news.wrexham.gov.uk

Category: Council Services

The iPads have arrived! And what a difference they’re making to care homes in Wrexham!
The North Wales Regional Partnership boards innovative scheme to provide iPads for care home residents have arrived in Wrexham.
The iPads will help residents to keep in touch with friends and family while visits are restricted during the coronavirus outbreak.
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The iPads have been distributed across a number of care homes in the Wrexham area, with even more to come.
Take a look at this fantastic feedback from some of the care homes that have received their delivery of an iPad…
Gary, Manager at Ashgrove Care Home in Gresford said, “Thank you very much for letting us have an iPad, our residents are FaceTiming their relatives and we were able to use the iPad to celebrate the recent VE day.”
Sue Barton, Manager at Oak Alyn, Cefn Y Bedd said, “Having the iPads here at Oak Alyn have made a huge difference to the residents. We have had one resident who has been able to FaceTime both of their children, one living in Wrexham and the other in Hong Kong at the same time and have a 3 way conversation – this was really fantastic. Another resident was able to FaceTime their relative in Australia who they haven’t seen for 8 years – this was a really emotional call!!”
Katie Williams, Activity coordinator Lindan House Care Home, “What a difference this has made to the residents, as well as being able to keep in touch with their families we have also been able to download some activities on to the iPad that the residents can enjoy taking part in and they are thoroughly enjoying this, we have had one lady sing a long to Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen!!”

Read the most up-to-date information about Covid-19.
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May 22, 2020
Tŷ Pawb: May Half Term Online
This week’s half term activities are all inspired by Tŷ Pawb’s very first exhibition ‘Is This Planet Earth?’, an exhibition that imagined what aliens might put in a museum about Earth and our extraordinary nature if they’d never gotten the chance to visit!
There were lots of brilliant bugs in the show, so our amazing artist team have put together a week of mighty mini-beast makes for you to try at home!
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Save your recycling! You’re going to need these items for Ty Pawb’s online half term activities:
– Cereal boxes or other thin card
– Toilet roll tubes
– A jam or sauce jar
– A milk or juice carton
– A butter or spread tub
– Netting from fruit bags
– Tin Foil
– Carrier Bags
It’ll also be handy to dig out your:
– Scissors
– PVA / Glue Stick / Sticky Tape
– Crayons / Colouring Pencils / Felt-tips / Markers
– Stapler
– Needle and thread
– Grown-up Helper
For more information visit: https://www.typawb.wales/may-half-term-2020
Read the most up-to-date information about Covid-19.
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May 21, 2020
Thanks for your support from our waste and recycling services
Our waste and recycling services want to thank you for your support whilst they continue to work hard to provide your weekly service with as little disruption as possible.
Our services have had to adapt due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation and we’ve asked you to help us out with a number of things recently. Your positive response to this has helped our crews to continue with their important work throughout this period.
“Patience and understanding”
Cllr David A Bithell, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “We’d like to thank the public for their patience and understanding whilst we’ve been working our way through the current situation.
“Our crews are doing their best to provide your weekly service in spite of the many obstacles they have in front of them, which has been acknowledged by many people on social media over the past few weeks. There’s been a great number of kind messages of support for our workers, and these really do go a long way.
“Our priority remains keeping you and our crews safe and we have very strict hygiene precautions in place to do this, which you’ve took on board and helped us out with. Please keep up your support…it really helps to keep the morale up. Thank you.”
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“A really important part of keeping them safe”
Darren Williams, Chief Officer, Environment and Technical, said: “The steps you’ve taken to help us out have really been appreciated. You’ve recognised that we need to look after the safety of our crews, and doing things such as disinfecting your bin handles continues to be really helpful.
“You’ve also understood that our crews can’t touch any of the recyclables for safety reasons, so taking the time to squash your plastics down and flattening cardboard so that our workers can empty your bags and boxes straight into the vehicle compartment – without touching any materials – is also a really important part of keeping them safe. Thank you.”
5-10% increase
Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen a 5-10% increase in the amount of waste we’ve collected from properties in Wrexham.
At a time when our waste services are stretched, we want to remind everyone that minimising our waste is one of the biggest ways we can prevent any disruptions to the services.
Cllr Bithell added: “It may seem like quite a big ask as we’re all spending more time at home than usual, but every bit we can reduce will make a difference to maintaining a good collections service for everyone.
“Although it may be tempting, avoid doing big clear-outs, which will create more rubbish and recycling for our workers to collect. Our recycling centres reopened last week, but the advice is to only visit them if you really need to. If possible, please hold onto large items, such as furniture until the outbreak has subsided, and services return to normal. Thanks again for your support.”
For details about the reopening of our recycling centres and the measures we have in place, take a look at this article from last week.
Brymbo Household Waste Recycling Centre – please pre-book for weekend and bank holiday
Read the most up-to-date information about Covid-19.
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May 21, 2020
Brymbo Household Waste Recycling Centre – please pre-book for weekend and bank holiday
The re-opening of Brymbo Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) has gone well and a big thank you to everybody who’s using the facility and sticking to the 10 point plan.
The booking system is working well but please remember if you want to use the Brymbo facility over the weekend and bank holiday you’ll need to pre-book by this Friday.
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To book an appointment at the Brymbo HWRC please call 01978 801463 between 8am and 5pm Monday to Friday. When you get to the facility your name and registration will be recorded as a reference for your booking slot. You will still be required to display proof of residency at the site and we are turning people away who are not from the Wrexham county borough area.
A maximum of 5 vehicles will be allowed on site at any one time and no trailers will be allowed.
Follow these 10 rules to help keep everyone safe
We’ll be implementing strict conditions to ensure the safety of both staff and the public.
Please follow these 10 rules:
1. Don’t go to the sites if you or anyone in your household has symptoms of Covid-19, or is ‘shielding’ because of an underlying health condition.
2. Only bring household waste. Don’t bring commercial or business waste.
3. Please bring proof that you live in the county borough (e.g. a utility bill with your address on it). The sites are for Wrexham residents only. If you don’t have proof, you won’t be allowed to tip your rubbish. Please call 01978 801463 to book an appointment if you want to use the Brymbo site.
4. Be patient if you have to queue. A maximum of five vehicles will be allowed on site at any one time. No trailers will be allowed at the Brymbo site.
5. Make sure only one person steps outside your vehicle to unload it, and that they stick to social distancing. Note that children should stay in the car at all times, and no pets are permitted on site.
6. Don’t bring items that are too big or heavy to handle yourself. Our site attendants won’t be able to help you unload your car or dispose of your waste.
7. Sort your waste before you arrive (so you’re quicker).
8. Be polite. Aggressive behaviour towards staff won’t be tolerated. Site attendants will be equipped with body cameras, and any instances will be reported to the police.
9. Don’t touch your face on-site, and bring your own sanitiser if you can (clean your hands with sanitiser before you drive away).
10. The re-use shop at Bryn Lane remains closed for now, so keep your stuff for the reuse shop at home.
In a joint statement, Councillor David A Bithell, Deputy Leader of Wrexham Council and Lead Member for Environment and Transport, and Darren Williams, Chief Officer for Environment and Technical, said: “We’d like to thank everyone for pre-booking at the Brymbo HWRC and for following the guidelines. If you wish to use the site over the weekend and bank-holiday you will need to book your appointment by Friday on the number above.”
Read the most up-to-date information about Covid-19.
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May 20, 2020
It’s Thank A Teacher Day
Today is Thank A Teacher Day and we’re asking you all to join with us in thanking your teachers, teaching assistants, carers and parents for the amazing work they do.
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Ian Roberts, Chief Officer for Education and Early Intervention and Cllr Phil Wynn, Lead Member for Education, said: “We’d like everyone to join with us in thanking all our teachers and teaching assistants for the essential role they are carrying out at this moment in time by looking after vulnerable children and those of key workers. We must also remember those parents and carers who are doing a tremendous job of home-schooling during these days of lockdown and the important contribution they are making to the education and welfare of our children.
“Thank you everyone and we hope things will return to some normality in the coming months but until then please keep up the good work.”
You can find out more at https://thankateacher.co.uk/thank-a-teacher-day/
Read the most up-to-date information about Covid-19.
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May 20, 2020
Brymbo Household Waste Recycling Centre to re-open with booking system
Following the closure of Brymbo Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) last Friday due to traffic issues we’ve taken a look at the situation with our site operator and agreed to re-open it from 12 noon tomorrow, Wednesday 20.05.20. We’ll be using a pre-booking system with strict guidelines in place.
To book an appointment at the Brymbo site only please call 01978 801463 between 8am and 5pm Monday to Friday. When you get to the facility your name and registration will be recorded as a reference for your booking slot. You will still be required to display proof of residency at the site.
GET THE LATEST COVID-19 INFORMATION FROM PUBLIC HEALTH WALES
A maximum of 5 vehicles will be allowed on site at any one time and no trailers will be allowed.
Follow these 10 rules to help keep everyone safe
We’ll be implementing strict conditions to ensure the safety of both staff and the public.
Please follow these 10 rules:
1. Don’t go to the sites if you or anyone in your household has symptoms of Covid-19, or is ‘shielding’ because of an underlying health condition.
2. Only bring household waste. Don’t bring commercial or business waste.
3. Please bring proof that you live in the county borough (e.g. a utility bill with your address on it). The sites are for Wrexham residents only. If you don’t have proof, you won’t be allowed to tip your rubbish. Please call 01978 801463 to book an appointment if you want to use the Brymbo site.
4. Be patient if you have to queue. A maximum of five vehicles will be allowed on site at any one time. No trailers will be allowed at the Brymbo site.
5. Make sure only one person steps outside your vehicle to unload it, and that they stick to social distancing. Note that children should stay in the car at all times, and no pets are permitted on site.
6. Don’t bring items that are too big or heavy to handle yourself. Our site attendants won’t be able to help you unload your car or dispose of your waste.
7. Sort your waste before you arrive (so you’re quicker).
8. Be polite. Aggressive behaviour towards staff won’t be tolerated. Site attendants will be equipped with body cameras, and any instances will be reported to the police.
9. Don’t touch your face on-site, and bring your own sanitiser if you can (clean your hands with sanitiser before you drive away).
10. The re-use shop at Bryn Lane remains closed for now, so keep your stuff for the reuse shop at home.
In a joint statement, Councillor David A Bithell, Deputy Leader of Wrexham Council and Lead Member for Environment and Transport, and Darren Williams, Chief Officer for Environment and Technical, said: “Following a review of the site and to ensure public and staff safety remains a priority at this time we are now pleased the site is re-opening and we expect the pre-booking system to work well and manage the expected demand.
Please remember no trailers will be allowed at Brymbo HWRC and only those who have pre-booked appointments will be allowed in.”
Read the most up-to-date information about Covid-19.
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May 19, 2020
Covid-19 (Novel Coronavirus) – public briefing note 15.5.20
This note provides an update on the information posted on this blog on Monday (11.5.20).
Key messages for today
- Our household waste recycling centres reopened earlier today (Friday, May 15). Only visit them if you really need to, and stick to the rules.
- Please don’t drive to our parks this weekend. Welsh Government has made it clear that in Wales, people should continue to exercise locally.
- We’ll be trialling the use of ‘Zoom’ to run committee meetings.
Ian Bancroft – Chief Executive
Mark Pritchard – Leader of the Council
Before you visit our recycling centres…
Our household waste recycling centres reopened earlier today (Friday, May 15).
The sites were closed in early April as part of the council’s response to Covid-19, but following some small changes to lockdown in Wales, we’ve been able to reopen them.
Coronavirus has brought huge disruption to daily life, and lots of people will be pleased to see them open again.
However, if you’re itching to load-up the car and get down there, please stop for a moment and consider this…
1. Even though the sites have reopened, you should only visit them if you really need to.
2. If you do visit, you must follow the 10 strict rules we’ve implemented.
In fact, we’ve had to close our Brymbo site early today due to demand and traffic queues.
Due to traffic, we’ve closed Brymbo waste recycling centre earlier than planned. The site will remain closed until we’ve reviewed things next week. Bryn Lane and Plas Madoc sites remain open, but please only visit if it’s absolutely essential.
— Wrexham Council (@wrexhamcbc) May 15, 2020

So please continue to follow the lockdown rules in Wales, only visit the recycling centres if you really need to, and follow the rules when you’re there.
Remember…it’s all about saving lives, and protecting the NHS.
Stay at home this weekend
There are slight differences between lockdown rules in Wales and England at the moment.
And as we head into the weekend, it’s important that nobody gets confused.
Here in Wales, the ‘stay at home’ message is still in place.
And although you can now leave home to exercise more than once a day, Welsh Government has made it clear that people should continue to exercise in their local area.
So please don’t be tempted to drive to one of our parks to walk the dog or go for a run etc. It’s still not ok to do that.
Stay local.
GET THE LATEST COVID-19 INFORMATION FROM PUBLIC HEALTH WALES
Council meetings
Like most councils, we’ve been looking at ways to start holding committee meetings again.
Meetings were cancelled in late March as part of our response to Covid-19, and in line with councils across the UK.
One of the biggest challenges is social distancing, as meetings tend to take place ‘in person’ – with councillors, council staff and other people gathering in one room.
But guidance issued last month has allowed councils to look at ways to hold key meetings again.
As a result, we’re going to use the enterprise version of ‘Zoom’ – a popular conferencing app – to hold three ‘virtual’ meetings:
- Audit Committee – May 28
- Executive Board – June 9
- Planning Committee – June 22
As far as practicalities and the technology allows, we’ll be aiming to run these meetings in the normal way – including how the meetings are chaired, questions taken and so on.
We won’t live-stream to begin with, but to aid transparency, we’ll invite local media to observe online.
We’ll then post a public recording online as soon as we can afterwards.
This is going to be a massive learning curve for us, and these initial meetings will help us find our feet…so we’re eventually able to live-stream the proceedings.
Like all councils, we’re having to quickly get to grips with new technology and new ways of doing things.
But we think this approach will give us a way to allow key debates and decisions to take place, while keeping everyone safe.
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 Government ministers) at around 5pm.
- Daily statements by Welsh Government at around 12.30pm.
- Daily official briefings from the Department of Health and Social Care at 2pm, and Public Health Wales at 3pm.
Read the most up-to-date information about Covid-19.
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Covid-19 (Novel Coronavirus) – public briefing note 11.5.20
May 15, 2020
Museum set to record “Local Life Under lockdown” 2020 for future generations
A new project is being launched by Wrexham Museum and Archive Service. “Local Life Under Lockdown” aims to record for posterity what life was like in Wrexham in 2020.
The lockdown since March 23 has transformed everyday life from the front line in our hospitals and care homes, through the people serving in shops and pharmacies, to the back gardens where people escape the cabin fever brought about by staying at home to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
With UK Governments tentatively investigating how to lead the country out of this crisis, Wrexham Museum & Archives will be recording some of the experiences of life under lockdown in Wrexham County Borough with the help of local people, community groups and organizations, and businesses, while it is still fresh in our minds.
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Working with local film-makers and photographers, the museum is aiming to compile a 21^st century scrapbook of images, film, testimony, archives and objects about life in Wrexham since March 2020.
Over the coming weeks, the plan is to:
- Gather digital images and film of life under lockdown. The museum will be announcing details of how you can be involved and contribute to this project via social media and the press.
- Collect objects and artworks connected to the coronavirus pandemic. We will announce details of this as soon as it is safe to do so.
- Archive material detailing the official response in Wrexham County Borough to the crisis
Steve Bayley, Chief Officer, Housing and Economy said “The Council has been at the forefront of the response to the challenges thrown up by coronavirus. From ensuring those who are shielding receive the provisions they need to providing business support and distributing millions of pounds of business rates relief to businesses across Wrexham. We are now keen to see this recorded and archived for future use so please get in touch with the Museum and Archives staff to see how you can help with this project.”
“Local Life Under Lockdown…….a picture of life in Wrexham”
Cllr Hugh Jones, Lead Member for Communities, Partnerships, Public Protection and Community Safety, said: “Staff at Wrexham Museum & Archives had already been planning a project about life in Wrexham 2020. Little did they know what a momentous year it would turn out to be. The “Local Life Under Lockdown” project offers a great chance for everyone to contribute to build up a picture of life in Wrexham when we had to “Stay at Home, Protect the NHS and Save Lives”, which could benefit future generations facing similar challenges.”
For more information, please check the council’s and the museum’s social media pages, and the local press, or email museum@wrexham.gov.uk.
Background historical information
Pandemics and epidemics are not new to Wrexham, although they are often overlooked. According to tradition, Bryn y Cabanau Road, in Hightown, is named after the wooden huts built to house and isolate residents of Wrexham during an outbreak of the plague. The threat of cholera during the 1840s spurred on the creation of a borough council to sort out the town’s public health crisis. Local elementary schools closed and returning soldiers and their families succumbed to the Spanish flu of 1919-20. A Fever hospital was opened on the edge of Wrexham on Croesnewydd Road. The polio epidemic during the 1950s and the Asian flu pandemic of 1957-58 are undoubtedly remembered by families and individuals still alive today.
Read the most up-to-date information about Covid-19.
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May 15, 2020
Do you have an idea to help those who are isolated in your community? Grants available
A popular grant-funding scheme is opening up and calling for people to apply for funding to help vulnerable or isolated people in their local communities.
The Community Inclusion Grant was created in 2012 to improve the lives of older people living in Wrexham. Due to the current situation lots of elderly and vulnerable people in communities across Wrexham are feeling even more lonely and isolated. This grant funding aims to assist people with ideas to help those people.
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The panel usually meets four times a year to discuss applications. However, to ensure they continue to provide the grants the team are meeting virtually to discuss them.
So far, the grant has supported an application to help the Portuguese community in Wrexham to remain connected whilst isolating and to help with online food shopping for people who may not have access to laptops/PCs or the internet.
Grant funding has also been awarded to Penley lunch club to extend its provision of lunches. The demand for the provision of lunch from the Penley Rainbow centre has increased and they needed help to provide more food hot pots as well as support the volunteers who deliver the food to the surrounding areas. The grant means that they can now extend the area in which the deliver to.
Cllr Joan Lowe, Lead Member for Health and Adult Social Care said, “The community inclusion grant has always proved a popular grant for the community. During the current climate, the grant has become even more important and can really help those people who are at most risk of isolation in our communities. Anyone with an idea or with a project that needs additional funding is encouraged to get in touch with the team and apply for the grant.”
Do you have an idea or need some extra financial help to deliver a project which will help the elderly and vulnerable who may be isolated in your community?
Funding, in the range of £200 – £2,500, is available to support the establishment and/or the sustainability of community-based activities that reduce social isolation and loneliness, by supporting people to retain or regain social connections and enable people to participate in their local community.
Re-connecting isolated and lonely individuals not only has a positive impact on the lives of older and vulnerable adults in terms of their health and emotional well-being, but it also supports the community by gaining access to their economic and social capital.
Contact the team
Contact the commissioning team on: 01978 292066 for an informal chat or more information.
Application forms and guidance notes are available by email to: commissioning@wrexham.gov.uk
Read the most up-to-date information about Covid-19.
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May 15, 2020
Tŷ Pawb – Arts at Home
Tŷ Pawb’s galleries are temporarily closed, however, they have just announced that they will be delivering an alternative programme for the time being – Tŷ Pawb Arts at Home.
Parts of Tŷ Pawb’s current exhibition programme will be made available online. They will also be developing projects with artists for you to take part in, all from the comfort of your own home! They will also be looking to showcase your creative outputs as part of an open exhibition in Tŷ Pawb later this year.
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Live streaming Friday night gigs
In the absence of the monthly Live @ The Square live music programme, Tŷ Pawb will continue to provide live music experiences directly to your home via their Facebook page.
Here are the upcoming performances (more to be announced soon):
22nd May – Luke Gallagher
5th June – Jack Found (Exclusive Premiere Performance)
12th June – Cosmic Dog Fog
19th June – Cara Hammond
Family art club returns
While Tŷ Pawb is closed, we will continue to deliver an adapted version of Family Art Club each Saturday morning as part of our ‘Arts at Home’ programme.
Our Family Art Club artists will create downloadable activities, which will be made available via our website and facebook page, each Saturday.
Be part of our collaborative nature documentary
Tŷ Pawb want you to create a short 1 minute film of an action / behaviour of you or a member of your household, then create a short nature-style narration to accompany it, think David Attenborough meets You’ve Been Framed!
All clips will be edited together to create a video of our different survival strategies, which will be shared on Facebook and in an exhibition when Tŷ Pawb reopens.
For more info: http://www.typawb.wales/sophie-lindsey
Connected in artful ways
All of this is aimed at making people feel connected to Tŷ Pawb and one another, in artful ways.
Lead Member for People – Communities, Partnerships Public Protection and Community Safety, Cllr Hugh Jones, said: “We are continuing to work remotely through the current crisis to ensure that ty pawb can offer an arts programme that people can access from home. The ‘Arts at Home’ programme already includes live music, family activities and an open call commission for freelance artists, with more to be announced in the next few weeks. The activities are aimed to help support people to be connected through the arts during this challenging time.”
Follow Tŷ Pawb on social media or visit http://www.typawb.wales/artsathome for more information.
Read the most up-to-date information about Covid-19.
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May 15, 2020