Disabled parking charges set to be scrapped by Wrexham Council

Car parking charges for all disabled parking spaces operated by Wrexham Council is set to be scrapped.

A report due before members of the executive board on Tuesday (8 March) proposes that the change is introduced to “ensure long term flexibility and accessibility of parking provision for all disabled motorists.”

The plans are for town centre car parks owned by Wrexham Council only and do not include private parking provision.

Although parking is free after 11am in all local authority car parks – excluding the council run Ty Pawb facility – charges apply before then for visitors, including blue badge holders.

This also includes one hour free in addition to parking time purchased.

However next week’s executive board report being brought forward by Council Leader Mark Pritchard highlights the need to encourage people back into the town, with the report citing a drop in the number of both work and leisure visits since the pandemic.

The report states: “During early stages of the pandemic and initial lockdowns, general charges for parking in the town centre were suspended completely.

“In more recent times, the parking charges have been significantly reduced, with the implementation of a ‘free after 11.00 am’ initiative.

“The purpose of this initiative is to provide some increased incentive to visit the town centre and support the local economy.

“As we recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, there is a need to consider a longer term parking strategy within the town centre which addresses and balances the following:-

• the need to support the economy
• generates an income from our car parks
• supports our decarbonisation agenda

“It will be important to review how the town centre is being used over the next few months of Covid-recovery, in order to determine an appropriate longer term strategy for car parking.

“Following the health pandemic and as we emerge through the recovery period it is important we think about the development of our town centre and accessibility to goods and services that this can and does provide.

“In line with this it is proposed to remove the car parking charges for disabled parking that will ensure improved accessibility and flexibility of parking for some of our most vulnerable members of the community and visitors to the town.”

There is currently no changes planned for the free after 11am car parking however this is being kept under active review.

The report will be discussed by members of the executive board on Tuesday 8 March at 10am. The meeting will also be webcast on the Wrexham Council website.