Probable Town Centre Free Weekend Parking Over Festive Period

Wrexham shoppers can breath a slight sigh of relief as Wrexham Council announce there will (likely!) some free car parking available in the town in the countdown to Christmas.

Wrexham Council have put forward proposals to offer free car parking in either some or all of the town centre car parks in the three Saturday’s leading up to Christmas

In a report due to go before the Executive Board on Tuesday 11th November it is proposed that there is free car parking all day in ALL council owned car parks on Saturday December 6th; and free car parking all day in the People’s Market car park on Saturday 13th and 20th of December.

The free car parking on Saturday 6th is particularly notable as it coincides with both the Small Business Saturday event and the opening of Santa’s Grotto in the People’s Market.

Lead Member for Environment, Councillor David A Bithell said: “Wrexham town centre is definitely open for Christmas and we want to do as much as we can to support the businesses in and around the town centre.

“The Wrexham Community Business Forum has written to us and asked us to support their businesses, as well as having discussions with the Town Centre Forum.

“We have looked at the car parking charges carefully and after careful consideration we feel this goes some way to boosting visitor numbers to the town. We are committed to giving these businesses as much assistance as possible, particularly during this critical Christmas shopping period.”

Car parking has been a notorious subject in the town over the past few months – with parking increases in the town centre car parks receiving strong criticism from locals.

In October 2013 members of the Executive Board voted in favour of raising the parking charges, with fees increasing up to 100% in some council run car parks.

The free after midday parking in the People’s Market and Crescent Road car parks were also altered to a new ‘free after three scheme’. These new charges were introduced in the town early in 2014.

Over recent months there have been requests from town centre traders and shoppers for changes to be made to the car parking prices, with the subject being a regular hot topic of debate in the monthly Town Centre Forum meetings.

However from January 5th 2015 it is proposed that all day parking at the People’s Market multi storey car park is reduced from its current £3 rate to £2.

Cllr Bithell added: We want to continue to boost visitors into the town and believe that reducing charges to £2 per day in the New Year can only be a benefit for traders and shoppers alike and I hope it sends out a clear message about how important a contribution they make to Wrexham’s economy.”

The proposals will go before the Council Executive Board at 2pm on Tuesday 11th November – it is expected that the meeting will also be webcast live on the Wrexham Council website.

(There is a little more we can write about this however the above is the Council’s press release with a little context added, and we are under embargo until tomorrow afternoon on what was mentioned this morning in the ‘media brief’.)