Member of the Welsh Parliament raises problems of parking at hospitals in North Wales in the Senedd

Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, is calling for an urgent review of the growing parking problems at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

Speaking in the Senedd, Mr Rowlands, who constantly raises this matter on behalf of his constituents, called for a statement on this issue from the Welsh Government.

He said:

“I'm calling for an urgent statement from the Welsh Government regarding the serious and growing problems with parking at hospitals in North Wales and especially at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

“Constituents, patients, visitors and even hospital staff are telling me the same story: parking at the Maelor has become a daily nightmare.

“People arriving for appointments are stressed, anxious and often late because they cannot find a safe or available place to park. Staff working those long and difficult shifts face the same challenges.

“This is not a minor inconvenience; it is a barrier to care, a risk to patient well-being, and a strain on an already pressurised workforce.

“We need a statement from the Welsh Government outlining how they're going to tackle this situation. We need a commitment to a full review of parking capacity and management at the Maelor, and a timetable for delivering practical solutions, whether that includes a multistorey car park, park-and-ride options, or better use of existing land or other options that may be available to the Government.”

He called for a statement regarding this issue from Jane Hutt, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip.

Jane Hutt said it was the responsibility of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, working with their local hospital management teams.

Mr Rowlands added:

“I really am disappointed but not surprised with the response from the Welsh Government as quite clearly the health board need support to fix these long-running parking issues at the hospital and as usual the Welsh Government buries it head in the sand.

“I have raised my concerns with the Health Board and I am still waiting to have a meeting to discuss the matter but it would have been a positive step if the Welsh Government had been willing to get involved.

“Parking has been a major and challenging issue at the Wrexham hospital and also at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor and Glan Clwyd in Bodelwyddan for many years as the demand quite clearly outweighs the number of spaces.

“I have highlighted the problems in the Senedd several times yet the health board continue seem unable to find solutions and they do not appear to get any help or support from the Welsh Labour Government.”

Pictured - Sam Rowlands at the Maelor Hospital.