Voucher Scheme Aiming To Reinvigorate ‘Quieter’ Town Carparks

A voucher scheme that could see the cost of town centre parking refunded took a step forward in this morning’s Town Centre Forum meeting.

If both successful and implemented the proposed scheme would see town centre businesses refunding or part refunding the cost of parking at neighbouring car parks. The concept is one used around the country and involves a parking ticket fee being fully or partially reimbursed if someone uses a shop or service that has opted into the scheme.

Chairman of the Town Centre Forum and Eagles Meadow Manager Kevin Critchley updated the Forum on progress with the scheme, saying he has a meeting with Vinci (who operate the Eagles Meadow car park) on Wednesday.

Mr Critchley said: “We have started looking at a car voucher scheme. I have been told that Vinci are highly in favour of it, and would be happy in principle to extend the scheme around the town. It is unknown if Vinci will make a contribution other than putting their tickets in the machine, however they already operate the scheme in a couple of stores on Eagles Meadow.

“What we are trying to do at Eagles Meadow, is we are happy with the idea and if we can get shops to agree with it, we will be advertising it to Oswestry, Shrewsbury etc. If you put a pound on the price of wine, people might not mind, put 10p on car parking people change their lifestyle. That’s how strongly we feel about it.

“Hopefully it will be succesful and the Council will eventually ask to join the scheme.”

Town Centre Manager Isobel Garner added that NCP, who run St. Marks car park and Wrexham General Station car park are also in favour of the scheme.

The proposed voucher scheme was first raised by Phillip Clare of Tudor House back in November of last year in response to the recent changes in car parking fees.

Changes to car parking tariffs were introduced on February 3rd and have seen an increase in parking charges across Council owned car parks. In October of last year we reported on the proposed changes and how parking fees were facing an increase of up to 100%. You can read our report here.

Other changes to car parking in the town include the removal of ‘Free after midday’ parking in both the People’s Market and Crescent Road.

Comments were also made by members of the Forum about the recent changes to car parking prices in the town centre, with one member saying that the top two floors of the People’s Market car park were empty when he visited yesterday and other car parks appear less full. Mr Critchley also indicated that Eagles Meadow had seen a ‘quieter’ period of parking.

Today's car park update. Wonder how the peoples market car park is fairing up #newcarparkcharges @wrexham pic.twitter.com/fDEq2PRgxY

— Alex Jones (@alexmartinjones) February 4, 2014

Queries were also raised with Island Green, with Mr Critchley suggesting he would contact them to find out if they were on board with the scheme.

In last month’s meeting members of the Forum chose to approach private sector funding after being told the scheme could not have Council backing due to the significant cuts the Council are making. Speaking last month Council Leader Neil Rogers said: “This year we have to save in the region of £13m, that figure will go up next year and more the year after. That is the scale of what we are dealing with. If we want to spend £13,000 on this scheme the money would have to come from somewhere else, such as adult social care or child welfare.”

In total privately owned and run car parks represent around 80% of car parking capacity in and around Wrexham town centre.

What do you think of the proposed parking scheme? You can take part in the discussion on our forums here…