Parking charge changes due in New Year to “disincentivise those parking for 18 hours a day”

Wrexham Council parking charges could be set for a tweak to avoid people who are using the carparks to stay for 75% of a full 24 hour period.

A meeting was held this week to discuss parking promotions in Wrexham, with some free offers set to change.

Car parking in city centre car parks operated by the council have been free since the pandemic in a bid to incentivise shoppers and visitors.

However there have been complaints about this resulting in a lack of car parking spaces in the city, with some parking in long stay car parks regularly throughout the week.

Council Leader Mark Pritchard said, “We’ve come to decision on it, and I am to brief Executive Board members and members of the Alliance, and I hope to bring a report in December.

“From 1 January there will be a change. I can’t announce the details today as it has to go through the full political process and the detail of the decision and discussions are ongoing.

“We know how important it is to continue to support local businesses across Wrexham, and visitors who come in to spend their money within the city.

“Hopefully, subject to political support, when the report goes out in December you will see and understand what we are trying to do – is there budget pressures in that area? Absolutely. Enormous pressures.

“I have lots of complaints from people who come into Wrexham to spend money, but can’t park. There are others who come in, pay £1.80 and stop all day.

“I think we’ve got to address problems and I think we all know what the issues are.

“Officers have not just been sat there, we have been gathering evidence , some people park there 16 or 18 hours.

“So what we are looking at is after 12 o’clock you will pay an amount of money up to 11 o’clock that day.

“That is where we are, we are working on it and we think we have got it right, and once we have the political support we move forward.”