1 week Ago By [email protected] (David Prince, North Wales Live readers)
North Wales Live readers have expressed their annoyance over the news that a car ban will be enforced in Wrexham city centre. The decision has sparked a wave of criticism from locals who have voiced their opinions online. The vehicle ban, which will apply to certain streets during parts of the day, will be enforced by rise and fall bollards as well as ANPR cameras.
Fines will be issued to those who fail to comply. Wrexham council stated that this is part of its initiative to make the city centre more pedestrian-friendly. A spokesperson for the council said: "Over the last few months funding secured from UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund, the Welsh Government Transforming Towns Fund, Safer Streets Fund and Active Travel Fund has allowed us to make High Street and Wrexham City Centre more inviting and pedestrian friendly.
As part of these improvements from Monday 14 April there will be one point of entry only to the City Centre. One commentator, Gwyndaffy writes: "T his would normally spell doom for a high street. But as Wrexham high street is basically a McDonald's and a bus stop I think it might actually improve things.
" Steamnut comments: "So we will have 'enforcement' - they love that word - and fines for motorists that are 'caught out'. Making high streets 'pedestrian friendly' does not improve trade; quite the reverse. When will that ever learn? What they have created is another rat run for e-bikes and e-scooters trying to evade police capture.
" Bonce points out: "Well it's worked terrifically well in Colwyn Bay and Rhyl in completely destroying the town's businesses." Volanda agrees: "Just look what it has done to Rhyl." MickHookem replies: "It's never been enforced in Colwyn Bay.
There are vehicles in the pedestrianised zone 24 hours a day and they never seem to get parking tickets." LEE11 adds: "The whole of Hope Street and Queens Square is pedestrianised but hasn't helped footfall! The Council are alienating a lot of people with this plan. It may look nice for a short time, but the block work will be dirty with chewing gum and sick from the night before and will start lifting and not maintained.
The flower beds are not great for people with sight problems proper raised bed would have been better. I want to be positive for Wrexham but hard to see how this will help." Deesider asks: "What about disabled and blue badge use?" Cooperman1927 answers: "Yes, you won't be able to enter either.
Then they wonder why businesses are closing." Joebloggs999 believes: "Another nail in the coffin for town centres, who wants to carry bag fulls of shopping back to a car park or do these councils think people do their family shop on pushbikes?" So do you agree with the car ban? Join in the conversation in the comments below or HERE ..
