Parking chaos fears as Wrexham AFC grows and residents beg for fans 'to be respectful'
Since Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought the Red Dragons in February 2021, attendances at the Racecourse Ground have tripled as the club has risen from the National League to the Championship.
While Wrexham 's success has been widely celebrated, people living around the stadium say it has created serious problems on match days, with fans blocking driveways and pavements and sparking disputes with locals.
Residents on the Maesgwyn estate, directly opposite the ground on Mold Road, fear matters could deteriorate further.
The concerns come as Wrexham AFC submits a new planning application to increase the capacity of its proposed Kop Stand from 5,500 to 7,750 seats, taking the stadium's total to around 18,000 once construction is complete.
Neighbours say they back the expansion but want a condition added requiring the club to pay for a residents' parking scheme to ease the strain.
The Racecourse Ground — the world's oldest international football stadium still in operation — is understood to have had the issue raised directly with club chief executive Michael Williamson. A residents' meeting was also held last week to voice concerns.
Commenter Mark Williams asks: 'Why do people buy a house by a football club and then moan?'
Karen Jones replies: 'I have lived here for years. We are not moaning just asking for people to be respectful of parking. The football club pays every match day for signs and cones and then the supporters ignore them and park blocking driveways and pavements. I think it's wonderful what's happening to Wrexham and new development, but to go out in my car and then not be able to get near my property because someone has parked gets a bit frustrating.'
Colin Wynn agrees: 'Most of the houses round by the ground are council houses. You are given a council house you don't have a choice simply because it's by a football club. They park both sides of the road so if there is ever a fire you wouldn't get a fire engine down the street.'
Paul Morris suggests: 'They need to close Maesgwyn road & Yale Park, with security at the entrances, residents should show proof they live there to get in & out. That hopefully would improve the situation.'
Colin Wynn replies: 'That's what they are trying to do but no one wants to pay for it. With the new stand going ahead that means two and a half thousand more fans that will need parking.'
Jay Louise wonders: 'Maybe they should buy the disused multi-storey carpark in town and just have it as match day or season ticket holders?'
Phillip Wynn points out: 'The local residents are fully behind the additional 2,250 spectator seats in the new Kop stand but are just asking the Club to take ownership of matchday parking in nearby residential side streets. The Club in their Travel Plan, which supports their Kop stand planning application, states in para 9.1.4 that they plan to 'minimise car parking close to the stadium' and to 'protect the amenity of local residents by better management of on-street parking' so everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet, the residents just want Rob and Ryan to clarify how this will be achieved.'
Stephen Crewe asks: 'What ever happened to the football special on the train? It used to be the inter City British rail, with the main station opposite the ground, you could cover Holyhead all the way into Wrexham, Shropshire into Wrexham and Bidston into Wrexham with all the pick up points along each route, then run a return journey about an hour after final whistle. It would take a lot of traffic from the place on match days.'
Mandy NL thinks: 'Wrexham council should hire more parking wardens and get out ticketing.'
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