BUSES could return to Wrexham High Street from next spring.
Subject to the approval of council bosses, the half-hourly service will be operated by the authority on a six-month trial basis.
It would use a 19-seater vehicle to link the main public transport interchanges with shops in Regent Street, Hope Street, High Street, Queen’s Square and Eagles Meadow.
Services would run between 9.15am and 2.12pm Monday-Saturday and call at a number of existing stops along the route.
In the pedestrianised zone, buses would be restricted to 5mph and operate on a ‘hail and ride’ basis.
On Monday and Thursday the service would be diverted via Chester Road and Powell Road to avoid disrupting the outdoor markets held in Queen’s Square.
A report to be considered by a council committee on Wednesday says passenger fares – a single or all-day pass – would be set in line with commercial rates for adult tickets.
Concessionary fares would be accepted on the buses.
The re-introduction of the buses, which stopped running because of traffic problems, is one of a package of proposed measures aimed at breathing commercial life back into the heart of the town.
All have the strong support of local businesses, the Town Centre Forum and Wrexham Chamber of Trade.
The “buses back” scheme won 100 per cent support from everyone consulted about it.
Also winning widespread approval were separate plans to restrict parking on one side of High Street (100 per cent), simplifying existing access restrictions (75 per cent), reducing footway widths to allow wider parking bays (71 per cent) and relaxing access restrictions to allow loading at any time (66 per cent).
Proposals given the thumbs down included improving access to High Street for Blue Badge holders (75 per cent against), restricting access to vehicles during the evening (71 per cent against) and street stalls and events (75 per cent against).
Recommendations from scrutiny are due to go before board on December 23.
If approval is given it is expected the changes will come into effect in March.