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Celebrating Wrexham’s Smart Towns Achievements During Eisteddfod 2025
As Eisteddfod Wrecsam 2025 brings culture, music, and community to the heart of the city, it's the perfect time to celebrate how Wrexham is also leading the way in digital innovation through the Welsh Government’s Smart Towns initiative.
Wales' First Smart Towns Conference
In March 2024, Wrexham hosted Wales’ first Smart Towns conference in partnership with Trefi Smart Cymru, Wrexham County Council and BT. This brought together innovators from across the UK to showcase how data, sensors and digital platforms can be used to regenerate town centres and support local businesses. You can watch some of the sessions back on our YouTube channel.
Wales’ First Smart Towns Officer
In another first for Wales, Wrexham County Council appointed David Evans as the country’s first dedicated Smart Towns Officer to lead the city’s digital transformation. This role bridges the gap between technology and local need, supporting businesses, council services and the wider community to make the most of data and digital tools. By having someone on the ground who understands both the challenges of the high street and the potential of smart technology, Wrexham is setting a template for other towns and cities across Wales.
VZTA Digital Platform: Empowering Local Businesses
Wrexham became the first UK council to adopt digital screens along with the VZTA Smart Town platform by NearMeNow, empowering almost 100 local businesses to:
- Promote their offers in real-time across public digital screens and the VZTA app.
- Update availability, deals, and event information instantly – at no cost to them.
- Reach thousands of visitors digitally during major events like the Eisteddfod.
This initiative helps to reduce food waste, increase visibility, and connect independent businesses with new audiences.
Smart Sensors for a Smarter, Greener City
Wrexham County Council has deployed over 600 sensors across the city to monitor:
- Soil moisture and watering schedules
- Air quality and environmental conditions
- Pedestrian footfall and traffic patterns
- Flood risk and weather
- Car parking usage
These sensors saved the council £32,000 in watering costs alone during a 7-month trial and now provide live data to support decision-making and service planning.
Measuring the Eisteddfod's Economic Impact with Smart Data
Wrexham's smart infrastructure is playing a key role in measuring the impact of Eisteddfod Wrecsam:
- Footfall sensors across the city centre are collecting live data on visitor numbers, movements, and dwell times.
- Several local businesses are already using in-store counters and analytics tools to monitor how the Eisteddfod affects their trade.
Combined with VZTA app and screen engagement data and access to BT’s Active Intelligence data, Wrexham will be able to assess:
- Changes in customer footfall
- Peak times and hotspots during the event
- How far visitors are travelling
- Real-time public engagement with local offers and events
This evidence will help:
- Evaluate the economic impact of major events on the town centre
- Inform future investment in infrastructure, marketing and events
- Support businesses with data-led decision-making and benchmarking
In short, the Smart Towns tools give Wrexham the ability to capture and respond to the real effects of the Eisteddfod, from both a cultural and commercial perspective.
Further reading
The innovative way activity was measured at the Eisteddfod in Boduan