Coach parking remains “priority” to meet increasing tourism in Wrexham

A new coach park to help facilitate the increase of tourists visiting Wrexham, could be in place next year.

Readers of Wrexham.com will be aware that calls to create a permanent coach parking site in the site in town centre have been made since 2013.

Over the years there has been an increase in the number of coach trips visiting the county borough and also the town centre.

Currently the drivers of the coaches have been parking in the loading bay at Eagles Meadow once the tourists have been dropped off on the High Street.

However over the past 12 months there has been a steady increase in the number of coach trips visiting the town, with Wrexham Council now searching for sites to create parking bays.

At the Town Centre Forum last week it was confirmed that potential spaces to create car parking in the town were being explored.

Destination Manager at Wrexham Council, Joe Bickerton said: “With shoppers and visitors to the town, they need to be able to take their shopping to the coach so it can’t be outside of walking distance.

“We are now getting a point where there are too many coaches snarling the loading bay at Eagles Meadow. We are looking at other solutions.

“At the Tourist Information Centre we promote coach companies pre-booking, so we know if they are going to come, we can meet them.

“We had 48 last year and 69 this year booked in. There are more than that not booked in that we don’t know about, St Giles get a lot for concerts. It is positive but we do need to find somewhere in proximity to retail.”

Cllr Dana Davies queried why coach spaces hadn’t been incorporated into the Premier Inn on Regent Street, however it was explained that a potential coach site would need space for the vehicles to manoeuvre and facilities for the drivers.

Cllr Terry Evans, Lead Member for Economic Performance and Regeneration, added: “2018 is going to be a big year for Wrexham and coach parking is a priority.

“Officers have been told to look for 12 bays for parking. I hope to fetch a report to the next meeting.”