring places.
@justjojo2011 13023 wrote:
It’s a 40 minute bus ride to Chester. I don’t know about anyone else, but I would rather nip into town for what I need, rather than go into town and then wait for the next bus into Chester. But that’s just me.
No one, and I mean NO ONE has to walk to Eagles Meadow, and this is something people just do not get. The 7 and 8 Caia Park services, the 146 Whitchurch service, the 41 and 42 Industrial Estate Services and I believe the 15 Brymbo service ALL go to Eagles Meadow, both on the way in and on the way out of town. So NO issue of having to walk there. The same can be said for Plas Coch. At the moment, the 13 service, the Town Link (for the next 7 days) one of the Summerhill services and a Mold service all regularly visit the Plas Coch retail park on the way into and out of town. I don’t get this idea of people having to walk and frankly, it seems like a lame excuse.
Parking? Well everyone hates the parking in Wrexham. I don’t actually drive so don’t know the cost of parking but I believe it’s an unacceptable cost for drivers. So, how about some sort of deal whereby residents can have a specific bus pass to allow public transport to actually still exist and get rid of any problems with parking costs?
All ideas I think are great but nothing will work without the people who shout and scream about it being so bad actually sticking around to do something. Can’t complain if you’re never here right?
The Brymbo bus definitely doesn’t go anywhere near Eagles Meadow, the one that doesn’t go past the hospital goes into Plas Coch and and stops outside Sainsbury’s’. But that’s it.
With respect if you don’t drive then you really have no idea just how much of a rip off parking prices are in the town. Eagles Meadow is extortionate, and even the council owned car parks are now charging the earth for short stay. It’s a joke, I want to support Wrexham but the council don’t make it easy for us. I object to have to pay for a parking space when all I want to do is pop for a bite to eat at Nando’s or see a film at the Odeon, when the new cinema and restaurant complex opens at Broughton I feel we will be in real trouble.
A little bird told me that the Odeon were happy on Plas Coch, but the council gave them some kind of cash incentive to move to Eagles Meadow. I bet they wish they’d stayed where they were now!
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