WREXHAM'S Member of the Senedd (MS) has once again re-iterated local concerns about a city centre car park.

The Island Green Shopping Centre car park has become infamous in recent times for people receiving fines, when in many cases, they feel they have been wrongly given one.

The issue has grown to the point where businesses say they are missing out on customers as people are too afraid to park there.

Both Wrexham MS Lesley Griffiths and Clwyd South MS Ken Skates have long campaigned to address the issues faced by residents and visitors alike, but to no avail so far.

A meeting between the MS' and the firm responsible for parking on site - Euro Car Parks - was scheduled for June but was ultimately cancelled at the last minute.

The UK Government has recently launched a consultation surrounding private parking.

This is as part of plans to better regulate the private parking sector, including considering options for private parking charges (issued for a perceived breach of a car park’s rules) and debt recovery fees.

Mrs Griffiths has urged constituents to take part in the consultation and has written a letter to the government's Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

The letter, shared on social media, reads: "I write in my role as Member of the Senedd for Wrexham and wish to highlight a significant issue that has affected my constituents for several years.

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"Euro Car Parks (ECP) is a private company responsible for the daily running of the car park at Island Green Shopping Centre in Wrexham city centre.

"The car park has had a negative reputation for a considerable period but major problems first occurred in 2019 after ANPR cameras were first installed. 

"Wrexham Central train station is located at Island Green and there were incidents that led to people being fined £90 for train station drop-offs or pick-ups. Signage was later installed advising drivers of a 20-minute grace period for drop-offs and collections.

"Problems subsided afterwards, largely due to the pandemic, but approximately a year ago, a familiar pattern emerged. Increase in fines, out of order and poorly maintained machines and accessibility for blue badge holders were the main issues constituents contacted me about.

"I wrote to ECP on numerous occasions and despite some success in getting parking charge notices overturned, many of my requests were ignored. It appeared 'major keyin errors' was the overriding issue affecting constituents so I urged ECP to service their machines as a matter of urgency. This work, as far as I'm aware, was never undertaken."

The Leader: PIC: Island Green Car Park in Wrexham.

The letter added: "The situation is serious as two Island Green retailers recently announced they are experiencing difficulties. Asda Living closed its doors permanently in July 2023 and Wilkos entered administration, with the Wrexham store closing last month. While national factors are obviously at play, I have little doubt the parking situation at Island Green has not helped matters locally.

"Dozens of constituents and non-constituents have informed they avoid Island Green Shopping Centre altogether because of the parking problems. High streets are suffering as it is so creating further barriers that put people off shopping is nonsensical.

"This consultation could be the beginning of the end for these faceless, seemingly unaccountable firms. Both Ken Skates MS and I have encouraged our constituents to respond to this consultation in the hope it forces UK ministers to act. 

"Despite the actions we have taken and the avenues we have exhausted, the problems at Island Green remain.

"I am certain Wrexham isn't the only city or town which suffers from the unscrupulous practices of private car park firms. They wilfully ignore their customers and I believe tightening the legislation and implementing greater regulation around these unprincipled companies is a cause worth pursuing."