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Welsh language accolades for primary schools
(Pictured: Siwan Meirion, Education Effectiveness Lead, and Cllr Hugh Jones, Lead Member for Communities, Partnerships, Public Protection and Community Safety with pupils from the winning schools)
As this blog has covered before, there’s plenty going on in Wrexham and wider North East Wales to foster the Welsh language.
School children from across Wrexham and Flintshire were rewarded recently for their fantastic efforts in using the Welsh language – and not just in a school setting.
The Siarter Iaith (Language Charter) Award was presented to thirteen schools from across the two boroughs in a ceremony at Ysgol Bro Alun, with pupils and teachers taking to the stage to accept their awards.
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Siarter Iaith is a set of goals outlined by the Welsh Government, with the aim of encouraging more social use of Welsh among young people, ensuring that Welsh isn’t only used in the classroom.
Each of the schools involved took part in a number of activities to get pupils using the Welsh language more frequently, and pupils had the chance to put their views forward.
As well as attending dignitaries from both authorities and representatives from Urdd Gobaith Cymru and Menter Iaith, the awards ceremony also received a visit and congratulations from Heart FM broadcasters Lois Cernyw and Oli Kemp.
The schools receiving the award were:
Wrexham
- Ysgol Bro Alun
- Ysgol Plas Coch
- Ysgol ID Hooson
- Ysgol Bodhyfryd
- Ysgol Bryn Tabor
- Ysgol Min y ddol
- Ysgol Cynddelw
- Ysgol Llanarmon DC
Flintshire
- Ysgol Croes Atti
- Ysgol Glanrafon
- Ysgol Terrig
- Ysgol Mornant
- Ysgol Gwenffrwd
After the ceremony, children took part in activities with co-ordinators from the Urdd.
Cllr Hugh Jones, Lead Member for Communities, Partnerships, Public Protection and Community Safety, said: “Congratulations to all those schools who took the Siarter Iaith award – staff and pupils alike.
“A lot of effort has gone in to their Siarter Iaith goals, and every school has worked incredibly hard to ensure pupils use Welsh not just in the classroom, but amongst themselves. And the pupils have also had the opportunity to learn more about Welsh culture and the Welsh language, and how they contribute and learn from both.”
Fill-in our questionnaire now, and make sure you have your say on proposed budget-savings.
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November 17, 2017
Historic Treasures To Go On Tour
Coins from the recently discovered 15th century Bronington Hoard will be going on public display for the first time later this month. The coins will be displayed at various locations in the Maelor area giving local people the opportunity to view their own heritage.
52 coins and a very rare and stunning gold and blue sapphire ring were discovered near Whitewell by metal detectorists in 2012-2017. The hoard was deliberately placed in the ground around 1465 with coins dating from the rule of Edward I to Edward IV.
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- 20 November 2017 – Penley Rainbow Centre 10am – 2.30pm
- 23 November2017 – Whitchurch Heritage Centre 3pm – 8pm
- 27 November 2017 – Bronington School 2pm – 4pm
The tour is part of Wrexham Museum’s ‘Buried in the Borderlands’ project and is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Saving Treasures: Telling Stories project in collaboration with the National Museum of Wales.

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Fill-in our questionnaire now, and make sure you have your say on proposed budget-savings.
November 16, 2017
New bus link service for Town Centre
Do you use the bus to get in to Wrexham Town Centre?
If so, you might be interested in the below.
From Monday, November 20, two new Town Link services will provide transport along a key route linking up town centre locations in and around Wrexham, linking up to areas within the town that have lost some bus services.
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Operated by Valentine’s Travel Solutions, the new services will operate from Monday to Saturday, between 9.30am and 5.50pm each day.
Town Link 1 will serve Rhosnesni Lane, Maesydre, Market Street, Eagles Meadow, High Street and Island Green.
Town Link 2 will serve Mold Road, Wrexham Technology Park, Pentre Bach, Ruthin Road and Island Green.
Check the timetable on our website.
Adult fares will cost £1.50, and concessionary travel passes will be accepted.
Cllr David A Bithell, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “Following the collapse of a major bus company and changes made by other operators in reviewing their networks, parts of the wider town centre have been left without any access to public transport.
“The new Town Link will reconnect some of these communities, and provide improved access to the town centre and key retail locations.
“I am very pleased that we have managed to get this service operational in the run-up to Christmas, and can provide access to those communities who have been without local bus services for some time.
“I hope this service will support those residents who have contacted us, and support the local economy by bringing more people into Wrexham Town Centre.
Christopher Valentine, Managing Director of Valentine’s Travel Solutions, said: “As a local business owner and employer, I am very pleased to launch this new bus service for the residents of and visitors to Wrexham.
“The company has taken delivery of a new bus built specifically to suit the route, and this opens up another exciting chapter for our company.”
Fill-in our questionnaire now, and make sure you have your say on proposed budget-savings.
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November 16, 2017
Ready for a great night out in Wrexham? Drink less and enjoy more
Too much alcohol can turn a great night into a bad one. You can end up going home early. Getting into trouble. Or getting hurt.
So today marks the official launch of the 2017 #DrinkLessEnjoyMore campaign.
Young people are being encouraged to cut back on how much they drink at home before going out – so-called ‘pre-loading’ or “prinking” – as well as how much they consume when visiting bars, pubs and clubs.
Plenty of people enjoy going out and having a few drinks, but if you fail to recognise when it’s time to call it a night, a few drinks becomes too many drinks, your judgement can become impaired and you’re more likely to behave badly or get injured.
It’s thought that alcohol consumption among the 18 to 30 age group contributes to a lot of alcohol-related harm.This could be anything from property damage or drink driving to anti-social behaviour and sexual and violent assaults. For many of us, going out for a drink can be part of the festive season ritual. But getting drunk means you’re much more likely to harm yourself…or others.
What makes a good night out?
We want people to help us with a research study looking at drinking habits and related harms in nightlife areas.
Don’t worry – the questionnaire is completely confidential and anonymous; nobody has to give their personal details. It just helps give us a better understanding of the issue and what we can do to tackle it.
FILL-IN THE QUESTIONNAIRE HERE
Wrexham Chief Inspector Dave Jolly said: “The #DrinkLessEnjoyMore campaign isn’t aimed at those who drink responsibly – it’s there to help identify the minority of people who have had too much alcohol and could end up being a danger either to themselves or others.
“People need to ask themselves whether they want their night to end early because they’ve been refused entry to a bar due to them having consumed too much alcohol too early.
“Drink sensibly and enjoy your night out with friends. Otherwise, you may ruin their night out too if they have to take you home early.”
Save money by knowing the law
The initiative also aims to raise awareness of the 2003 Licensing Act, which states it is illegal to:
– Buy alcohol for someone who is clearly drunk
– For bar staff to serve someone who is clearly drunk .
Both offences are punishable with a fine of up to £1000 and premises found to be serving people who are clearly drunk are also at risk of losing their licence. However, research shows that only half of people are aware of the law.
Cllr Hugh Jones, Wrexham Council’s lead member for communities, partnerships, public protection and community safety, said: “This is about reducing the strain on public services such as the police, ambulance staff and hospitals at a time when they are already under massive pressure.
“Alcohol-fuelled anti-social behaviour makes for a poor night-time economy and pub scene. Anything we and our partners can do to look at the causes of it and encourage people to curb it before it becomes a problem is a great help.”
Drunkenness can have immediate health consequences such as alcohol poisoning, and can contribute to sexual violence, accidents and violent crimes. It places a large burden on health, police and other public services.
Teresa Owen, Executive Director of Public Health for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said: “Alcohol can be safely and responsibly enjoyed with friends and family this festive period. Research shows that the majority of adults are not aware that they may be drinking over the recommended limits of 14 units per week. We want people to know their limits, think in units and find ways to reduce their intake whilst having fun. Our top tips include swapping full strength drinks to lower strength or alcohol free alternatives, ordering smaller glasses and having at least 2 alcohol free days a week .”
Wrexham Council has joined with North Wales Police, Public Health Wales, the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB), the Area Planning Board, Glyndwr University and Coleg Cambria to deliver the #DrinkLessEnjoyMore campaign.
Fill-in our questionnaire now.

More Information
Anyone who wants more information about the possible harm caused by drinking can visit these websites:
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/alcohol/Pages/Alcoholhome.aspx
https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/
Anybody who is concerned about their drinking can contact the DAN 24/7 Wales Drug & Alcohol Helpline on Freephone 0808 808 2234 or www.dan247.org.uk
November 15, 2017
Volunteer gallery takes on new, bigger premises
An independent gallery has branched out to a new site – marking the launch of its open exhibition.
The Wrexham Independent Gallery (tWIG) began in September 2016 in the main area of the former Peoples Market, before moving to the South Arcade in March this year.
With help from Wrexham Council, it has now expanded its work to a second venue in the South Arcade.
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The move also marks the start of the group’s Open Exhibition, which allows any artist in Wrexham to submit their work for display.
In addition to providing aspiring artists with a place to showcase their work, tWIG also provides technical and educational arts workshop.
The gallery holds regular exhibitions of arts and crafts, and is open to the public free of charge, from 10am until 5pm from Monday to Saturday.
Keith Evans, chairman of tWIG, is a former teacher and longstanding photographer and artist
He said: “There’s a very keen appetite for art among the people of Wrexham, and we want to help those who might normally have considered themselves artistically talented to get some training and give them the chance to unlock their potential.
“Our ultimate goal is to be able to provide free workshops for any interested people, so that we can develop their creativity and skills – and some of the workshops we’ve offered so far range from have-a-go sessions, to more formal teaching sessions led by experienced artists and crafters.
“We also provide materials – people don’t need to be put off by cost. The whole aim of our offering is to ensure people don’t experience any obstacles when it comes to trying out art.”
Keith added: “We work a lot with Oriel Wrecsam in order to promote the arts – we can help round off the arts offering in town by giving dedicated amateurs and aspiring community artists a place to show their work.”
Cllr Hugh Jones, Lead Member for Communities, Partnerships, Public Protection and Community Safety, said: “The work done by tWIG is excellent, as they’ve helped to encourage amateur artists in Wrexham to display their work, and given them somewhere where they can work on their artistic skills through workshops and tutoring.
“Their extension into a new site is good news, and I hope this gives them the opportunity to expand their work further.
“I would encourage anyone interested in the arts to visit the gallery.”
For more information on tWIG and its work, visit www.wrexhamindependentgallery.wales
Fill-in our questionnaire now, and make sure you have your say on proposed budget-savings.
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November 14, 2017
Blue Badge Holders Beware
There’s a website offering assistance with Blue Badge applications for a fee of £57 on Bing and Yahoo search engines.
You should be aware this is not connected with the Blue Badge Scheme and you should only use the free site https://www.gov.uk/apply-blue-badge, or directly to local authorities to apply for a blue badge.
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If you have already been affected by this you should contact Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506 or online at http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/getadvice/consumer_service.htm
November 14, 2017
New Souvenirs to Celebrate Special Memories Of Wrexham
A set of brand new souvenirs, celebrating the special memories of Wrexham residents, is set to be produced as part of the opening for the town’s brand new arts, markets and cultural space, Ty Pawb.
Throughout the last six months, hundreds of Wrexhamites have shared their stories of the town, through conversations in coffee shops, workshops in schools and stalls at street festivals, as well as by getting in touch on line.
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The process has revealed never before heard tales of Wrexham, and many much loved favourite facts, sights, sounds and even smells of the town! These will now become the inspiration for six new souvenirs, produced and available to buy from Ty Pawb, when it opens in April 2018.
Jo Marsh, Creative Director of Ty Pawb, said: “Ty Pawb will be a place where the whole community can come together, and a set of brand new souvenirs, inspired by the people of Wrexham and celebrating all that is great about our town, will be the perfect symbol of this.
“We’ve been fascinated by the stories we’ve been told, they’ve made us smile, laugh, and often brought a tear to the eye. This hasn’t been a history project, but an uncovering of the little things which make the place so special to so many, and we can’t wait to share the stories we’ve gathered, and our brand new souvenirs, with everyone!”
Some of the stories shared include Champion Boxer Johnny Basham helping a school boy sell his newspapers in the 1930’s, millions of LEGO bricks being buried deep beneath the town to escape destruction, werewolves roaming Wrexham’s streets, and of course many recollections of Mickey Thomas’ free kick!
Cllr Hugh Jones, Lead Member for Communities, Partnerships, Public Protection and Community Safety, said: “I would encourage anyone interested in Wrexham’s past to take part in the vote for the six souvenirs which will be sold at Tŷ Pawb.
“The souvenirs produced have been inspired by a number of memories of bygone Wrexham, and I’m sure members of the public will have equally fond memories of them.”
A shortlist of the top 20 stories shared will now be put to the public vote, where the six souvenirs to be professionally produced will be decided. Voting is open now, and closes on November 25.
To vote, and for further information, visit this website.
The new souvenirs will be unveiled at Ty Pawb’s opening event, Dydd Llun Pawb, on Easter Monday, April 2, 2018, with full details of the event being announced soon.
Fill-in our questionnaire now, and make sure you have your say on proposed budget-savings.
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November 14, 2017
Watch the buildings come down as a local council estate gets a major makeover…
Unpopular houses on a local council estate have been demolished as part of a huge modernisation project.
22 council owned properties in the Peris and Gwynant areas of Plas Madoc have been dismantled and the ground beneath them has been levelled ready for potential new developments.
The demolition marks the beginning of a project which could see all sorts of improvements carried out on the estate.
This could include more parking spaces for existing tenants, redesigned public spaces, extended gardens for existing homes and new build housing.
Take a look at our video of the demolition:

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Future plans
400 steel-framed ‘cubbitt’ houses on the estate are due to receive re-roofing work and External Wall Insulation as part of the project. Work on some properties is already underway.
The External Wall Insulation is designed to improve the energy efficiency of properties such as the steel-framed houses at Plas Madoc. Tenants will hopefully see savings on their heating bills as a result.
All the improvements will help ensure that we achieve the Welsh Government’s Welsh Housing Quality Standard by 2020.
Transforming the look of the estate
Local Member for Plas Madoc, Cllr Paul Blackwell, said: “I’m delighted to see that improvement work on the estate has now started. The properties we’ve demolished had become unpopular and difficult to let, partly because they were in an area of the estate where many houses had been built very close together.
“The demolition has opened up whole new spaces on the estate and it’s quite amazing to see how different it looks now. There is a bit more room to breathe for the existing tenants in those areas and it also means we can now proceed with other improvement works planned for the estate.”
“Work on this scale inevitably presents a few challenges but I am pleased to say that the demolition work has gone very well and the next stage of the project, installing External Wall Insulation, is now underway. As well as the energy efficiency and structural benefits, installing External Wall Insulation will also transform the look of the estate and help make it fit for the future.”
“We’ve already carried out a number of consultation exercises with local tenants and residents, including information events at the local leisure centre. We’ll continue to ensure that we engage with the local community as work progresses.”

Positive times ahead for social housing in Wrexham
A record £56.4m is being invested housing improvement work across the county borough in 2017/18. This includes a £7.5m Major Repairs Allowance grant, which the Welsh Government awards to local authorities to help them achieve the Welsh Housing Quality Standard.
Council owned homes are receiving improvements such as new kitchens and bathrooms, central heating systems and electrical rewires, if required to meet the new standard. External improvements including to roofs, garden paths, fences and walls are also being carried out, where required.
Thousands of homes already modernised
Lead Member for Housing, Cllr David Griffiths, said: “It’s a very positive and exciting time for social housing in Wrexham. We manage over 11,000 properties of all sorts of shapes, ages and sizes so a project of this size was always going to present a few challenges and hurdles to overcome, but I’m pleased to say we are on track to meet the standard. We’ve carried out an enormous amount of work already on thousands of properties across the county borough.
“It’s about ensuring that all our tenants are able to live in properties which are modern, efficient, comfortable, safe and fit for the future and we will continue to do our utmost to ensure that the quality of the work remains high across the board.”
For more information on the Welsh Housing Quality Standard, take a look at the council website
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November 14, 2017
Help Victims of Modern Slavery
This piece is written as part of a series of releases for National Safeguarding Week 2017.
Because it’s so hidden and takes place out of sight and outside those areas where normal authorities can traditionally reach, the scale of modern slavery can be difficult to judge.
A Home Office report notes that the current best estimate is that there were between 10,000 and 13,000 potential victims of modern slavery in the UK in 2013.
While national, devolved and local governments are working alongside police forces to try to tackle the problem, it can’t work without input from members of the public.
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This National Safeguarding Week, one of the issues we’re looking at is modern slavery, and what you might be able to do to help.
Modern slavery can take a number of forms, ranging from forced labour to debt bondage, or from people trafficking to child marriage.
The victims of this kind of threat are often already vulnerable people, who might be dealing with addiction to alcohol or drugs, suffer from mental illness or have been brought to the UK by people traffickers.
People living on the streets can also make easy targets for people running slavery operations, as they can sometimes be coaxed into forced labour for the promise of a roof over their heads.
All incidences of modern slavery are very well hidden, and those responsible for it usually know how to keep it covered up.
They’re also usually very savvy in that they target people who don’t engage with normal services – such as local councils or police.
It’s all the more important that if you spot anything suspicious which could be linked to an incidence of slavery, that you report it to the proper authorities.
We know that people don’t like to feel that they could be raising a fuss over nothing, or getting themselves involved with someone else’s business.
They could also feel personally at risk if they report things such as slavery.
But it takes good intelligence from members of the public willing to come forward before agencies such as police can investigate and begin tackling the problem.
Don’t feel bad for coming forward – the information you provide could help victims of slavery get back the lives and dignity they deserve.
If you have anything to report, contact North Wales Police on 101 (or 999 in an emergency), or Wrexham Council Adult Social Care on 01978 292066 or Children’s Social Care on 292039, depending on the incident.
Fill-in our questionnaire now, and make sure you have your say on proposed budget-savings.
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November 14, 2017
Diary at the ready – Christmas is coming!
With Christmas fast approaching, make sure you don’t miss any of the fun and magic with this guide to what is going on in the town centre to celebrate!
It all gets started at 5pm on November 23, when the town centre lights up and the shops are open later to get you in the mood and ready for Christmas. This year’s event is being organised by the Rotary Club, with support from Wrexham Council. There will be loads of festive fun to enjoy, and here are some of the people who will be there for the event:
- - Wrexham FC
  - Thomas Teago
  - ‘The Phonics’ – Stereophonics tribute band
  - Singers April Lee and Damon Jacs
  - Queen Elsa
  - School choirs
  - A production of Elf
  - Band Before the Storm
  - and three celebrity guests from this year’s Stiwt panto!
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December 2, at 11am, is when the big man arrives! This year, Father Christmas will take up residence in the grotto on Queen’s Square, arriving to a musical procession with his reindeer and a stocking full of surprises on the streets of the town centre.
From the day he arrives until December 23, Santa will be in his grotto daily for you to visit.
December 3 sees the huge iconic drive-in movies screen come to town with an evening of festive classics at Waterworld Car Park. After an online poll, the winners were Elf, which will be screened at 5.30pm, and Home Alone, which will be screened at 8pm. Tickets are available from the Tourist Information Centre on 01978 292015 or at http://www.thisiswrexham.co.uk . Tickets cost £15 per car.
Finally, the Victorian Christmas Market returns on December 7, 12-8pm. This is one of the year’s most eagerly awaited events in the town’s calendar and attracts thousands of shoppers each year. This year the market will the extended through the town from Queen’s Square, down Queen’s Street, Hope Street, Church Street to St. Giles’ Church, with over 100 stalls, Victorian themed rides and more Victorian entertainment.
And remember…throughout December you can park for free in any of Wrexham Council’s car parks (usual restrictions apply) so you can take you time and browse the shops!
Fill-in our questionnaire now, and make sure you have your say on proposed budget-savings.
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November 13, 2017