Police Station Plans Have ‘Detrimental Effect’ On Town Centre Disabled Car Parking

A formal amendment regarding disabled parking is being proposed ahead of the re-hearing of the planning application for the new smaller town centre police station.

As we reported earlier this month the main new police HQ in Llay has had the green light, however there is an issue with car parking holding up the plans to remodel the library in to a smaller town station.

The objection was over the planned removal of 8 dedicated disabled vehicle car parking bays, and was lodged by John Gallanders from AVOW on behalf of Shopmobility users and other disabled people accessing the town. The issue raised meant the planning decision was deferred until the next sitting of the committee, on the 4th of January, rather than being nodded through.

The formal objection comes after a site visit and meetings with Councillors with slightly modified proposals still being challenged, and claims that ‘inaccurate’ information is due to be presented to the planning committee.

A formal amendment is being proposed to make Egerton Street exclusively for Blue Badge holders and deliveries and add extra spaces in the Library car park.

John Gallanders said: “The proposals are not like for like as they will not be marked with the necessary yellow hash markings or extended length bays to enable disabled users if necessary to lower rear ramps or have added safety area when opening doors.

“We have submitted a revised objection as the proposal is clearly not on a like for like basis. The number of parking bays required by the Police are already available in the current designated Library staff car park and in our opinion the inclusion of the dedicated car park space is not necessary. The added distance from the Library car park would prove very difficulty for a number of disabled and infirm people to have to push a wheelchair or walk on a stick.

“The loss of the 8 dedicated car parking spaces will have a huge detrimental effect on those wishing to access Shopmobility or other town centre facilities in that part of town.”

Mr Gallanders also pointed out that Shopmobility users in Wrexham are a ‘vital part of the town economy spending over £400,000 in the past year’.

Members of the public can view applications and find the methods of feeding back their thoughts to this, and other planning applications, via this link. Due to the current Council system we are unable to directly link to application pages.