HIGHWAYS officials have promised that nights of parking congestion at Wrexham Maelor Hospital should be eased by a repair to faulty traffic lights.

Staff and visitors have been left gridlocked with some taking up to an hour to leave the hospital complex's car park this week.

Many have taken to social media to complain while stuck in their vehicles with queues on average locking people on the site for half an hour and more because of congestion heading south on Croesnewydd Road for the A525 and towards the B&Q roundabout at junction 5 of the A483.

Kevin Jones, a technical officer in Maelor's operating theatre, said it took him 40 minutes to get off the carpark on Tuesday night.

"I was on there until so past six it was very frustrating. It seemed the roads leaving the hospital were blocked both ways," he said.

"It is an ongoing problem and it seems to be that the lights are out of sync to get out in the direction of Moneypenny. It is not as if everyone finishes at the same time at the Maelor with shifts - it is a major problem after four o'clock. It is also probably not helped by those who shouldn't be parking at the hospital as they don't check if you work at the hospital anymore."

Wrexham Council says issues with traffic lights have caused congestion around the Maelor site, while there has been a wait for a specialist part for the faulty lights.

It anticipates that issue will be solved by Friday.

Cllr David A Bithell, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: "There has been a technical issue with traffic signals in this area which we are addressing. Our contractors were on site today and have tweaked them and we are hopeful they will be back to normal by Friday."

The council says it is working with Welsh Government and the Trunk Road Agency to improve the road network in the area and Cllr Bithell added: "We are aware of parking and transport related issues at the Maelor Hospital and this has been raised both with Welsh Government and the health board and forms part of the regional work we are undertaking to improve the gateways in and out of Wrexham."

Owners of the hospital site, the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, have urged people to consider alternative travel arrangements during peak hours if the problems persist.

“Anyone visiting Wrexham Maelor Hospital should consider the potential traffic congestion. We understand that parking is a challenge on site and have made efforts to ease pressures, including introducing a drop-off area and promoting alternative travel arrangements to the site, such as cycling and car share schemes," said a board spokesperson.

Among those caught in the queues this week were Maelor staff member Julie Jones, who took to Twitter to complain. She tweeted: "Maelor carpark gridlocked again (every night now) with staff trying to leave work. Surely something can be done to solve this? Do more of us need to complain?"

Nici H posted: "It been horrendous this week, people stuck in car parks for 25 mins plus and late for collecting children. Something must be done. People can’t use filter lanes by Dunelm either that back traffic up and block roundabouts. How ambulances get through is beyond me, it’s dangerous."

Wrexham AM Lesley Griffiths AM says the Welsh Government has commissioned a project which is looking at making improvements to the A483 in Wrexham between junctions 3 to 6.

"Relevant stakeholders are assessing local congestion issues and potential solutions are being developed. I also hope the Wrexham Gateway Project, focused on regenerating the area of the town around the Mold Road corridor, will bring about improved travel connections, including both rail and road networks," said the AM.

"Some have suggested there is a particular issue with the traffic lights on Croesnewydd Road and I have written to Wrexham Council to request the problem be rectified urgently."