This note provides an update on the information posted on this blog yesterday (18.3.20).
Ian Bancroft – Chief Executive
Councillor Mark Pritchard – Leader of the Council
As the Chief Executive and Leader of Wrexham Council, we’re asking you to do everything you can to stay safe and help others.
Things are changing by the day and by the hour, and we know these are frightening and uncertain times for everyone.
As a council, we’re continuing to balance the welfare and needs of our staff – so they can stay safe and continue to deliver essential public services – with the welfare and needs of our residents and the communities we serve.
However, we’re having to make changes to the way we provide our services every day, as we try to respond to the impact of this virus.
We’ve put together the following information to help you understand the latest changes to council services, and to reiterate the advice being shared by the UK Government and health services.
Face-to-face services and public buildings
Some of our face-to-face services have already been suspended, and we will be closing all of our face-to-face reception areas from tomorrow.
We’re encouraging customers to access services and contact us online wherever possible.
Contact Wrexham and the Guildhall
Face-to-face services at Contact Wrexham in Lord Street have been suspended, and at the Guildhall, we’ll only be able to see customers with pre-made appointments from hereon.
You can still access services and information via the council’s website.
Housing estate offices
Your local estate offices will remain open for the moment, but to help safeguard both our tenants and staff, face-to-face reception services will no longer be available.
However, you’ll still be able to use the freephone in the reception areas to report repairs, or make payments via the kiosks.
Please share this information with your neighbours and other tenants.
GET THE LATEST COVID-19 INFORMATION FROM PUBLIC HEALTH WALES
Info Shop – Young Peoples Information and Advice Service
Due to reduced staffing numbers, we’ll only be opening the Info Shop in Lambpit Street on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 3pm and 5.30pm. This is so we can provide the sexual advice service to young people under 25.
We’ll also be limiting entry to no more than 10 people at a time, and changing the waiting area layout.
Outside of these hours, young people can still speak to a youth worker over the phone for information and advice by calling the following numbers between 12pm and 3pm.
- Mondays – 07585 103649
- Tuesdays – 07584 440126
- Wednesdays – 07585 103631
- Thursdays – 07976 660531
- Fridays – 07800 688823
Young people can also email infoshop@wrexham.gov.uk and check www.youngwrexham.co.uk for regular updates.
Young Wrexham can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.
Closure of libraries and other community facilities
From tomorrow, you’ll no longer be able to walk into buildings like our libraries (we’ll provide an update on things like extending book loans and so on tomorrow), family centres, resource centres and the Memorial Hall.
If you need to access information or contact us, you can still do this online.
Bins and recycling
We’ll continue to empty your bins and collect your recycling as normal, for as a long as we can.
However, from Monday, March 23 we’ll have to suspend our ‘bulky waste’ collection service – which means we’ll no longer be able to collect bulky items.
We’ll also have to suspend the delivery of new bins.
Our Household Waste Recycling Centres remain open, but with revised operational procedures in place. We’ll continue to monitor operations at these facilities, and if changes are likely to affect the public, we’ll let you know.
Schools
Yesterday, Welsh Government announced that all schools in Wales will close for statutory education provision no later than Friday, March 20.
In her statement, the Minister for Education Kirsty Williams also announced that schools will take on a new role for the time-being – supporting those most in need, including people involved in the immediate response to the coronavirus outbreak.
We’re seeking clarification on what this will mean for school sites in Wrexham.
Country parks and bowling greens
Ty Mawr, Alyn Waters and Minera Lead Mines
Ty Mawr Country Park remains open, but activities and events have been suspended and the pavilion / shop will be closed as of Monday, March 23.
Alyn Waters Country Park also remains open, but again, activities and events have been suspended and the pavilion will be closed as of Monday. The café is operated under lease by Groundwork. Any changes to arrangements will be announced by the café operator.
Minera Lead Mines will remain open.
Other parks, playing fields and bowling greens
The following will apply as of Monday, March 23:
- Bellevue Park – park open, bowling facility closed.
- Ponciau – park open, pavilion closed.
- Johnstown – both green and pavilion closed.
- Coedpoeth – bowling facility closed.
- Cunliffe (Acton Park) – park open, bowling facility closed.
- Pentre Broughton – bowling facility and pavilion closed.
All football pavilions will be closed.
Play areas and gardening allotments
All council-owned play areas and allotments will remain open, but users are advised to exercise common sense and follow the latest national health guidance from Public Health Wales.
Reminder – reliable sources of information about Covid-19
Latest information on the virus and what people should do about it is provided by:
- Daily TV statements by the Government (including by the Prime Minister).
- Daily official briefings from the Department of Health and Social Care at 2pm, and Public Health Wales at 3pm.
Can you help as a volunteer?
You can register as a potential volunteer to help staff delivering front-line services and to support community befriending.
AVOW (Association of Voluntary Organisations in Wrexham) is encouraging people to sign-up.
This is a rapidly changing situation, so we will issue further information as and when appropriate.
Read the most up-to-date information about Covid-19.
[button color=”” size=”large” type=”square_outlined” target=”new” link=”https://phw.nhs.wales/topics/latest-information-on-novel-coronavirus-covid-19/”]LATEST INFO ON COVID-19[/button]
