TRADERS and councillors are delighted Wrexham Council has decided to kill off a controversial plan to impose on-street parking charges in the town centre.
The Leader revealed yesterday that the authority had ditched the scheme, which would have seen drivers having to pay to use roadside bays, which are currently free for up to half an hour.
A half-hour stay would have cost 50p and and a hour’s parking £1.
Council chiefs said they had listened to concerns about the scheme voiced during a public consultation exercise.
Council leader, Cllr Ron Davies, strongly denied a u-turn had been made.
But Cllr Mark Pritchard, one of the six members who had called for a special council meeting to discuss the issue, said: “I think a massive u-turn has been made as a result of our intention to call the meeting. I would like to think that in future councillors and officers will listen to the public before things like this are put forward.”
Cllr Paul Pemberton, who also supported the call for a special council meeting, said: “I am adamant they have done a u-turn on this. The motion to throw out the plan had cross-party support and they knew it would have been defeated.”
Lesley Thomas, a town centre trader who was at the forefront of the campaign against the charges, said: “Common sense has prevailed. With the loss of larger shops it is the smaller businesses which are keeping this town centre alive.
“If it wasn’t for them I think we would be in a bit of a mess and it was these traders that this scheme was going to affect most.
“I am glad to see that the councillors have listened to what was being said.”