This note provides an update on the information posted on this blog on Friday (27.3.20).
Key messages for today
- We’re reducing the limit of attendees at services in the crematorium from 30 people down to a maximum of 20 immediate family members.
- Please adhere to social distancing in our parks and public spaces, keep dogs on the lead, and remember that play areas are shut.
- Gardening allotments remain open, but please continue to observe social distancing.
Ian Bancroft – Chief Executive
Mark Pritchard – Leader of the Council
Over the past two weeks we’ve been forced to make lots of changes to our services in response to Covid-19.
We’ve made these changes to support UK Government measures, to help keep both you and our employees safe, and to make sure we can keep our most important (‘critical’) services going…the services that people really depend on.
We’ve made a lot of the big changes we need to make, and – as we all settle into this new way of life for the time-being – we might have less to tell you each day, and we’ll only issue these updates when they’re needed.
But rest assured…we’ll keep you informed about any changes to council services that might affect you.
- Info -
Please keep following the Government’s social distancing instructions. Stay at least two metres away from anyone you don’t live with, and only leave the house to:
- Shop for basic necessities like food.
- Exercise once a day.
- Attend to any medical need or care for/ help a vulnerable person.
- Travel to and from work where it’s absolutely necessary.
Please continue to keep your distance from one another. By staying apart, we’re saving lives, and helping to keep Wrexham as safe as it can be.
We’ve put together the following information to help you understand the latest changes to council services.
Crematorium services
Last week – to support social distancing – we introduced a limit of 30 people at services at the crematorium in Pentrebychan.
We’re now reducing that limit to 20 attendees who are immediate relatives of the deceased.
We know this is a difficult time for families wishing to say goodbye to loved ones, and hope people understand that we’re bringing in these measures to help keep them safe and reduce opportunities for the virus to spread.
Parks, open spaces and play areas
Please remember to adhere to social distancing in parks and public open spaces.
The Government says people can leave their homes to exercise once-a-day, and we recognise that parks and open spaces can provide places for people to walk and exercise.
However, you should only use your local parks (you shouldn’t be jumping in a car to drive to parks in other parts of the county borough) and you must adhere to social distancing – staying at least two metres away from anyone you don’t live with.
We’ve also asked dog-owners to keep their pets on leads…to reduce the chances of people having to get close to each other (for example, if two dogs start playing or fighting, and the owners have to get close to separate them). So please keep your dog on a lead.
Finally, remember that all council-managed play areas are shut, so please don’t use them.
GET THE LATEST COVID-19 INFORMATION FROM PUBLIC HEALTH WALES
Gardening allotments
Our gardening allotments remain open, but the same message applies…please stick to social distancing.
So if you own an allotment, stay at least two metres away from other gardeners when you visit your plot.
Also, please be responsible in how you dispose of any gardening waste at your allotment.
Waste and recycling
Reminder – garden waste
We were due to implement a new garden waste collection service in April that residents would have to pay for each year.
We’re now suspending the introduction of that service, and will continue to collect everyone’s garden waste for free for as long as we can.
We’re unable to issue any refunds, but if you’ve already paid the £25 you’ll get a full 12 months service from when the scheme begins…so you won’t lose out. You don’t need to contact us, as we have a full record of customers who’ve paid so far.
To help ease pressure on our Contact Centre staff, we won’t be taking payments for the new scheme until further notice, and will only be handling enquiries for critical services.
If you haven’t already paid, don’t panic. We’ll start taking payments again when the emergency is over, and we’re in a position to introduce the new service.
Easing pressure on our Contact Centre staff is really important, as people with underlying health conditions will be receiving letters from the Government in the next few days, and some of them will need to contact us for support.
So it’s important our staff are available to help them.
If you do need to contact us, please email contact-us@wrexham.gov.uk or visit our website.
Schools
Reminder – free school meals
We’re working hard to try and provide free school meals to children who aren’t in school at the moment.
If your children are entitled to free school meals, you can collect ‘grab and go’ packed lunches on normal school days from one of the following sites.
- Caia Park Estates office
- Plas Madoc Estates office
- Broughton Estates office
- Gwersyllt Estates office
- Rhos Estates office (Stiwt)
- Memo Hall Wrexham
- Plas Pentwyn Coedpoeth
- Llay Resource Centre
- Overton Library (Cocoa Rooms)
- Ysgol Y Waen Chirk
You can go to the nearest site.
The packed lunch must be collected between 11.30am and 1pm by a parent or carer.
You’ll need to give staff the name of your child / children and the school they attend, and you’ll only be able to collect a packed lunch for your own child / children.
Please continue to follow social distancing measures…maintaining your distance from other people.
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.
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.
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.
LATEST INFO ON COVID-19
