Road to reopen as part of town centre

As part of an experimental trial, Flintshire County Council is to reopen Brunswick Road in Buckley to through traffic and introduce convenience parking from Monday 21st September 2026.

The changes will be introduced through an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO), which will allow the Council to see how Brunswick Road operates under different conditions before any long-term decisions are made.

The trial, supported by all seven Buckley county councillors, will provide an opportunity to understand how the changes may affect traffic movement, parking, accessibility and the day-to-day operation of the town centre.

The trial will run for a minimum period until the end of October 2026. Under the legislation, the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order can remain in place for up to 18 months, although the Council can change, revoke or end the trial earlier if monitoring shows that this is appropriate.

During the trial, the Council will collect information about traffic and parking and will listen to feedback from local businesses, residents and visitors. This evidence will help determine whether the arrangements should be retained, changed or removed.

The road trial is part of a wider programme of work to look at the future design and appearance of the town centre.

A broader town centre design process, led by Hemingway Design and WSP in partnership with Flintshire County Council, will explore how the town centre could be improved to create a more attractive, welcoming and accessible place for residents, businesses and visitors.

The design process will be informed by public engagement, giving local people, businesses and other town centre users opportunities to share their views and help shape proposals as the work progresses. More information will be shared nearer the time regarding how and when people can be involved.

The design stage and the initial phase of implementation will be funded through the UK Government Pride in Place Impact Fund.

The traffic trial will provide valuable real-world information alongside the wider design process, helping to ensure that future proposals are based on how the town centre actually works and on the views of the people who use it.

Councillor Chris Dolphin, Cabinet Member for Environment, Regeneration, Countryside and Tourism, said:

“This trial gives us the opportunity to see how the road operates when it is open to through traffic and to understand what this means for the town centre in practice. It is important that we take the time to gather evidence and listen to the experiences of residents, businesses and visitors to help shape the proposals before making any long-term decisions.

"The UK Government’s Pride in Place Impact Fund provides an important opportunity to invest in the town centre, and we want to make sure that investment delivers improvements that work for the people who live, work and spend time here.”

Information about the trial, the wider streetscape design process and opportunities to get involved will also be shared through the Council’s website and social media.

The Council is encouraging residents, businesses and visitors to take part in the engagement process and share their views as the work develops.