“Increase In Parking Charges Will Affect Wrexham Businesses” Says Town’s AM

A Local Assembly Member is calling on residents and stakeholders to make their views on ‘extortionate’ parking charges at Eagles Meadow car park known to the relevant authorities.

It comes as Vinci, the company responsible for operating and controlling the car park at Eagles Meadow shopping centre, announces another significant increase in their parking charges.

On Tuesday Wrexham.com was first to report that parking costs at Eagles Meadow car park are set to increase from November 1st.

Prices Prices are ‘proposed’ to rise £3.10 to £5 for a two hour stay at the car park. Over four hours at the car park will cost shoppers £14.

Following the previous 25% rate increase in July, it now means that in the space of a year, Vinci has increased it parking costs by 50%.

Now AM for Wrexham Lesley Griffiths is calling on Wrexham shoppers and stakeholders to ‘lobby’ Vinci and make their opinions heard on the proposed parking increases.

Ms Griffiths said: “Many constituents contact me regarding general car parking issues in Wrexham. Pricing and usage, amongst both Council owned and private car parks, is an emotive subject for many businesses and their customers.

“I realise the car park operators at Eagles Meadow are an independent company, but their extortionate charges are going to have an effect on local businesses.”

“I have written to the Wrexham Council asking for their support and to Vinci themselves who at the very least owe an explanation as to why they feel the charges should increase so rapidly.”

Since the announcement was made earlier this week, there have been 270 comments left on our Facebook page and 271 shares of the story.

Speaking earlier his week Eagles Meadow Manager Kevin Critchley said: “Vinci have a lease and don’t manage the car park on behalf of Eagles Meadow. As much as we can’t tell Starbucks what to charge for coffee we can’t tell them how much to charge for parking.”

Mr Critchley also went on to describe the older £2.50 charge as ‘relativity high’ and said the July change to £3.10 led him to believe the car park use was ‘drastically reduced’

Ms Griffiths added: “Lobbying the company might make a difference and the more individuals, organisations, bodies and businesses that contact them, the better.

“In the meantime, it is also important to remember there are alternatives to the Vinci car park. There are many other car parks in the vicinity, as well as various other ways of visiting the Eagles Meadow and the town centre, either by car, public transport or by foot.”

A discussion on parking prices at Eagles Meadow has since started on our forums, which has been viewed over 4000 times. You can take part in the debate on the Wrexham.com Forums here…