1. INTRODUCTION

Northern Marches Cymru have been supporting members of the community of Chirk as part of the Community Action Planning process.

A successful “Visioning Event “ was held in Chirk on Saturday 1st October 2005.  At this event the community discussed what’s happening in Chirk now, agreed a shared vision for the future of Chirk, and created a list of projects that are listed in this report. 

A further meeting was held on Thursday 10th November 2005 where community members worked to agree those projects that should be included in the action plan for Chirk.  A small number of projects have been prioritised for short, medium and long – term action and a group will be formed of people who are interested in making the projects happen.

This process will form the basis for a DRAFT ACTION PLAN for Chirk.

2. PRIORITY VOTING FROM THE VISIONING EVENT

Participants were given 5 votes each and were given the opportunity to vote on projects. Below are the results.

Young People

  

Facilities Cont'd

  

Play Area/Tennis Courts

1

Dog Loos

19

Youth Forum

2

Better pubs

20

Increased Security at Junior school

3

Dog walks

21

Free Transport for young people

4

Football Pitch/Pavilion

22
   

Shopping Centre

23

Health/Safety

      

Community Safety

1

Environment

  

Pelican Crossing

2

Glyn Valley Tramway

1
   

Cleaner Streets

2

Facilities

  

Noise reduction

3

Heritage Centre e.g. at Library

1

Cleaner Air

4

Health Centre

2

Planting/visual appeal

5

Dentist

3

Recycling

6

Evening Café

4

Green areas

7

Funding for Sports

5

Local generation of energy/wind farm

8

Internet Café

6

Monorail

9

Xmas Lights

7

    

Improve Public Transport

8

Community

  

Extra Lighting

9

Events committee

1

Dial a Ride

10

Parenting

2

Improved tourism signage

11

Annual Programme of Events

3

Link Chirk to the Castle

12

Community Ctr/Parish Hall

4

Tourism-based shops

13

    

On-line learning

14

Communication

  

Supermarket

15

Newsletter

1

ICT Training

16

Website

2

Public Loos - open longer

17

Local Radio

3

Station Access

18

    

3. REVIEW OF THE PROJECTS IDENTIFIED AT THE VISIONING EVENT

Participants were asked to review the above list of projects and to identify the projects that could be realistically implemented.

Project

Opportunities/Challenges

 Actions

Timing

Newsletter

Opportunities

·         Provide advertising space

·         Prevent timing of events clashing

·         Give interest group a voice

·         Main contacts in area

Challenges

·         Lack of contributors/distributors

·         Lack of funding

·         Lack of editorial skills

·         Document what’s happening in Chirk

·         Publish a programme of events

·         Provide a forum for community comments

·         Work alongside Chirk community web-site designer and develop linkages

·         Consult with Western Rhyn and St Martins

·         Discuss funding opportunities with Northern Marches Cymru

Short -term

Cleaner Streets

Opportunities

·         Gain support from other organisations in area

·         Educating people to stop dropping litter

·         Organise regular sponsored litter-pick with schools

·         Find out about the Law’s stance is on dropping litter

·         Place an article in the newsletter

Medium/Long - term

Reduce noise pollution

Opportunities

·         Gain support from local industry

Challenges

·         Cost associated with reducing industrial noise

·         Traffic calming measures can make noise worse

·         Request that Kronospan and Cadbury are represented within the Community Action Group

Medium/Long-term

Cleaner Air

Opportunities

·         Gain support from local industry

Challenges

·         Cost associated with reducing pollution

·         Request that Kronospan and Cadbury are represented within the Community Action Group

·         Ascertain if there has been an improvement in air quality since installation of filters

Medium/Long-term

Project

Opportunities/Challenges

 Actions

Timing

Young People

Opportunities

·         Youth Club

·         Set up of an Internet Café

·         Sports Facilities

·         Activity Programme

Challenges

·         Funding and other resources

·         Negative attitude of some of the community

To be confirmed

To be confirmed

Play Areas/

Improvements to play areas/

tennis court

Opportunities

·         For children aged up to 4 years

·         For children 4 to 12 years

·         For children 12 years upwards

Challenges

·         Funding and other resources

·         Negative attitude of some of the community

To be confirmed

To be confirmed

Security at Schools

Opportunities

·         Perimeter fence at Infants School

·         Address security at whole site of Junior school

Challenges

·         Funding and other resources

·         Negative attitude of some of the community

To be confirmed

To be confirmed

4. Other priorities

The projects listed below were also identified as priorities. However, the group needs more time to consider any actions that may be taken in the future.

Facilities

·         Dentist

·         Save Chirk Estate Office – potential to be used as heritage centre, internet café, evening café, craft workshops and IT Training

·         Dial a ride

·         Christmas Lights

·         Chirk Carnival

·         Flat access to Chirk Station

·         Football Pavilion

·         Public Loos – Open Longer

Community Safety

·         Pelican Crossing

·         Community Safety

·         Extra Lighting

·         CCTV – visibility issues