Wrexham Council seeks public input on city centre traffic plan

Wrexham Council are asking for your views on a dull but important topic – how traffic and people move around the city centre.

They explain, “The current Traffic Regulation Orders in place in Wrexham city centre have been in place for between ten and twenty years, during which time there have been significant changes to Wrexham, its population, the journeys that people make, and the way people move around.

“We want to ensure that the city centre is able to thrive and develop so that we have a city which is fit for the future, as well as ensuring that we are improving the environment, keeping road-users safe and allowing traffic to move appropriately in and around the city centre. ”

This survey has been launched to get your views on a range of streets including the following:

Yorke Street “will” be one-way, with traffic flowing northerly (i.e. towards High Street) with changes to the infrastructure.

High Street will have the bus lane removed, and vehicles ‘prohibited in this area for most of the majority of the time (with access for the Church and permit holders maintained)’.

Church Street will see left-turn only exit, and no parking.

Part of Town Hill will become a vehicle free zone much like High Street, as will Hope Street and Queens Street.

The council note there are “clear accessibility challenges in Wrexham, both perceived and actual, and the Placemaking Plan has identified the following as primary objectives for improvements””

Access for all
Removal physical and perceptual barriers to movement
Strengthening the quality and experience of routes between points of arrival and key destinations
Improvements to navigation and way-finding
Improvements to cycling infrastructure (partially addressed through the Active Travel project)
Review of vehicle movement, management and Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) for a more practical, efficient, safe and manageable road network
Future proofing for electric vehicles
Review of parking provision to rationalise distribution, reduce traffic and encourage footfall
Consideration of accessibility issues in support of the evening and night-time economy

Cllr Terry Evans, Lead member for Environment, said, “It’s important that traffic is managed effectively in the city centre for drivers and pedestrians. If you own a business, visit the city centre or drive in the area, please take the time to fill in the consultation to make sure we have a good idea of people’s expectations in order to ensure our recommendations reflect everyone’s views.”

Cllr Nigel Williams, Lead member for the Economy and Regeneration, said, “With so many visitors to the city centre, both local residents and the increase in tourists visiting Wrexham, it’s important that we have a safe space within the city centre for people who visit to shop or sit outside having a coffee or a meal to be able to walk and not have a constant flow of vehicles passing, sometimes at speed or parking inconsiderately.

“Certain vehicles will still have access during the morning until the restrictions come into force.”