Parking charge increase at Ty Pawb given the go ahead

Parking charges at Wrexham’s arts and markets facility will increase this spring.

Executive board members unanimously backed the increases at Ty Pawb, which will see the 1 – 3 hour parking tariff increase to £2.00 and thee all-day charge go up to £3.00.

A rise in parking charges at the multi-storey featured as part of a revised business plan, which was debated by councillors last year.

Car parking revenue at the facility is ‘ring-fenced’, with the money collected going back into Ty Pawb’s funding.

Speaking at yesterday’s meeting Cllr Hugh Jones said the “income and the demand of Ty Pawb car park has held up and we feel it is appropriate to increase the tariffs”.

He added: “This will bring the tariffs inline with Waterworld and other commercially operated car parks in the town centre. It will also ensure that we improve the income and maintain the competitive nature of our car parking in Wrexham.

“When the original report on Ty Pawb structure came to executive board and scrutiny was always recognised the car parking element within Ty Pawb was a key park of the business case. Members accepted that at the time

“If you accept that at the time then you accept that Ty Pawb will have the ability to make a decision on level of car parking charges it sees fit in accordance to that business plan.”

However the proposals were questioned by Labour group leader, Cllr Dana Davies, who asked if the increases would be putting Ty Pawb in competition with other council owned car parks.

She said: “The decision made recently with the environment department with the parking charge and the free parking, I feel the decision when when we the conversation about the Ty Pawb business plan, there it was a feeling it would be aligned with council policy. Those two have diverged now.

“I’m raising the issue of are we putting two departments in competition with each other because we wouldn’t want decisions to set either one or the other to fail.

“The business plan is coming in front of scrutiny again on the basis it will be a standalone provision within Wrexham and if any pressure on the income targets then obvs going to be an ask from council for subsidised funding

“If we have free parking elsewhere, then there is going to be a reduction in people parking at Ty Pawb.

“Are we setting the income line in that business plan at an unrealistic level?”

Cllr Jones said: “The demand for Ty Pawb parking is different to the parking you’re talking about in the free after 2pm.

“There is evidence in the report which shows when there were those offers of free parking around special and seasonal events, demand at Ty Pawb has stayed at the 85 per cent level.

“This will not impact negatively otherwise we wouldn’t be doing it.”

The new charges will be implemented from April 6th.