Questions Raised Over Wrexham Maelor Hospital Parking Problems

A number of options including the introduction of a park and ride, car share scheme and the development of additional spaces are being explored to help meet the demand for car parking at the Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

Issues surrounding car parking provision at the Wrexham Maelor Hospital have been ongoing at the site for a number of years, with both staff and visitors reporting problems while trying to find somewhere to park for their shifts and appointments. In some cases some patients have missed or been late for their appointments.

In January 2016 Wrexham.com contacted Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to query if there were plans to implement any measures to resolve the Wrexham Maelor’s parking issues.

At the time a spokesperson for the health board told us that an external report into problems at the site had been commissioned.

The report found that of the 1600 parking spaces available at the hospital the report found that at peak times demand for space can exceed those spaces by around 10%.

Recommendations put forward in the report focused on reducing demand and making better use of the car parks rather than creating extra capacity – including the promotion of public transport, introduction of long stay and short stay car parks and a potential park and ride scheme.

More recently questions have been asked over the ‘second exit’ from the hospital – which leads from the overspill car park onto Croesnewydd Road.  The exit to the carpark has been fenced off for sometime and despite queries from ourselves and members of the public, the exit remains closed.

This week clarification on the parking issues at the Maelor will be raised this week when members of the Safeguarding, Communities and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee meet with health chiefs.

During the meeting the committee will be provided with an update on the implementation of the Special Measures Programme, the management of the primary care estate and general practice (GP) services in Wrexham and the consideration of plans in relation to the primary care estate and recruitment

However in a report due before the committee on Wednesday, details of a series of Members’ Questions submitted in December 2016 are also provided.

One such question submitted to the health board before Christmas, reads: “How are BCUHB proposing to better manage their parking facilities at the Maelor hospital so as to alleviate the lengthy delays visitors regularly face in parking up and leaving the hospital site?”

A response to the question is also provided by BCUHB in 11 bullet points, which include:-

• As part of the Wrexham Maelor redevelopment a programme of planned selective demolition will enable more space to be provided for car parking
• Continuing discussions with the Local Authority regarding traffic management arrangements in proximity to the Highway and new development around the boundaries of the Wrexham Maelor Hospital Site
•  Completion of a joint audit to establish current utilisation and peak demand on the site
• As part of the Wrexham Maelor redevelopment a programme of planned selective demolition will enable more space to be provided for car parking
• Preparation of a business case to seek new capital funding to develop additional new parking space on a phased basis to accommodate peak demands across the sites
• Continue discussion with the Local Authority and public/voluntary transport providers as to the feasibility of local park and ride options.

The response adds: “The Hospital Management Team is actively engaging with the local Community
Health Council representatives and patient groups to ensure that the options are developed and consulted upon with the sole purpose of improving the current situation.”

Members of the Safeguarding, Communities and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee with health chiefs from BCUHB at 4pm on Wednesday 18 January. The meeting is also one of the first Scrutiny Committees of 2017 to be webcast live on the Wrexham Council website.

The full agenda for Wednesday’s meeting can be viewed here.