WREXHAM Council looks set to scrap car parking charges for disabled people in a bid to improve accessibility.

Fees were controversially introduced for blue badge holders parking in council-owned car parks in the county borough in 2018.

The decision was made by the local authority in a bid to save £25,000 a year, despite disabled drivers previously being able to park for free.

The charges could now be binned as officials look to review parking in Wrexham town centre following a significant drop in visitors during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a report, council leader Mark Pritchard said: “During the early stages of the pandemic and initial lockdowns, general charges for parking in the town centre were suspended completely.

“In more recent times, the parking charges have been significantly reduced, with the implementation of a ‘free after 11.00 am’ initiative.

“It will be important to review how the town centre is being used over the next few months of Covid-recovery, in order to determine an appropriate longer-term strategy for car parking.

“Following the health pandemic and as we emerge through the recovery period it is important we think about the development of our town centre and accessibility to goods and services that this can and does provide.

“In line with this it is proposed to remove the car parking charges for disabled parking that will ensure improved accessibility and flexibility of parking for some of our most vulnerable members of the community and visitors to the town.”

Hundreds of people signed a petition against the parking charges for disabled people when they were first proposed.

The council said at the time that while it had a statutory duty to provide disabled parking spaces, it was not obliged to offer them for free.

Executive board members will consider proposals to scrap the fees when they meet on Tuesday, March 8.