Health board urged to tackle long-standing parking issues at Wrexham Maelor

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has been urged to address the “long-standing” parking issues at the Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

A lack of spaces, vehicles parked on double yellow lines and grass verges and cars being left all day while the owners go elsewhere have all caused frustration for patients, visitors and staff over the years.

An independent report into parking at the hospital commissioned several years ago found that of the 1600 parking spaces available, demand at peak times can exceed those spaces by around 10 per cent.

In 2016 a potential multi-storey car park was first mooted as one option by the health board to address the problem.

Other proposals have involved a car-share scheme and the creation of additional spaces on the existing and surrounding hospital sites.

More recently in October 2023 chairman Dyfed Edwards said “simply increasing the size of hospital car parks was not the right way forward.”

He also encouraged people accessing the hospital to travel by public transport where possible.

Plaid Cymru’s Acton and Maesydre councillor and prospective parliamentary candidate, Becca Martin said more needs to be done to address the parking issues at the Wrexham Maleor.

Cllr Martin said: “Parking at the hospital has been a long-standing problem for staff, patients and visitors for many years.

“Six years ago my Plaid Cymru colleagues Marc Jones and Carrie Harper met with hospital bosses to discuss the problems then and were told that ‘a range of options’ were being explored.

“It appears that nothing has changed since then to improve the situation. I know how stressful it can be trying to get to an appointment when you can’t find a parking space.

“There was talk of a multi-storey car park at the back of the hospital to meet demand as well as some kind of token system enabling only those with a genuine reason to be at the hospital to park there.

“Anecdotally, we hear a lot about people leaving their cars at the hospital all day to travel together to other places of work.

“A solution to that abuse of the free parking at the Maelor – which is important for many who genuinely need to access the hospital on a regular basis – is surely not beyond reach.”

Michelle Greene, Director of East Integrated Health Community for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said: “We fully appreciate how challenging car parking can be for patients, visitors and staff and we do not underestimate the stress and anxiety it can cause.

“We urge patients and visitors to travel by public transport and walk to the hospital, but we understand that this is not possible in all cases and can be challenging.

“We are working with operational estates on some options to improve the situation at Wrexham, however we do need additional space.

“We are currently completing works to the Plas Gororau building to relocate some services that are provided at the hospital, this will open in April.

“The development provides additional car parking spaces which will play an important role in alleviating car parking pressures at the hospital.”