Now that Council has agreed the budget for 2018/19 we are going to have a further period of consultation concerning the proposals to introduce car parking charges in three of our country parks and for disabled parking in council run car parks.
The proposals are to:
Charge a daily charge of £1 for visitors to Nant Mill, Alyn Waters and Ty Mawr Country Parks together with the offer of a concessionary annual parking permit of £50.
Introduce disabled parking charges in line with non-disabled tariffs across all Wrexham County Borough Council-operated car parks. As a concession, disabled blue badge holders being allowed one additional hour beyond the time paid for.
This statutory consultation will run from the 01st March 2018 to the 29th March 2018. Anyone wishing to respond to the consultation should do so in writing to:
The Head of Environment and Planning, Environment Department, Abbey Road South, Wrexham Industrial Estate, LL13 9PW
We’ve recently been putting a lot of work into helping Wrexham’s town centre to be the vibrant and prosperous place it deserves to be.
To help us achieve this, we can now announce that we’ve been able to secure £1m funding from the Welsh Government for the Town Centre Regeneration Fund for 2018/19.
This is on top of the £1m awarded through the same fund last year.
The funding will be provided in the form of interest free loans to support the acquisition of properties and land within Wrexham Town Centre.
So, to put it simply, these loans will help people, businesses and organisations to purchase land and property in the town centre so that they can be used to their best potential.
This could include commercial, leisure, residential and mixed-use developments.
A good example is the development of Town Centre hotels. This is one of the key areas being considered as a good use for the funding.
The funding will be especially useful for helping to develop properties which are currently under-utilised, however, it will also help contribute towards the wider regeneration of the Town Centre.
Another positive step for the town centre
Lead Member for Economy – Economic Development and Regeneration, Cllr Terry Evans, said: “There is currently a lot of good work being carried out on Wrexham Town Centre and we want to ensure we are doing as much as we can as a council to support this.
“I am delighted that we’ve been able to secure this funding from the Welsh Government. It’s another positive step in the right direction and will go a long to way in helping to support positive developments around the area.”
How to apply
No matter where you live in the county borough, there are a number of ways the council may be able to help support you to develop land and properties for both commercial and residential use.
This includes a variety of loan schemes which can be used for purposes such as improvement schemes and bringing empty properties back into residential use.
If you’d like to find out what support may be available to you, contact 01978 298993 or email sion.wynne@wrexham.gov.uk
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With cold weather predicted this week it may be that you are wondering will schools be open? Will buses be running? Will my bins be emptied? Will the roads be gritted?
Cold weather can cause problems across the county borough and even across the UK during particularly severe weather. We are prepared and all through the winter period and into spring we have daily, local weather forecasts. When we receive the forecast we then take a decision on whether or not the gritters need to go out. If they do we have a fleet of vehicles and ample supply of grit to cope.
Like all other local authorities We don’t grit or plough every road but we do make sure that our main roads are cleared as soon as possible. This can sometimes be difficult particularly if snow continues to fall. You can see our gritting routes here.
“We’ll grit before we empty bins in housing estates”
Snow and ice can also cause disruptions to your bin service as driving a huge vehicle on narrow roads can be dangerous to both the crew and also the public. Occasionally bin collections will be stopped in a particular area for this reason. When we can we send the gritter out before the bin wagon to make sure we can continue for as long as possible.
“School closures”
Our schools may also close due to the weather. They may view the area as dangerous for children or it may be that they can’t get enough staff to operate safely. If a decision to close is taken the school will post the information on our website here:
Your child may also travel to school by bus and you should make sure you know who they travel with and have their number, email or social media accounts to hand to check directly with them if they are running their normal service.
If we can’t empty your bin we’ll use our social media accounts to let you know as soon as possible.
Use #wxmgrit to see if our gritters are going out.
Help where you can
Residents are also advised to check in on neighbours – especially any elderly, disabled or vulnerable residents.
It doesn’t’ take five minutes to help, but high winds, frost, ice and snow pose even greater difficulties for vulnerable people when trying to carry out even basic everyday trips, such as nipping to the shops or the post office.
Quick checks or offers of help could make all the difference for someone who cannot get out on their own.
Cllr Joan Lowe, Lead Member for Health and Adult Social Care, said: “There are many people in our communities who struggle during the colder months, and we shouldn’t underestimate just how much of a difference a small thing can make to someone’s life.
“There are so many easy ways to help – help with the shopping, taking a hot meal or just calling in for a chat. We are asking that residents take just a couple of minutes to check on neighbours, friends and relatives.”
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Over the past few months we at Wrexham Council News have noticed a lot of activity going on to upgrade and refurbish one of the empty shops on Argyle Street.
Not knowing what was going to open up there was a lot of speculation but none of us guessed that it would open as a new hair, beauty and make up salon – ELM “Feel Good from Head to Toe” – which has moved from its premises on Chester Street to its new and impressively bright and modern building just opposite the former Iceland.
ELM is owned and run by Stylist Emma Capper and Beauty Therapist Marie Holland who are joined by Make up Artist Charlotte Beckett and Nail Techbnician Kelly McGrath.
Emma and Marie are very enthusiastic about their new premises and have invested a considerable amount in their salon to provide a variety of services under one roof for clients who will immediately be impressed by their surroundings and the friendly and helpful staff. Once there they can have anything from a cut and blow dry to waxing, hair extensions, eyebrow tints and shaping, manicure, pedicure, full cream tan, nail extensions, semi permanent lashes, and glamorous make up..
Their existing clients also seem very happy to follow them to their new premises and when we were there several called in to take a look and book appointments.
“Bigger and better premises”
Emma commented that “everyone has been very friendly and have dropped in to wish us well. We now have bigger and better premises and we are looking forward to welcoming both old and new customers. We are very excited and the future is looking very positive.”
Prices are very reasonable and for special occasions such as weddings they will do home visits to make sure the bride and her party look stunning on their special day without having to leave their house or hotel.
ELM also has regular offers for customers so keep an eye on their social media accounts facebook: ELM Hair and Beauty, instagram: ELM Hair and Beauty or twitter: ELMHair_Beauty or telephone 01978 263590.
“It’s great news”
Cllr Terry Evans, Lead Member for the Economy, said: “It’s great news to see an existing Wrexham business relocating to bigger and totally refurbished premises. It’s clear that Emma and Marie want to be in the town centre and I am sure their commitment to her customers and the town will pay off. I wish Emma, Marie and her team well and will be calling in to see how they are doing in the very near future.”
Resurfacing works on the A483 southbound carriageway junction 7 to 6 are taking place overnight over the next few days – weather permitting
The works will mean the southbound carriageway will be closed between 20.00pm and 06.00am. There may be speed limits in place along this stretch of road during the day times and a diversion will be in place via the B5102/B5445 Marford.
FOCUS Wales, whose success and impact on our economy we reported on last year, are set to deliver yet another memorable Festival as they have recently announced over 60 new acts for the 2018 Festival – keeping it up there with the biggest and best events in Europe.
Among the new wave of acts announced are: legendary DJ, record producer and musician A Guy Called Gerald – “Nobody else redefined UK club culture so much with the character and soul of Britishness, creating music for both the feet and the head” DJ Magazine. Gerald will be djing as well as delivering a keynote talk at the FOCUS Wales conference.
Also announced are Hilang Child – recently signed to Bella Union – who is the moniker of Ed Riman, a half-Welsh, half-Indonesian musician, who’s been earning high praise from the likes of Clash Magazine and The Line Of Best Fit.
Ani Glass is a bilingual electro pop artist from Cardiff who will be supporting Jane Weaver on Thursday 10th May at St Giles Parish Church. Plus, Welsh psych rockers and Radio 6 Music favourites Hippies Vs Ghosts will be returning from their base in France to showcase their new material at the festival.
These acts will be joined by a long list of exciting new additions to the line-up, including acts from: Canada, Catalonia, France, Japan, South Africa and Taiwan. Visit http://www.focuswales.com to see the full list of new announcements.
FOCUS Wales 2018 will also feature performances from:
This Is The Kit | Gaz Coombes | Gengahr | Bill Ryder-Jones | Euros Childs | Jane Weaver| 9Bach | Kate Rusby | Damo Suzuki (of CAN) | Gallops | Boy Azooga | Gary Lucas (Captain Beefheart / Jeff Buckley) | Dream State | Stella Donnelly | The Gentle Good with the Mavron Quartet (Winner of the 2017 Welsh Music Prize) | and so much more, with over 300 performances across the 3 days, and featuring acts from Australia, Canada, Catalonia, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, South Africa, Sweden, Taiwan, and the USA!
“Hwb Cymraeg to return”
A new addition last year was the Hwb Cymraeg – an all Welsh speaking event which showcases welsh acts and promotes the welsh language. It took place in a Tippee on Queen’s Square and was hugely successful and many Welsh speakers found themselves in an all Welsh environment for the first time in a long time. None Welsh speakers too were impressed by the friendly atmosphere
“Bigger and better event”
Cllr Terry Evans, Lead Member for the Economy, said: “The organisers of FOCUS Wales should be very proud of their achievements – year on year they put on a bigger and better event and in the process they are helping to put Wrexham on the map by showcasing its thriving music scene to a huge amount of people from across the UK and further afield. These visitors bring hundreds of thousands to the local economy which benefits local businesses and traders. All their events are popular and very professionally organised and I hope to go to more than a couple during the weekend of 10 to 12 May.”
FOCUS Wales will take place over 10, 11 and 12 May across multiple venues here in Wrexham and you can get a 3 day wristband for admission to all FOCUS Wales events at http://www.focuswales.com/tickets from £40 each.
FOCUS Wales is supported by Arts Council of Wales and Welsh Government and ourselves, Wrexham Council.
There are 22 sheltered housing schemes run by the council across the county borough so even if you want to find out about schemes in another area, this is still an ideal chance to see what we can offer.
Sheltered Housing is ideal for older people who may want to downsize, enjoy their independence, yet still feel re-assured in the knowledge that there is someone close at hand should they require it in an emergency. A Warden and a Community Alarm provide 24 hour cover in case of such emergencies.
Sheltered Accommodation provides:-
Self-contained accommodation in the form of bedsits, flats, and bungalows.
Personalised Support Planning
Communal lounges
Laundry
Guest rooms (in most schemes)
Disabled bathing facilities (Available in Some Schemes)
Concessionary T.V. Licence
One of the new kitchens at the Erw Gerrig scheme
Improvement work means schemes look better than ever
Local Member for Pant, Cllr David Maddocks, said: “Sheltered Housing can be an ideal housing option for many people as they reach retirement age. There are opportunities to get involved with social events but you still have the independence and privacy of your own accommodation.
“There are 3 schemes in the Rhos area alone so this is an ideal chance to come and find out more.”
Lead Member for Housing, Cllr David Griffiths, said: “Sheltered housing provides older members of our communities with security, support, independence and peace of mind.
“Our schemes are being modernised with work including new kitchens, bathrooms and central heating systems. Much of this work has been completed at many schemes already so this is an ideal time to see a scheme up close and see what’s available.”
The event is taking place at Erw Gerrig, Church Street, Rhos, Wrexham, LL14 2BS on Wednesday 28th March from 10.30am-12.30pm
For more information, contact Rhos Estate Office on 01978 832900 or email rhoseo@wrexham.gov.uk
You can find out more about sheltered housing on our website
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The 2018 programme for Wrexham’s Carnival of Words has been announced and it’s bigger and better than ever before.
Now in its fourth year the line-up includes stars such as The Sunday Times bestselling author C.L Taylor, young adult author Emma Carroll and bestselling crime novelist Vaseem Khan, so literary fans will not be disappointed!
Events will be held at venues across Wrexham between Saturday, April 21 and Saturday, April 28.
The Wrexham Carnival of Words has been a resounding success since it was first held in 2015, with an increasing range of events, which have proved popular with local people.
Shan Cooper Libraries Lead said, “We are very excited about the programme that has been put together and I would like to encourage anyone who loves books and writing to come and join us during the week. There is definitely something for everyone.”
Fancy solving a mystery? Back by popular demand, Wrexham Library will host another Murder Mystery as part of the carnival, which is sure to be another sell-out. This year the mystery is The Wenlock Mummy by Elly Griffiths (A Dr Ruth Galloway investigation). The event will take place at 7pm on Wednesday 25th April. Be sure to get your tickets quick!
Celebrating the spoken word Fancy showcasing your work in an evening celebrating the spoken word? Viva Voce, an open mic night for poets and writers, will be held at Saith Seren on Thursday 26th April at 7.30pm.
Fantastic event at Ty Pawb! The two halves of the number one crime-writing team known as Nicci French (Nicci Gerrard and Sean French) have been hugely successful for more than twenty years. They will talk about the various challenges of their writing life: the background to their psychological thrillers; creating the Frieda Klein series and the challenge of literary collaboration – while still staying married!
If this whets your appetite – what are you waiting for? Get your tickets today! Tickets prices vary but many events are free. You can buy them from Wrexham Library or online via the Wrexham Council website. More details and the full programme can be found on www.wrexhamcarnivalofwords.com or follow the festival on Facebook and twitter, #WrexhamCarnivalofWords.
In October we let you know how we were preparing for the winter months and as we are now just past mid-winter we thought we’d bring you up to date on how things are going and remind you of what you can do to help yourself if we get any snow/ice in the coming weeks.
We have a fleet of 10 gritters, and 30 hardworking volunteers from our Streetscene team, who step in to drive them – often in very snowy and icy conditions when the weather is particularly bad. If you want to know if gritting is taking place you can look for the #wxmgrit on twitter @wrexhamcbc and we also post to our facebook page on Wrexham County Borough Council.
Cllr David A. Bithell, Lead Member for Environment and Transport said: “So far the winter hasn’t proved to much of a challenge for our fleet but we are always aware that winter doesn’t officially end until March 21 and we have even had snow after the end of winter and into spring. We will not be complacent and will continue to monitor the weather and make preparations should we see snow or ice forecast.”
Plans for improvements to the town centre have been unveiled and welcomed by leading town centre businessmen.
£420,000 will be spent on Queen Street and Hope Street which will have new paving,street lighting, street furniture, landscaping, seating and planters.
Works will begin in April to replace street lighting lanterns and the paving will begin in June and is expected to take 10 weeks to complete.
“In line with the Town Centre Masterplan”
A selection of natural stone materials will be used to re-pave the areas which are in line with the Town Centre Masterplan. The existing litter bins will be replaced and the original bins will be moved to other places in the county borough.
Pedestrain railings and signs will be refurbished and seating will be replaced with the existing seating going to other areas of the county borough. LED lanterns will be fitted to street lighting columns with more ornate styling similar to other town centre areas.
“Excellent news”
Cllr David A Bithell, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “It’s excellent news for the town centre and we will be liaising fully with those likely to be affected by the works including the Town Centre Forum, the Town Centre Steering Group, businesses and elected members and works will be planned to cause as little disruption as possible to existing businesses in the area.
Cllr Terry Evans, Lead Member for Economic Development and Regeneration, added: “The planned works are in a key part of the town centre and will be welcomed by businesses and visitors alike.”
“Play an important part in attracting new businesses”
Two town centre businessmen have welcomed the news, Alex Jones owner of the Bank and Chair of the Town Centre Forum and Sam Regan, owner of the Lemon Tree Hotel and Chair of the Wrexham Destination Management Board agreed that the town was in need of improvements and this was definitely a step in the right direction: “We welcome this news and will be liaising with the Council on a regular basis on the works and everyone will be able to see for themselves how it is progressing. They will also play an important part in attracting new businesses into the town centre.”
