Bid to turn Wrexham town centre house into HMO rejected because of parking issues

A BID to create a house in multiple occupation (HMO) near Wrexham town centre has been thrown out because of fears it will added to parking issues.
Proposals to turn a three-bedroom house on Oxford Street, which is close to Eagles Meadow shopping centre, into five bedsits were originally submitted in October.
Objections were raised ahead of the application being considered by councillors yesterday as a result of the lack of parking spaces on the road.
Local councillor Adrienne Jeorrett said the situation had become so bad that one resident who lives on the street was forced to return their disability car.
Addressing Wrexham Council’s planning committee, she said: “Whilst I accept the need for low cost housing, it’s a great disappointment to me that in 2019 adults are having to live in one room with a long term impact on health and wellbeing.
“In Oxford Street and the surrounding roads parking is a major problem for residents. This proposed HMO will add to that problem.
“To say that Oxford Street is near town does not mean that residents work in town.
“It does not mean that someone does not need a car, especially if they work somewhere where public transport no longer reaches.
“One resident in this street has already had to send back a disability car because they couldn’t park in the street.”
The local authority’s chief planning officer had recommended the scheme should be given the go ahead.
In a report, Lawrence Isted disputed claims that it would make the parking situation worse as the property was located close to the town’s bus and railway stations.
But the council’s highways department backed refusal because of the “significant” demand for parking in the area.
Highway development control engineer Peter Douthwaite said: “We’ve looked at it and the proposal is deemed to be increasing the level of parking requirement in an area already suffering from parking problems.
“We think it should be refused due to lack of parking provision.”
Councillors unanimously voted to reject the proposals at the end of the debate.

By Liam Randall – Local Democracy Reporter