Councillor reveals his "big vision" for Llan parking

THE old municipal tip and the new health centre both figure in a councillor’s “big vision” for the future of parking provision in Llangollen.

Stuart Davis, who represents the town on Denbighshire County Council, says that in a bid to address complaints about a shortage of parking facilities he would like to see the number of spaces doubled in the next two years.

* Cllr Stuart Davies. 

He now plans to ask council officers to come up with an in-depth study on how this can be achieved.

Cllr Davies revealed that one of the possible solutions he has in mind is creating a large number of spaces on the former council refuse tip on the A539 just outside the town, which was closed some years due to access problem from the busy main road.

Another of his ideas is for the council to reach an agreement with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to share use of parking spaces which will be created to serve the planned new health centre on the site of the River Lodge.

Cllr Davies said: “I have had representations from businesses in the town as parking has become a real issue.

“I have therefore called a meeting across a number of county departments, including planning, traffic and highways, to see what can be done.

“My big vision for the next two years is to double the 400-odd spaces we currently have over the next two years, but we’ve got to be inventive about it.

“I am looking at a traffic management study to get the number of spaces we need and then for it to be made a priority in the Town Plan.”

He added: “We’re going to have 75 parking spaces with the new health centre. I am suggesting we talk to the health board about putting a meter in there and using these for the public at the weekend when the centre doesn’t need them.

“I  also think we could use the old refuse tip at Wenffryd for out of town parking, where we might get at least 100 spaces.

“It’s never been properly developed because of access problems from the main road but the money raised from parking there could pay for a safe right turn to be made into it.

“It’s also possible that we could use some of the money to build some football pitches there for community use.

“This is very much a work in progress but with the tight financial situation we should be looking at ways of increasing parking provision without having to rely on ratepayers to foot the bill.”