Christmas Lights
December, 2020
The Community Council has been pleased to support the lighting up of the Village this especially dark Christmas. In addition to our usual Christmas tree we have been able to support some businesses in the village to add additional lights.
A big thank you to all those who have made the effort to brighten up the village this year, especially Rob and Sam Ball for our best ever Christmas tree.
Multi-Use Games Area and Rugby Field Update
December, 2020)
Following on from the community mapping exercise carried out a few years ago, we are delighted to announce that work has commenced on the Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA), on the carpark end of the Rugby Field. It is anticipated that this work will be complete by the end of February 2021.
The construction of the MUGA has been funded from ‘Section 106’ money, i.e. a contribution to the community, paid by the developer of the new housing at St James Gardens.
We are also in discussions with the Vale Council concerning the Rugby Field. For safety reasons the floodlights, which had fallen into disrepair, have been removed.
Work is also underway to make safe some diseased trees around the field.
Dog-fouling
December, 2020
This year we have received several complaints concerning the failure of some dog owners to clean up after their pets.
All dog owners are urged to make every effort to act responsibly and pick up and properly dispose of any mess left by their pets. Bagged waste can be put in any of the many bins around the village.
Remembrance Sunday
8th, November
Remembrance Sunday this year falls on 8th November, the day before lockdown ends. Welsh Government rules set a limit on the number of people attending and there can be no Church Service. Father Craig, together with a standard bearer, will be at the memorial outside the Village Hall from 10.45am and will invite representatives of organisations and then individuals to step forward and lay wreaths one at a time. The two-minute silence will be honoured at 11.00am.
If more attend than are permitted they will be asked to wait a short distance away and to lay any personal remembrances following the official service. All of those attending are asked to respect social distancing rules.
To allow for the smooth running of the service organisations and individuals who wish to lay a wreath are asked either to respond to this message or to email wickcommunitycouncil@gmail.com.
At this stressful, emotional time every effort will be made to accommodate all those who wish to attend. Members of the public who are taking part in the two-minute silence at home, as suggested by the Royal British Legion, will be welcome to lay their tributes following the end of the service
“We will Remember Them”
Report to Wick Community Council on Wick Play Rangers
September, 2020
Commencing 28th July 2020 for four weeks during the summer holidays the Vale Play Rangers, funded by Wick Community Council have been working with Wick Youth Club to deliver Play and Sports activities for young people of all ages living in Wick. Due to the pandemic numbers able to attend were limited.
All activities took place outdoors with just the Pavilion toilets open for use by those attending. Wick Youth Club provided free tea and coffee for parents and a free BBQ for everyone each week. Good use was made of the play equipment purchased by Wick Community Council last year.
The number of children who registered with the Play Rangers each week are as follows.
8/07/2020: 22 Participants
04/08/2020: 37 Participants (Although some children registered but didn’t fully take part as they were with parents)
11/08/2020: 31 Participants
18/08/2020: 27 Participants
26/08/2020: 28 Participants
With the older young people who attended the later session numbers attending each week were around 50.
This year’s Play Rangers was certainly the most impactive that we’ve held in the Village, in large part due to the difficult lockdown period we’ve gone through.
We’ve had some very good feedback from parents and young people on the Tuesday afternoon sessions.
In addition to the play for children, always important but especially so now, the play sessions have given parents the first opportunity for many months for them to meet up outside and in safety to just chat and be supportive. That has been probably the most frequent feedback comment we’ve had.
Parents also say that it’s been great to see their children playing with other children not in their immediate family or bubble of friends, it’s the first opportunity they’ve had to do this since March.
For the older young people who joined us later in the day at least 6 of them report that this was the first time they had left their homes since March to meet with friends, they’re first social contacts in 4 months. One mum said of her daughter that it was the first time she had been outside without a parent present and the first time she’d been able to just talk and play with friends, she was almost in tears as she watched her daughter “Red Top” with her friends she was so pleased with what we’d done.
The opportunity to work alongside the Play Rangers gave the youth club the opportunity to meet members and hear their concerns. We have been able to talk to members about going back to school or moving to their new school, about health issues, about starting their first job, about public transport problems, drinking, and to support those finding lockdown still difficult.
A member of staff from Play Wales had heard about our sessions and came to see one. She was impressed with what she saw, we’re meeting again next week to see how we can develop more activities in the rural Vale.
A final session, without the Play Rangers, was held on Wednesday 26th August run by the youth club but open to all ages.
The sessions were all without any adverse incidents of comments and was a very successful initiative.
New safety barrier to be installed on St Brides Road
September, 2020
Wick Community Council have been contacted by parents whose children use the short length of footpath that leads from St James Gardens to St Brides Road. Parents are concerned that there is no barrier to stop children running out into the main road.
The request to install a barrier was supported by councillors at the last Community Council meeting. Ward Councillor, Stewart Edwards contacted the Vale of Glamorgan Council, and we can report that his request has been successful.
The Council, using the remainder of the Section 106 monies (Sustainable Transport) from the St James Gardens development, have agreed to install a barrier in the near future.
Play Rangers and activities for young people
July, 2020
The lockdown has been difficult for the whole community. Children and young people have seen their schools and clubs close and have only been allowed out of their homes in limited circumstances. They have especially missed meeting and playing with friends.
As the lockdown eases Wick Community Council is delighted to announce that there will be a programme of Covid friendly activities run by the Play Rangers this year.
The Play Rangers will be running a slightly different format to comply with current regulations. Called Family Rangers their activities will be open to all ages and will consist of groups of up to six people taking part in a range of play activities. There will be up to 5 groups, a maximum of 30 people taking part.
Following the Play Ranger sessions Wick Youth Club will have sporting and leisure activities for young people including a BBQ and refreshments.
All of the activities will take place outdoors and so will be dependent on dry weather.
Play Rangers will run form 1.00pm until 3.00pm for four Tuesday afternoons starting 28th July and ending 18th August. The Youth Club sessions will follow on when Play Rangers finish at 3.00pm.
Due to the limit on numbers places should be booked by either calling 07732304570 or email wickcommunitycouncil@gmail.com. If numbers exceed 30 late comers may have to be turned away, we are sorry.
All of the activities have been risk assessed for safety, and hand sanitiser and PPE as required will be provided. Ask for details if at all concerned.
Up to date information on all of the Summer activities will be posted on the website, and Wick, Broughton and Monknash Facebook page.
Wick’s Covid Volunteers
July, 2020
Wick Community Council would like to thank all those who responded to requests for help from the Community during the lockdown.
Fifteen residents responded to the Community Council’s requests for volunteers, and we are aware that there were many others who carried out a variety of tasks when asked by neighbours and friends.
We are very grateful to all those who helped out when the Community needed it most.
Sports Pavilion Update
July, 2020
It is still the intention that the Community Council will take a 25-year lease on the Sports Pavilion, however, due to the pandemic, there has been a delay in the legal process. We have spoken to the Vale Council who have confirmed that the lease will be issued when the pandemic restrictions are lifted.
During the latter half of the year the defective roof on the Pavilion was replaced and a cleaning company engaged to clean it on a regular basis, however, in March we were ordered to close as part of the lockdown. We have now been informed that, with effect from 20th July, community buildings can now open but that social distancing rules apply so the purposes the Pavilion can be used for are limited. In particular communal changing and showers are not yet permitted.
Enquiries about booking the Pavilion can be made to wickcommunitycouncil@gmail.com, or phone 07710209437.
Sports Pavilion Public Consultation
July, 2020
Once the Community Council does take over responsibility for it, we are very keen to find out what improvements the community would like to see to better reflect the needs of the Village.
Currently the kitchen and toilet facilities are poor. More than half of the building, i.e. the changing rooms and the showers, which were used three days a week when the Rugby Club were active, is barely used at all.
The building is currently used regularly by Wick Youth Club and Wick Pensioners and occasionally by residents for meetings, craft and other activities. However, it is mostly unused for six days of every week.
There are grants available to develop the use of the building, but before we apply for them, we need a clear vision for the future use of the building, for example, there were suggestions in the last community mapping exercise that it should include a community café.
Please let us know what you think the the Sports Pavilion should be use for, so either?
1.0 Please complete the online survey using this link:
Community Mapping Questionnaire – Your Sports Pavilion
OR
2.0 A newsletter and form will soon be delivered to houses in Wick and Broughton. Please complete the form, and let us know what you think.
New Defibrillator Installed
July, 2020
There is now a public use defibrillator near the front door of the Pavilion. Should you have occasion to use please let the Community Council know.
A refresher training course on the use of the defibrillator will be arranged as soon as lockdown restrictions allow.
Wick Community Council 