Decision due on Wrexham primary school expansion plans as senior officer responds to traffic and parking concerns

A decision is due on plans to extend a Wrexham primary school after they were placed on hold due to concerns over traffic and parking problems.

Wrexham Council previously applied to create space for an extra 120 pupils at Barker’s Lane Community Primary School, which is located on the outskirts of the town.

Education officials said the proposals had been put forward to meet a growing demand, which they were unable to meet during the last round of admissions.

However, a number of issues were raised at a meeting of Wrexham Council’s planning committee earlier this month, including the impact on the safety of pupils walking to school.

Councillors voted by a majority to defer their decision at the end of the debate in order for the traffic and parking problems to be addressed.

The proposals will now be re-considered at January’s meeting, where the local authority’s chief planning officer has again recommended they should be approved.

In a report, Lawrence Isted said: “Members will recall that this application was deferred at your last meeting to obtain further clarification upon the transport and parking arrangements.

“To this end the applicants have submitted a separate travel plan which can be conditioned to safeguard the on-going monitoring and management of the school’s parking strategy and pupil drop off and pick up over the years up to full capacity and beyond.

“It was notable during the committee statements that numbers relating to pupils, and anticipated vehicle movements had not been made clear and were a cause of concern to members.

“This is likely to have been as a result of the previous version of the transport statement having been issued.”

Speaking at the original meeting, Little Acton councillor Bill Baldwin said he had “serious concerns” over the extension.

He said he’d been told by a council traffic engineer that the school generates more complaints about parking than any other in Wrexham.

The overall proposals would result in the creation of a new nursery and improved play facilities, along with the refurbishment of the existing building.

The biggest bone of contention for neighbours has been the location of a new car park for school staff on Lisburne Grove, which led to the suggestion that the existing entrance on Barker’s Lane should be used instead.

But Mr Isted said this was not possible for logistical reasons.

He added: “Members are reminded that their role is to consider what is proposed as part of this application, which is to access the car park from Lisburne Grove.

“This provides the following advantages. This location completely segregates vehicular movements on and off site from pedestrians.
“By providing this segregation we are providing passive protection to the pupils accessing the site in the morning and afternoon.”

The proposals will be discussed at the planning committee’s next meeting on Monday (January 4, 2020).

By Liam Randall – BBC Local Democracy Reporter