Additional car park proposed to help meet tourism demand at Trevor Basin

Plans have been put forward to create a new temporary pay and display car park for one of the biggest tourism sites in the County Borough.

In an application submitted by the Canal & River Trust to Wrexham Council, it has been proposed that land near Trevor Basin is converted into a temporary car park to help provide additional facilities to help meet visitor demand.

The Trevor Basin, Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and 11 miles of the Llangollen Canal between Chirk and Horseshoe Falls were inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2009.

Since then the site has become a firm tourism hub, attracting thousands to the area each year.

Details about the proposed site usage are explained in the application’s design and access statement, which notes: “The application site is located on land to the north of Trevor Basin and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, which is a Trust destination for leisure, tourism and recreational activity.

“The basin and aqueduct attract high footfall throughout the year with visitors enjoying water based activities on the Llangollen Canal and use of the canal towpath and surrounding land.

“The Trust is committed to establish ways in which to improve the site for its visitors. There is currently a single car parking area to the east of the site, which is accessed off New Road. It is identified that additional car parking is required to improve the site access for visitors arriving by car, minibus or coach.

“In response to this identified need, this proposed change of use of the land seeks to increase the availability of car parking for visitors. The application site is available land, which is suitably located given the well-established connection to the Trust’s site and being adjacent to a designated walking and cycling route.”

The site proposed for the temporary car park is located on land north of the Trevor Basin and Pontcysyllte Aqueduct on the Llangollen Canal. It was previously part of an industrial factory site, however the rectangular piece of land is now vacant.

A temporary three-year planning permission is being sought by the Trust, with the car park seen as a medium-term solution for additional car parking in the area.

If approved the car park would create an additional 104 spaces for the site – however longer term strategic plans

The design and access statement concludes: “The proposed development will enhance the quality of the adjacent basin and aqueduct as a visitor attraction. Additional car parking will help to retain and attract new footfall to protect the vitality of the area.

“Given the location of the site within the Buffer Zone of the WHS (World Heritage Site) and setting of a designated conservation area this application is submitted with a Heritage Statement to address the heritage assets.

“Furthermore, as the proposed temporary use of the site for car parking will create additional vehicular movements a Transport Statement is included with this application to demonstrate that it is satisfactory in terms of highway safety.

“The Canal & River Trust respectfully requests that planning permission is granted in this instance.”

The application is expected to be considered at a later date.

Pictured – The Trevor Basin in the sunshine earlier this summer!