Member of Welsh Parliament slams slow progress on solving parking problems at Maelor Hospital

Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, says it is taking far too long to resolve the growing parking problems at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

Last November, Mr Rowlands launched a petition calling for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to get their act together and sort out the daily nightmare.

He said:

“My inbox is continually full of emails from constituents, patients, visitors and even hospital staff who 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. I have actually spent some time in the car park and seen at firsthand how dangerous and frustrating it is to park there.

“It really isn’t good enough and it is about time the issue was dealt with as a matter of urgency.

“I am angry for my constituents as I feel that the health board is dragging its feet and need to work urgently with Wrexham Council to put some measures in place as soon as possible.

“Recently in the Senedd, I called for an urgent review of the issue and urged the Welsh Government to get involved as I feel 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.”

Mr Rowlands called for a statement regarding this issue from Jane Hutt, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip. And she said it was the responsibility of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, working with their local hospital management teams.

Mr Rowlands added:

“I was 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 hope 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.”

Pictured - Sam Rowlands at the Maelor Hospital.