Survey launched as council reveal what Regent St could look like inside two years

Last year Wrexham Council detailed some proposals that said Plas Coch Roundabout could become a “squareabout” as part of new ‘active travel’ routes, including a section of Regent St and Mold Road.

That appears to now have progressed and is now being consulted on under the name “Phase 1”.

The council said, “Phase 1 is developing designs for Regent Street between Station Approach and Hill Street. These will make it easier for everyone to walk and cycle. They include: New continuous cycle tracks
New pedestrian crossings, New paving and more greenery, A one-way section between King Street and Hill Street.

They add, “We are currently working on designs for Phase 1, which looks at improvements between Station Approach and the city centre. We aim to build Phase 1 in 2024/5 subject to securing final funding from Welsh Government. ”

Wrexham Council are using the ‘citizen-engagement-platform’ Commonplace to run the survey and detail some of the proposals – you can view it here: https://moldroadphase1.commonplace.is/

The survey closes on August 4, 2023.

There is also a public drop-in session on Monday, July 17, School of Creative Arts, LL11 1PF, 2 – 7pm.

In keeping with the ‘active travel’ theme the council say “Please walk or cycle if possible” – and more bizarrely add “…or use Island Green Pay and Display”.

Some slides from the consultation can be found below.

The full proposals include:

 

• A new two-way cycle track on the north side of the road between Station Approach and King Street.  The track would be 3 metres wide and replace all existing cycle lanes.  It would be stepped down from the footway and separated by a small kerb. There would also be a wide kerb separating the track from the traffic lane. We have chosen the two-way track on the north side because the main destinations are on the north side.  Also, we expect improvements to the narrow rail bridges to be on the north side too (but work on this is ongoing)
• A section of one-way street on Regent Street between Hill Street/Brynyffynnon and King Street.  General traffic would be allowed in the westbound direction only (heading out of the city).  Eastbound traffic would be directed to use other routes. Eastbound buses, bicycles and local traffic would still be allowed to use Regent Street between Grosvenor Road and King Street. The one-way section allows more space to be given to pedestrians and cyclists and for improvements to the streetscape outside the shops.
• A contra-flow cycle lane on Regent Street between King Street and Hill Street for eastbound cyclists.  This would be a minimum of 2 metres wide.  Westbound cyclists would use the road (which would carry less vehicle traffic due to the one-way and also have a 20mph speed limit).
• Junctions of Regent Street with Central Road and Grosvenor Road junction reconfigured and simplified to improve efficiency and safety. 
• Improved pedestrian crossings across Regent Street and the side roads, including at the junctions with Central Road, Bradley Road and Grosvenor Road.
• A new arrangement of crossings outside the shops where there will be less traffic with the one-way.  The two existing signal-controlled pedestrian crossings would be replaced with one zebra crossing. The signal-controlled crossing on the corner opposite Waterstones would be retained.
• A new bus stop near Wrexham General Station for buses heading east.   This would be for some services only.
• Parking restrictions outside Wetherspoons to permit loading and blue badge parking only.
• New paving, tactile paving and reduced street clutter along the whole route.
• New street furniture, including benches.
• New trees, planting and greenery to help improve the streetscape.
• Traffic lanes narrowed in some places to create the extra space needed for the cycle tracks and improved footways.
• New 20mph zone (as part of wider changes in line with Welsh Government initiatives).