Public call for improved parking and family entertainment in council’s Placemaking survey

More family entertainment, good quality restaurants and better parking options top the wish list of those who responded to Wrexham Council’s ‘placemaking’ survey.

The Council’s Business, Employment and Regeneration Scrutiny committee will meet next week to discuss the progress of a Placemaking strategy being produced with a view to developing and improving the city’s public spaces.

It sells a vision for Wrexham as a national and regional place of significance in Wales and the UK to live, work, visit and invest.

A public consultation (‘Your Voice’) was held earlier this year, the feedback from which will be discussed in next week’s meeting in a report from Gwenfro Cllr Nigel Williams (Ind), lead member for economy and regeneration.

The Your Voice consultation was held across 18 weeks from February to June, receiving 229 responses, spelling out what the respondents feel the priorities for Wrexham’s public spaces should be.

Among the responses is a desire to see more family friendly destinations in the city along with better transport links.

The report states: “Eagles Meadow was mentioned on a number of occasions but is not formally included in the proposed spatial areas.

The comments indicated support for a focus on family entertainment and good quality restaurants.

“Green Infrastructure and public realm proposals were well received. The creation of welcoming spaces and positive links between green spaces adjacent to the city centre.

“Comments were very supportive of revitalising Wrexham and need to create a destination city centre with cultural, heritage and family experiences.”

Parking has long been a hot topic in Wrexham and that has also been brought up by those who responded to the consultation.

“Parking was referenced regularly in the responses”, the report states.

“There is a feeling that there is a lack of parking spaces for shoppers, particularly spaces for parents and babies / young children and people with disabilities.

“The range of different parking offers and their management regimes was found to be a frustration. public transport linking the city centre and wider county borough was considered poor.”

The analysis of the public engagement, workshops and feedback from the Design Commission for Wales has been considered by the council and its expert consultants, and the draft plan has now been updated.

Among the aspirations of the placemaking plan is to make the city centre more attractive than out-of-town locations, increasing the the number and quality of jobs, and ensuring pedestrian movement within and on approach to the city centre is safe, comfortable, inclusive, easy to navigate and attractive.

A review of the city’s signage is also taking place with potential to phase in updates in light of city status being secured last year.

The report adds: “Given the award of city status to the county borough, it is important that the Council undertakes an all-encompassing and wide ranging review of its signage.

“This could include, as a minimum, removal of any ‘older’ style boundary signage as clearly these do not indicate the achievement of City Status within the sign legend.

“The provision of signage and boundary markers will allow us to welcome visitors to the heart of the city and county borough.”

The Business, Employment and Regeneration Scrutiny committee will discuss the report and the placemaking plan when it meets on Wednesday (July 5).

By Rory Sheehan – BBC Local Democracy Reporter