PhilWynn
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Many thanks for the video which highlights the plight of our town’s homeless but this is an issue which has been known to many of us at the Guildhall for sometime. Whilst the video I’m assuming is to prod everyone’s conscience I for one would of found it helpful in the interest of a balance discussion if it had highlighted how much the state spends on these individuals by way of NSP, methodone, drying out clinics, the various Tier 2 agencies such as CAIS soup kitchen, Arches, Elms, Champion House, Ty Nos, Ty Croeseo, Richmond House, St Johns House, Drugs and Alchol Engagement Officers etc etc. There is also the price paid by shop-keepers by way of shop-lifting and the pressure criminality places on insurance premiums.
Also I have learnt this week that the Wallach have received a WG grant to fund the purchase of a bus to go out and engage with the homeless and I guess to man it to.
There are also the hidden cost of repairing damage to property carried out by rough-sleepers breaking into publicly owned properties.
From my engagement with the homeless I have learnt that a number of them are receiving Disabilty Allowances/other state payouts, paid via the address of a friendly Tier 2 agency. This information was volunteered by a rough-sleeper. This individual then uses the system of hand-outs to I guess to maximise the money he has to feed his habit. In All likelihood this person probably has a greater disposable income than me.
As you know I like many are trying to make Wrexham town-centre a place for law obidding folk to feel happy to work, shop and play in. At present this feels like an uphill struggle as there seems to be a proliferation of rough-sleepers, alcoholics and drug addicts frequenting our town-centre.
As you have members of staff who are employed in this field and have a great understanding of drugs etc I would welcome your views on how we collectively solve the cause rather than symthoms.
FYI I did ask our countries First Minister at his Q&A session whether he would engage with various agencies in Wrexham to address the issue of HMO occupants who are associating with the homeless and in so doing are making our town centre their Social Club. The answer sadly was NO, as he believes the issue is a police/ council matter. Anyway rest assured heads are about to be banged in Wrexham without Carwyn Jones’ input on how to deliver a more coherent solution for those whose lives are dysfunctional and therefore find themselves sleeping rough.
I meet an alcoholic/drug addict today,who was until recently a street-sleeper. For him he has fortunately been housed in a HMO, which is located in the ward I represent. Having chatted it was obvious to me that his Tier 2 agency have succeeded in getting him off the street, even though misery has been inflicted on the lives of those living on the street, but his days are empty as he confirmed he does the rounds of the Tier 2 Agencies in the town during the day. The sad thing is he was a painter and decorator before living on the street for five years and would welcome the chance to practice his trade once more. As such the question I will be asking his Tier 2 support officer is has he been offered assistance to achieve this goal.
I am sure I am not alone in finding it helpful to understand how any donations to AVOW are to be used in assisting the homeless. I for one would not wish to subsidise the habits of many of the homeless, who seemingly think very little of their fellow town folk, who pay their taxes to fund the various agencies who are paid good money to address this problem?
Kind regards
Phil
Cllr P. Wynn________________________________________
Council Watcher…I share your sentiments that when it comes to what impact the VVP has had on the town-centre then it is minimal. I hope the arts hub is a great success and will deliver different footfall into town. The extra-care unit may deliver potentially eighty or so elderly customers for the locality of that part of town, which is not anything to get excited about.
When the VVP was announced first time round Local Authorities were given a short window of opportunity to bid and they had to demonstrate matched funding. That matched funding has come by way of WCBC offering up empty properties and one of the social housing landlords investing in the extra-care unit.
What I’m interested in is encouraging the debate on what projects do we need to see for VVP2 bid, which resonate with Joe Public and can at the same time generate matched funding.
Out of interest do you have any projects you would like to see happen?
I’ll start a rolling list:
Large screen in Queen Square.
Empty shops such as Butons bought and sub-divided into units which would enable budding entrepreneurs to enter the retail trade (Nigel Lewis and Matt McAle’s idea)
Children’s play area along the lines of that which has been introduced on Eagles Meadow (Wrexham Forum idea)
Reopen parts of the town’s pedestrian zone to vehicles ( Rob Clarke in the Butchers Market)
Removing all commercial bins off the public highway (mine)
Coming up with a strategy which engages the town’s rough-sleepers and many HMO occupants , rather than leaving them to roam our town-centre thereby making an unattractive place to work,shop and play ( mine).Rob…if selling over the Internet helps Indie’s in Wrexham be profitable businesses then I’m all for that even if did result in only 5% of the turnover being recycled in Wrexham. I’m guessing the 5% quoted refers to the likes of Amazon so maybe not a direct comparison.
As regards the impact the current VVP has had on the vibrancy of our town-centre then I would say it is impossible to measure until the Arts Hub is opened along with the extra-care units on Grosvenor Rd. The other project relating to town is the Masterplan which has helped define potential uses for land within the town which will hopefully encourage the private sector to invest in Wrexham. Sadly that isn’t guaranteed hence we need the Summit which Nigel Lewis the chain of the Town-Centre Forum has instigated.
The area covered by the VVP does cover an area much wider than the town-centre ie Caia estate and the housing on the south west side of town. This is where VVP money has been spent on housing projects so I accept this would not be directly associated with delivering vibrancy in T-C.
Going forward if The Welsh Government run VVP2 then we need to influence the WG Minister to allow money to be spent on vibrancy projects such as helping ICEWALES to set an entrepreneurial melting pot located in the town. Other ideas I would like to see is WCBC buying a small number of empty stores to kick-start the Indie shop supply (bye the way this Nigel Lewis and Matt McAles idea). Other ideas include a big mobile screen in Queen Square.
To help the discussion it would be useful if other vibrancy proposals could be added. One thing we need to bear in mind is the Government will require matched funding from WCBC and other parties.
Phil
PS I agree with Alun let people get on with being entrepreneurs with the minimal of state interference.Dylan the T&F Group have a remit to look at the issue of discarded needles as opposed to rough sleepers.That said they are intertwined. Rather than steal the Groups thunder I hope you will understand my stance of holding off on any comments until a report goes back to Scrutiny in September.
The Council have recognised that there is a hardcore of rough sleepers who need focused attention. Time will tell if this can be delivered and if so whether it will make a sustained difference. Having spoken with a number of rough sleepers I do not under-estimate the complexity of the issue.
Cllr Phil Wynn
Dear Janey
I’ve not viewed the forum for a little while, so have only now spotted your comments.
I was contacted by a constituent with the same message, which was passed on to the town-centre police team. They had no record of the incident but assured me that they would keep an eye on the locality.
FYI a street sleepers encampment was finally closed down a few weeks back, which was located in the Dunelm Mill railway underpass. A separate encampment then appeared on the Bryn Offa playing field which was moved on with police assistance.
This is an ongoing problem which is not going to go away whilst Street sleepers find Wrexham an attractive town in which to reside.
WCBC senior officers and Hugh Jones the Lead Member for Community Safety have been charged with coming up with solutions to the problem you have flagged. This has resulted in the recent introduction of a Public Space Protection Order which provides the police with an additional tool to challenge the unacceptable behaviour of a hard-core group of rough-sleepers, who are using our town-centre and adjoining residential areas as their very own social club.
I am currently serving on a WCBC elected members Task and Finish Group which is exploring ways of dealing with the problem of discarded needles and drugs paraphernalia, which can be found where in particular rough sleepers have been. The group’s recommendations are due to be made in September to WCBC’s Well-being scrutiny Committee.
I appreciate my response doesn’t provide any immediate reassurances that the powers that be are on top of problem but please be assured that I and fellow town centre ward elected members are pushing hard for solutions to be delivered. In the meantime I would ask fellow town residents to report any ASB incidences immediately to the police on 101.
Cllr Phil Wynn
I think it is somewhat naughty to suggest volunteers are to take over from Council Workers, as the Cean Up Days are run to compliment the good work carried out by WCBC Streetscene staff.
I don’t see anything wrong in taking a pride in the appearance of your own town. Other town’s like nearby Mold have been doing the same for years.
Andrew Atkinson’s background is in the cleaning industry so his input on the Clean Up Days has always been welcome. Our MP Ian Lucas Has also rolled up his sleeves at these events, so it is very much a team effort.
Cllr Phil Wynn
Jane I have replied to your earlier email raising this matter with myself.I have received assurances off the Leader of the Council that he will take this up with the relevant officers in the morning and report back to you asap. Having attended the service this morning I can only apologise for what has been an avoidable distraction to a special day in the Town’s calendar.
I hope this of comfort to you.
Cllr Phil Wynn
From recent personal experience the lack of District Nurses lead to a member of my family being sent to a private home from the Maelor rather than being looked after from home.
That’s can only be addressed by our Health Service.
As for the private home I only have praise for the service they provided.Apologies for not posting sooner but on the day I was about to register my candidacy my Dad’s health went down-hill rapidly. Fortunately he was admitted to the Maelor Hospital late that night. His health has picked up in the last few days so I’m hoping he will be home for next week.
Maybe I should of entered regardless but I feel I have made the right decision by putting family first.
I have wished all the Wrexham candidates well in their election campaigns and trust the voters of Wrexham will also do their bit for democracy by voting on the 7th of May.
Back to the day job of being a County Councillor.
Phil Wynn
@Liam 20032 wrote:
Cllr Wynn, at one time you were a noted critic of the Wrexham Supporters Trust. What won you round?
Liam – I think you mean some of the Trust Board members not the WST. See my comments on separate thread. You were there at the time, living and breathing it. I hope you don’t mind me asking but what were your thoughts on Richard Green’s tenure?
Anyway the future of the Racecourse and getting our club back in the Football League is the focus, not churning over the past.
I have a track record of fund raising for the WST over the years, which I am very proud of.
The current WST Board and Wxm AFC directors are doing a sterling job and our dialogue shouldn’t become a distraction.
Phil Wynn
