Town Centre To Benefit From Free Car Parking For ‘Key’ Events

Wrexham Town Centre is to benefit from free car parking for several ‘key’ events held throughout the year.

Members of the Executive Board today approved recommendations to provide free car parking in the town centre for three key events; which include the Wrexham Food and Drink Festival, Small Business Saturday and the annual Play Day.

Proposals to provide free parking in the People’s Market on the 12th and 19th December to tie in with the Christmas shopping period were also approved.

The report follows on from a free car parking initiative that was introduced in the town centre last December and more recently the introduction of £2 parking all day at the Peoples Market.

Speaking about the report Lead Member for Environment, David A Bithell said: “This report is looking at supporting Wrexham Town Centre and the wider county borough in producing free car parking in all Council run car parks to coincide with a series of events to benefit Wrexham Council, and to provide a measure of support to the town centre local businesses.

“The report also addresses concerns raised regarding occupancy levels in our car parks, and as a result we did reduce the tariff for car parking in the Peoples Market. This proposal has allowed people to stay longer in the town centre and to date this has been successful.”

The report was welcomed by members of the Executive Board, with Councillor Joan Lowe saying: “I have attended the Wrexham Food Festival, it brings a lot of people into the town from way outside the county borough. Not only is it going to help the Food Festival, but they will make a day of it in Wrexham and the shops will benefit. It is a big plus in the area.”

Councillor Neil Rogers added: “I fully endorse what the lead member said, it’s a good story from Wrexham and it’s following on from the reductions we introduced in December last year as well.

“The purpose of this report is to provide free car parking in Council run car parks on key dates, it shows we are planning head and hope it will be a success.”

Questions were raised by councillors regarding the proposed car parking over the Christmas period and whether the proposals were ‘premature’.

Councillor Andrew Bailey said: “Christmas is a crucial time for traders, we’ve got the threat of the internet and Black Friday. I was wondering if we could defer this for a fuller report on the Christmas initiative. My thoughts would be to have the whole of the week before Christmas and even up to the week up to the sales. Could we have a report in June or July?”

However Cllr Bithell told the meeting that they ‘can’t keep bringing reports of car parking initiatives in month in and month out’.

Cllr Bithell added: “The reason we bought this report today, is to set our stall out really for 2015. The reason this report was brought is so ourselves as a Council, local businesses and traders can market and use this report as a marketing tool to help promote and encourage people to come into Wrexham town centre in 2015.”

The board was told that only 22% of total car parking in the town centre are run by Wrexham Council, with the remaining 78% of car parks run by private sector operators.

It is hoped that private operators will follow the Council’s ‘lead’ and ‘support economic regeneration in the town centre.”

Speaking about the privately run car parks, Councillor Brian Cameron said: “I would like to know what discussions if any are taking place with private sector that would allow residents of Wrexham to have the same prices in private sector car parks?”

Cllr Bithell said: “In total in Wrexham we have got around 5700 space in Wrexham; of that it breaks down to 22% run by council. Obviously there is a significant element, 78% run by private sector.

“I’m quite happy to have discussions with the private sector, however what I would say is they determine own rates and charges and obviously have a different mechanism of advertising and changing their tariffs. We have to statutory publish our changes in the local press and it costs us significant money.

“I take on board what you said and quite happy to have discussions – not saying they are going to change their tariffs. That’s why I have made comment today to set the stall to say we are doing our bit, what are you doing as well.”

The proposals for free car parking for key events in Wrexham town centre were passed unanimously by members of the Executive Board.