Wrexham Connect ENGLISHwrexham.gov.uk/connect 5 The ‘Best Bar None’ Wrexham’s pubs and clubs...

Rugby League World Cup 2013 Win tickets inside!PLUS● THE BEST BAR NONE● SIX-BOOK CHALLENGE● RETHINKING ADULT SOCIAL

THEWREXHAMCOUNTYBOROUGHCOUNCILMAGAZINE

Issue 41 | Autumn 2013

www.wrexham.gov.uk / www.wrecsam.gov.uk

ConnectNo butts!What’s wrong withillicit tobacco?

A message from Councillor Neil Rogers,Leader of the Council

News straight to you - Do you want to keep up to date with the latest news from Wrexham Council?Email [email protected] and we will add you to our mailing list.

Telephone: 01978 292014Email: [email protected]: Communications and Social Media department, Wrexham County Borough Council, Guildhall, Wrexham LL11 1AY

Do you find it difficult to read smaller print? If you would like a copy of Connect in a larger format, please call: 01978 292014

Disclaimer: Wrexham County Borough Council canaccept no responsibility for the products or servicessupplied by any other companies portrayed within this magazine.

We hope you enjoy this autumn edition of Connect, please let us know what you think by contacting us:

Well, what a fantastic summer of sport it has been! Back in July the 77-year wait for a Briton to win Wimbledon was finally over as Andy Murray lifted the coveted trophy. On top of this, the British and Irish Lions secured their first

series win in 16 years after beating the host country in the 2013 Rugby Union Tour to Australia. Undoubtedly these results are good news for the UK, and there has been plenty of good sporting news here in Wrexham too.

Earlier this month we saw the third Wiggle Etape Cymru start and finish its 88-mile course in Wrexham. We also saw stage four of the 10th Tour of Britain pass through Wrexham en route to its inaugural visit to the Snowdonia National Park. Both cycling events created national and international news stories, putting our county in the public eye. The press coverage from such sporting events can only be good for both our economy and the reputation of the County Borough – and there is more to come!

This October sees the Rugby League World Cup 2013 kick off and two games will be played here in Wrexham – on 3 and 16 November. This promises to be a fantastic event for fans of the game and those simply looking for a day out, call 0844 847 2013 for tickets.

Rally fans will also be pleased to hear that the Wales Rally GB comes to North Wales this year and will be at Chirk Castle on Saturday 16 November. The event starts in Conwy and has a service area in Deeside. It is the largest and most high profile motor rally in the UK and is expected to bring £5 million to the economy of North Wales as a whole.

These forthcoming events will give Wrexham and North Wales extensive media coverage, both nationally and internationally, and are expected to deliver both an economic impact and significant visitor numbers. As a Council we work hard to encourage organisers to bring their events to the County Borough and I hope that you are able to go to all or some of them.

On a different note, subject to a successful planning application, the Ministry of Justice has chosen Wrexham’s Firestone site for the location of the new north Wales prison. This is very good news for the economy of our town, and studies have shown that a prison generates approximately £23 million per year for the local economy through jobs and opportunities for local businesses. In fact, a prison such as the one currently being proposed for Wrexham will provide around 1000 long-term jobs, the majority of which will be filled by local people.

Councillor Neil RogersLeader of Wrexham County Borough Council

2 wrexham.gov.uk/connect

WELCOME!

This summer saw the official opening of the Western Gateway Croesnewydd Road Junction.

This new stretch of road replaces the former railway bridge with a new road junction, pedestrian footpath and cycleway. It also creates a new link to the hospital car park.

Funding of around £1.9 million was secured with Highway Improvement Funds and money from the Local Government Borrowing Initiative to carry out the works, which began in July 2012.

The works form part of the Western Gateway Project, which will see the extension of Wrexham Technology Park and significant improvements to the road network in the area. The objective is to attract high quality companies employing skilled people to Wrexham.

Assembly Minister, Edwina Hart, officially opened the road saying: ‘The completion of this first phase is a significant milestone in the development of the Western Gateway Project designed to open up new opportunities and bring new jobs and new business to the area. It is an extremely important investment in infrastructure that will help drive forward the local economy in the short and long term with the improvements creating benefits for businesses, road users and local residents. I congratulate the Council and the contractor for achieving the highest environmental accreditation, which is no mean feat, and will set the standard for the development of the green eco business park.’

Excavation news

Through pouring rain and searing heat, volunteers have been giving up their time to work with Wrexham Museum to understand more about Holt Castle’s history.

So far, five trenches have been opened with the aim of locating the east edge of the castle ditch, the foundations of one of the five towers and the square entrance tower. To date, two small lead shots have been discovered that date back to the 1600s along with a few fragments of medieval pottery.

Speaking about the project, Steve Grenter, Heritage Services Manager said: ‘This project has seen people from all over Wrexham - children, teenagers and community groups - working together to find out more about this fascinating monument. Holt Castle sits next to the River Dee and dates back to the late 13th century, we hope to discover much more about the castle over the coming weeks’.

Councillors vs. Council!Earlier in the year, Wrexham’s Councillors took on Council staff in a weekend game of football to raise money for the mayor’s charity.

Nearly forty members of staff and councillors took up the challenge and raised £1104, which will be divided between the Mayor’s two chosen charities – Nightingale House and Hope House.

Andy Harris, Principal Leisure Officer, who played on the staff team said: ‘It was a great match, with fun had by all. We look forward to doing it again next year.’

We will keep you posted on the date of next year’s charity match so you can come along to cheer them on and raise money for charity to boot.

New road open!

wrexham.gov.uk/connect 3

The Mayor and Mayoress of Wrexham present Margaret Hollins of Nightingale House (front left) and Andrew Fergus of Hope House (front right) with the proceeds of the charity match.

Assembly Ministers Edwina Hart and Lesley Griffiths reveal the Western Gateway plaque with Leader of Wrexham Council, Cllr Neil Rogers

Volunteers get stuck in at Holt Castle


Wrexham Council is currently looking at ways to help residents lower their energy bills and make their homes warmer. For example, installing loft insulation can save residents around £180 per year off their energy bill; installing external wall insulation can save residents around £490 per year off their energy bill. Around 350 homes in Llay, both private and Council housing, may soon receive energy saving measures such as external wall insulation as proposed through the Welsh Government’s Arbed programme, making them warmer and ready for another Welsh winter.

NEST is the Welsh Government’s fuel poverty scheme. It aims to tackle fuel poverty and make Welsh homes warmer and more fuel-efficient places to live. Following a visit to check eligibility, a Nest assessor will recommend appropriate

improvements, which may include a new central heating boiler, loft insulation etc. If you are on a means tested state benefit and your property is very energy inefficient, you can contact Nest on freephone 0808 808 2244 to check your eligibility or visit nestwales.org.uk for further information.

Energy Company Obligation (ECO) was introduced in January 2013 and is funded by the Big Six energy companies. ECO funding will be used to pay for different types of insulation in houses and flats in the County Borough. Both Council and non-Council properties are eligible to receive ECO funding.

To find out whether your home could be more energy efficient and benefit from these schemes, we are conducting a short survey of residents

to find out more about your home. The on-line survey is available at wrexham.gov.uk/english/consultation/housing/index/htm. If you do not have access to the internet and would like to take part in the survey, please contact 01978 315300.

Stay Warm this WinterImproving the Energy Efficiency of Homes

Rugby League World Cup 2013 comes to Wrexham this autumn with The Racecourse hosting two matches.

Rugby fever is set to grip the town over the coming weeks and we’re encouraging everyone to get behind the Welsh squad, who will be based in Wrexham.

The action kicks off at 2pm on Sunday 3 November when Wales take on the USA in the group stages. The second match is a quarter final, hopefully involving Wales, at 1pm on Saturday 16 November.

It’s going to be a great family occasion for the town with lots going on to celebrate this high profile sporting event so keep a lookout for details of what’s happening over the coming weeks.

We’ll be getting behind Wales and doing everything we can to support the team and help get them through to that quarter final match, where they could potentially meet Australia or England.You can join our ‘Let’s Get Behind Wales’

campaign on social media as well as download a poster from the Council’s website to display in your windows.

Tickets for the matches are available from as little as £10 for adults and £5 for children.

We’ve got a family ticket (two adults and two children) to giveaway for each game. To be in with a chance of winning, just find the orange rugby ball within this issue and tell us what page it’s on.

You can email your answer to [email protected] or post it to Connect, Communications and Social Media department, Wrexham County Borough Council, Guildhall, Wrexham, LL11 1AY by Wednesday 23 October.

There’s only one way to enjoy the Rugby League World Cup 2013 and that’s to BE THERE.

For special offers and to get your tickets online visitwww.rlwc2013.com/tickets or call 0844 847 2013.

Let’s Get Behind Wales!


The ‘Best Bar None’Wrexham’s pubs and clubs have signed up to Best Bar None, a voluntary scheme that aims to raise standards in the licensing trade.

Members of the Nightsafe forum voted unanimously to sign up to the new initiative that was originally adopted by Greater Manchester Police in 2003. Nightsafe brings together businesses from across the County Borough with Wrexham Council to share good practice and develop projects to ensure the night time economy in Wrexham is safe.

Best Bar None rewards best practice at safe, licensed venues and also provides Wrexham Council and the Police with the opportunity to work in partnership with the licensed trade. Ultimately, Best Bar None aims to ensure that alcohol-fuelled crime and anti-social behaviour

is prevented and reduced.

Head of Housing and Public Protection, Andy Lewis, welcomed this approach and stated: ‘As part of their licensing agreement, licensees in Wrexham County Borough have to demonstrate that they comply with a range of standards.

‘The standards, known as the Nightsafe Standards include the provision of CCTV and registered door supervisors at premises, implementation of Proof of Age Schemes within premises and participation in the Radio Link Scheme, which improves communications with Police and other emergency services.

‘These standards will be further enhanced by the Best Bar None scheme to ensure that licensed premises in the town centre are

recognised as safe and well-managed venues encouraging people to visit and enjoy a great night out’.

Compostable liners can be used to collect the food waste before they are placed in your grey caddy or green bin. You can buy compostable liners from Wrexham Contact Centre on 01978 298989.

More Food Waste Please!The Waste Strategy team would like to remind all residents what food waste we take as part of the Recycle with Michael Scheme

YES PLEASEFruit and veg (raw and cooked)Meat and fish (raw and cooked)Bones and egg shellsRice and pasta, cereal and noodlesBread, cakes, pastries and biscuitsTea bags and coffee groundsCheese, eggs and yoghurtsBeans, nuts, pulses and seedsUneaten food from your plate

NO THANK YOUPlastic carrier bagsPlastic packaging


No butts – it’s dangerous!Lots of people think that illegal tobacco just means cigarettes that have been bought through duty-free (bootlegged), however, there are other things that make them illegal and often make them dangerous.

For example ‘smuggled’ tobacco includes foreign brands brought in from other countries or those products made specifically for the illegal market. More worryingly, counterfeit tobacco (put in packaging to look like a familiar brand) is often low quality and can contain sawdust, rat droppings and even plastic.

Dealers of illegal tobacco often target children as an easy source of cash, but many of these dealers also deal in drugs and alcohol, making children very vulnerable to other dangers.

Cllr David Griffiths, Lead Member for Health and Adult Social Care, highlights one incident where the chance to buy cheap cigarettes put

children at real risk: ‘Working with trading standards means that I often see people in worrying situations, but one incident I heard about (fortunately outside of Wrexham) involved young children going to a house to buy cigarettes.

‘When members of the public anonymously informed their local trading standards department about this activity the man was arrested and was discovered to be a registered paedophile’.

The key to fighting the illegal tobacco trade and making Wrexham a safer place is to get the information to the right people. You can call any of the numbers below if you think someone is trading illegal tobacco:

Wrexham trading standards on: 01978 292045 or [email protected] on: 0800 555 111Police (non-emergency number) on: 101

Over the next couple of weeks, Wrexham Council will be pushing the message home to residents that illegal tobacco is dangerous – especially to children!

A New Vision for Older People’s Services in Wrexham…There are going to be changes to the way in which Adult Social Care services are provided in the light of big increases in demand for services and population changes. In Wrexham the number of people over 65 is increasing and particularly the number of over 85s who may have specialised needs.

This growing demand is unlikely to be matched by Government funding, which is reducing, meaning that we need to re-think how social care is delivered to older people, in a way that meets their needs, and is of high quality.

Evidence tells us that by making sure people have access to a range ofpreventative support in the community, we can improve independence and

well-being, as well as ensuring that key services such as domiciliary care are made available to those most in need.

It’s our vision that all older people will have opportunities to achieve optimal health, independence and well-being. This means we will provide support to enable older people, including those who live with dementia, to continue living independently in their own homes and communities, for as long as possible.

To achieve this, we have increased investment in community and early support services, such as intermediate care and reablement and a range of community based support. For example, a Community Inclusion Grant Scheme provides start-up grants to community groups in order to provide

support to older people. Projects funded so far include: a gardening project in Coedpoeth; a singing for the brain group run by the Alzheimer’s Society; community activities arranged by Acton Family Centre; and social inclusion projects in Pant.

If you want to know more about these projects, or find out how you could start your own project, telephone the Commissioning Team on 01978 292066.

The feedback received from people who have accessed these services isextremely positive: one person told us that ‘Reablement has enabled meto stay independent’. Whilst another told us that attending the differentcommunity groups meant she was able to meet old friends.

Cllr David Griffiths and Trading Standards Officer Roger Mapleson take a look at recently seized illegal cigarettes.


Whilst there has been much focus on saving energy, saving water is equally as important. Here are some top water saving tips:One of the biggest water users in the home is the toilet. If you have a non dual flushing toilet then why not try putting a save-a-flush or a filled plastic bottle in the toilet cistern. This will reduce the amount of water used in each flushAlways use a full load in the washing machine / dishwasher as a full load uses less water than 2 half loads

Collect rainwater in water butts to use in your garden. You can purchase a water butt from Wrexham Council’s Pride in your Streets Team.

Consider having a water meter installed. These are provided for free by your water supplier and many people find that they pay less and use less water. If you find that you are paying more then you can have the meter removed after the 1 year trial period. For more information contact your local water supplier.

Wrexham Council’s electricity has been bought from renewable energy sources to help reduce greenhouse emissions.

The way Councils buy and use electricity is part of their carbon reduction strategy and makes them a community leader on environmental issues, encouraging local businesses and households to save energy and cut the production of

carbon dioxide.

All Council schools and offices are now using ‘green’ electricity and will not pay ‘climate change tax’. However, remember that every means of generating power has some environmental impact, so energy efficiency measures are still extremely important. Electricity saved is the best way to help the environment!

Ca

rbo

n U

pd

ate

WAYS TO BE WATER EFFICIENT

In recent months, Council officers and Councillors

have taken over the Twitter airwaves to answer your questions, so make sure you sign up and follow us to put your questions forward.

So far, Cllrs Mark Pritchard and Hugh Jones have taken questions about housing

and community safety, while the Council’s town centre manager has also been dealing with queries put forward by the public.

If you want to follow Wrexham Council and keep up to date with Council goings-on, search for@wrexhamcbc. Also, visit wrexham.gov.uk to find out about forthcoming Twitter Takeovers and submit your questions with the hash tag #askwcbc.

Do you follow us on Twitter?

What do you love about Wrexham? Where is your favourite spot in the County Borough?

Wrexham Council are building up a bank of images that show Wrexham County Borough at its best. Many of you have already sent your pictures in and they are available for you to

see on the Council’s Flicker page.

If you have a picture that you would like to share, go to wrexham.gov.uk and click on the Flicker link at the bottom of the page to upload them directly to Flicker. Alternatively you can email them to [email protected].

Your Wrexham

Futures is an exciting project that aims to support young people aged 16 to 30 years old wholive in a rural ward to become socially and economicallyactive, as well as supporting young people to become more involved in their communities, through various community projects.

We want both older and younger members in rural communities to get involved!

We want to:● Listen to the ideas you have for your future, and help you to

achieve these goals.● Provide support in accessing the services available to

gain the career you want by signposting you to work placements, voluntary work, education/training, childcare and much more.

● Encourage your business ideas, providing access to expert advice and financial help through business grant schemes.

● Help you and your friends become active members in shaping the community you live in.

The project has received funding from the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013, which is funded by the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. Due to further funding the project has been extended to December 2014.

For more information contact 01978 298381 or send an email to [email protected].


Due to increasing demand, Contact Wrexham has extended some of its facilities to make it quicker and easier for people to access services.

In order to increase the speed at which you can access the services at Contact Wrexham, there are more interview rooms available and a ‘fast’ reception desk for customers with appointments or who want to deliver or collect something. In addition, there is a better self service area with more computers and greater access to the internet. These are free access computers and are very important for those residents who don’t have access to the internet at home or who need help in using the internet.

Contact Wrexham just got bigger!

Wrexham Council’s Chief Executive, Dr. Helen Paterson, has once more been getting out into the communities of the County Borough – this time she went along to one of our Adult Social Care inspections

Helen accompanied Ben Chard from Wrexham Council’s adult social care department to Broughton Hall residential home.

They were shown around by Gary Dodd, the home’s manager.

Helen said: ‘I was really pleased to be able to accompany Ben on his visit. It is so important to maintain levels of care in Wrexham’s care homes and it was reassuring to see the detail into which our inspectors will go to ensure standards are maintained.’

Out and About…Throughout the County Borough there are a number of events to occupy the children and many of them are free of charge. Below is just a taste of the events, so keep checking the What’s On guide at wrexham.gov.uk for more details and events.

Tree-mendous Twigs Twiggy craft with a spooky twist.Nant Mill Visitor Centre ● 29 October ● Sessions from 1.30pm-3.30pm Ticket price: £2

Fun Orienteering Meet at the bowling pavilion. Children to be accompanied by an adult.Acton Park ● 29 October ● 1pm-3pm This is event is suitable for ages 6-14 yearsTicket price: FREE

The Haunted Heritage Centre A Museum at Night adventure in one of the spookiest places in Wrexham, with special activities laid on for family groups. Advanced booking essential, please book by● 19 October.

Bersham Heritage Centre ● 25 October (overnight) ● 6.30pm-9am This is event is suitable for families with children aged 7-11 years.Ticket price: £7.50 per child, £5 per adult including breakfast

What’s on at half term?Connect has the answer – lots!

Helen and the home’s manager, Gary Dodd, speak to Mr. Freeman, a resident at Broughton Hall.


If you’re going ‘Trick or Treating’ at Hallowe’en, remember these safety tips, so you can have fun and keep safe at the same time!

Young children should always go trick or treating with an appropriate adult Plan your route and let people know where you are Do not take short cuts Make sure you stay in areas that are well lit with street lamps, and take a torch with you Never go into a stranger’s house Do not knock on doors where a ‘No Trick or Treat’ sign is visible Don’t talk to strangers on the street Be careful not to frighten vulnerable people, especially the elderly Be safe, be seen. Ensure you are always visible; it may be a good idea to wear reflective tape on your costume Look before crossing the road Remember that throwing eggs and flour at property is classed as criminal damage - and the police will deal with all incidents of anti-social behaviour accordingly And finally… be polite on Halloween night.

Free NHS breast screening for women

Calling all women aged 50 and above who are registered with a GP in Wrexham County Borough.

Breast Test Wales, the NHS breast screening service, will be inviting women from Wrexham County Borough for routine breast screening until May 2014.

Women who are aged between 50 and 70 will automatically receive a postal invitation to attend for free screening if they are registered with GP surgeries in Wrexham County Borough.

This service will be carried out in a special mobile unit at Tesco Car Park, Wrexham.

Women who are aged 70 and above will not automatically be invited for breast screening, but can request an appointment by telephoning Breast Test Wales on 01492 860888

For further information about breast screening, visit the Breast Test Wales website on: www.screeningservices.org.uk/btw

School applications go onlineIn the last edition of Connect, we told you about the new system for applying for your child’s place in school – now we are bringing you all the deadline dates you will need.

From now on, you can apply on-line for a school place for your child using the new Online Admissions Service at wrexham.gov.uk. All you need is your email address in order to make an on-line application from your home computer. Alternatively you can make a paper application and return it directly to the Wrexham Council.

You can also apply using the facilities at Contact Wrexham and Wrexham Library if you take your library card along with you.

Whether applying online or using a paper application form, you will need to make a note of the deadlines below:

Nursery applications will be open from 6 January 2014 and the deadline is 21 February 2014. Primary school (including reception, infants and juniors) applications will open on30 September and the deadline is29 November.

Finally, secondary school applications opened on 2 September and the deadline is on 25 October.

Contact the Admission Officer for further information: Tel No: 01978 297401

Trick or treat tips!


The Wrexham Open is back at Oriel Wrexham, and for the first time the exhibition is being shown across all three galleries.

The Wrexham Open is an annual competition for all artists, whether professional or amateur, and is open

to people of all ages. All artforms are also accepted, including drawing, painting, photography, jewellery, film or performance.

This exhibition will be open until 19 October and you will be able to see the winning entries of four categories:

Children and Young People, Amateur, Professional, and Student. You will also be given the chance to vote for the piece that you feel should be the winner of the People’s Prize award.Entry to the exhibition is free and you can find out more information by calling 01978 292093.

The return of the Wrexham Open

With demand for Council and local housing association properties so high, the waiting times can be quite long – but there is another option.

Those people who have a household income of over £12,000 may be eligible for properties with what is called ‘affordable rent’. These properties are usually new or relatively new and, on some schemes, are available to rent now and buy later.

For example, at the moment there are1 and 2 bedroom apartments available in the County Borough including properties in Hightown and Gwersyllt, with monthly rents starting at £383.70.

If you are interested in affordable rental properties, contact Tai Clwyd on 0345 230 3140.

Affordable rentIf you regularly go to one of the County Borough’s many playgrounds, you may have noticed the arrival of some new signs.

Back in July, Wrexham Council officially launched Smoke Free Playgrounds at Ty Mawr Country Park’s fun day. Since this event, all council-owned playgrounds have been smoke-free areas and it is now an offence to smoke in any of these areas.

Smoking in family-friendly areas sends children the message that smoking is part of everyday life, rather than an addictive and deadly drug. This is a scheme that has been taken on by many Councils across the UK and aims to reduce the number of children who take up smoking as they grow up.

Smoke-free

Did you know that one in six adults struggle to read?

The Six Book Challenge, however, improves the chances in life for people who find reading difficult by building their reading confidence and motivation; because everything changes when you are able to read.

If you would like to improve your

reading skills or would simply like to build your confidence with reading, then the Six Book Challenge could be for you.

The challenge invites you to choose six books from a specially selected range and record your reading in a diary. Once you have completed your diary you will be presented with a much coveted certificate.

This year the challenge is supported by top author and former SAS soldier Andy McNab and England Rugby league player James Jones-Buchanan.

If you would like to set yourself a goal and enrol on this challenge, or you would like more details then please contact Debbie at Wrexham Library on 01978 292090.

Six-Book Challenge

Wrexham Connect ENGLISHwrexham.gov.uk/connect 5 The ‘Best Bar None’ Wrexham’s pubs and clubs...

Documents

Transcript of Wrexham Connect ENGLISHwrexham.gov.uk/connect 5 The ‘Best Bar None’ Wrexham’s pubs and clubs...