This is our
February 2020
Wellington THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF WELLINGTON TOWN COUNCIL
Serving the residents and businesses of Wellington We’re often asked ‘What does Wellington Town Council do?’ – well here we give a summary of what’s going on in Wellington and what the council does to best serve the residents and businesses. We take a look at some of the events, share news of regeneration initiatives and explain how problems are being tackled head on.
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ONTH! · FE SM BR I TH
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Regenerating our town
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Young High Street Challenge
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Wellington
Town Council
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Standing: Cllr Stephen de Launey, Mayor Anthony Lowe, Deputy Town Clerk Andrew Roberts, Seated: Town Clerk Karen Roper, Events Co-ordinator Paola Armstrong, Communications and Events Manager Caroline Farrell
How to contact Wellington Town Council Civic Offices, Larkin Way, Tan Bank, Wellington, Telford, Shropshire TF1 1LX Telephone: 01952 567697 Email: wellingtontowncouncil@telford.gov.uk www.wellington-shropshire.gov.uk Office Hours - Monday to Friday 10.30am - 3.30pm
www.facebook.com/WellingtonTCShropshire twitter.com/WellingtonTCI
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Wellington Happy new decade! LOVE
Welcome to
A message from your Wellington Mayor Cllr Anthony Lowe The New Year is a time when many of us like to pause and glance back at what has passed, before looking ahead with anticipation to what is to come….
I Let’s all Love Wellington every day to build the town that we deserve and take our historic town into the 2020s with pride.
’ve been challenged, absorbed, astounded and humbled by the innovative and hard working people of Wellington and the effort and enthusiasm invested to keep our centuries-old market town alive and thriving, at the heart of our community. Wellington is continually improving as a welcoming, vibrant place – our hometown. Renovated shop frontages, the market poised to be refurbished by new owners and vacant properties are now occupied by new businesses and several await renovation. We are now home to a craft bakery, highly praised new restaurant, pubs and coffee shops, beauticians, a new vintage shop run by young people and, of course, our very own Orbit cinema. Please come and take a look at what’s happening - the future prosperity of Wellington lies with us all - you and me. Footfall is not an abstract concept, it is about each and every one of us visiting, enjoying and spending! Come and be part of the success. Next month Love Wellington launches the ‘Fabulous February Fiver Fest’, urging you to spend an extra £5 right here in Wellington, in one of our independent shops or businesses, directly supporting friends, neighbours and boosting the local economy. Our efforts have not gone unnoticed. Wellington is a shortlisted ‘Rising Star’ in the Great British High Street competition, in recognition of the ongoing regeneration. The result will be announced shortly. Fingers crossed!
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Focus is also on the most vulnerable in our society. Two Wellington based organisations do sterling work supporting the homeless, the marginalised and those recovering from dependency and are the Mayoral charities this year. Many of us are deeply saddened by the recent death of Robert Eyers. Rob set up and ran Telford After Care Team at Strickland House in the heart of Wellington and our sympathies and thoughts go to his family and the many whose lives he helped turnaround. Let’s keep his legacy alive. See more of their inspiring work online: maninplace.org.uk tacteam.org.uk Donations may be made via Wellington Town Council website or by cheque or cash to Wellington Town Council office below the library. Harking back to the past will not take us forwards, so let’s all Love Wellington every day to build the town that we deserve and take our historic town into the 2020s with pride.
Cllr Anthony Lowe Wellington Mayor
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Regenerating our town LOVE Love Wellington
The ‘Love Wellington’ campaign, launched 12 months ago, is leading the way in the regeneration of the town. The initiative is funded by the Regeneration Board and led by a ‘High Street Champion’ and team of local volunteers rooted in the community. It is active on social and traditional media and works with Telford & Wrekin Council, Wellington Town Council, the businesses and wider community in a coordinated and strategic way to promote the town and ‘Love Wellington’ entering the Great British High Street competition, which highlighted the following:
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As part of the regeneration and pride in your community work, Telford & Wrekin Council have funded the following in Wellington:
Empty Shop Grant scheme To drive down long term vacancy rates £60k of grants have been awarded to businesses that repurpose empty shops and include The Walnut restaurant and Nanny’s Bulgarian Bakery; Nathan Rous PR and Simply Doors. These businesses have been supported because they deliver a new retail/service experience which will diversify the town’s offer and bring new footfall.
Façade improvements A programme of façade improvements, concentrating on the historic main market square, commenced in June. This sees a return to quality historic colours and materials in keeping with Wellington’s Georgian buildings.
@LoveWellington @LoveWellington1 lovewellington2019
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‘Young High Street Challenge’ Young people have been involved with the regeneration, with a number of local schools entering the ‘Young High Street Challenge’. The winners, Wrekin College, opened the Retro Shack on Duke Street in December.
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There is a Love Wellington Youth Facebook page to shout about provision for younger residents.
The Orbit The Wellington Orbit Cinema, Arts Centre and Cafe opened its doors in 2019. This community-led campaign saw investment of £40k from local people, £150k from Telford & Wrekin Council as part of the Telford 50 legacy, and support from All Saints Church. It has been planned and implemented by a local team and managed by volunteer trustees. It’s a huge achievement for a community group which began with no building and no resources and is the cornerstone of Wellington’s revival.
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Wellington Community Community strength A strength of Wellington’s entry to the Great British High Street rested in the community - the many Wellington groups, initiatives and organisations that flourish in the town with incredible commitment from volunteers, as well as the Wellington Festival.
Improving the local environment
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The ‘Makers Dozen Mural Trail’ - paintings of windows around the town depicting and celebrating Wellington’s heritage as a town of ‘makers’ featured as did the Friends of Wellington Station, whose volunteers cleared wasteland around the station to create lavender beds ; the ‘Peace Garden’ created on the main approach walkway into Wellington, welcoming people to the town. Local litter picks organised by All Saints Church, the YMCA and local young volunteers and community organisations such as the Friends of Dothill Nature Reserve and the Friends of Bowring Park which improve our local environment.
Heritage, history and walking Also forming a large part of our Great British High Street entry was Wellington H2A which organises colourful arts and heritage events, Wellington LA21 which celebrates the history of the town with walks and trails, and Wellington Walkers are Welcome, whose annual walking festival is a highlight and this year has produced a new walking map (funded by the Town Council), The Civic Society, the History Group and the many arts groups all serve to make up the rich fabric of our community.
The Market
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Rooted at the heart of Wellington is the famous indoor market. After years of uncertainty, the market was purchased by new owners late in 2019. They are investing – money has been spent on CCTV and immediate repairs; rewiring and refurbishment of the toilets is to commence in the New Year. The owners and management team have all sorts of plans to enhance the customer offer – so more good news for Wellington.
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Shout about it! Over a dozen new businesses have opened their doors in Wellington in 2019 and there are solutions to many of the vacant premises with a reduction in the number of vacant units.
February Fiver Fest! The ‘Fabulous February Fiver Fest’ is to encourage local people to spend a fiver a week in a Wellington business which they wouldn’t normally – in other words £5 which would have been spent online or elsewhere is now diverted to a Wellington business. If everyone did that it would boost our local economy by £90k a week.
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Love Wellington for business
£ Fiver Fest Fabulous February
Why not In spend Wellington this Feb.
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Working with the shops and traders, Love Wellington has also organised networking events for all Wellington businesses – at The Walnut, Q Finance and Barclays Bank. We will also hold ‘social media’ and Google clinics to help boost Wellington businesses’ online and digital presence.
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DID YOU KNOW
Wellington Town Council and climate change WTC puts climate change at the heart of our decision making processes and fully supports the water refill project – ‘Refill Wellington’. LED Christmas lights improve energy efficiency and the council aims for paperless meetings, ensures all waste is recycled and reused wherever possible and no longer purchases single use plastic items. Planting vessels have been built in water reservoirs to reduce the need for watering. Pathways have been improved to encourage walking and cycling and local suppliers used wherever possible.
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Part of the ongoing regeneration was entering Wellington into the Great British High Street competition and Wellington was shortlisted as a finalist in the ‘Rising Star’ category.
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Wellington A Great British High Street ‘Rising Star’ In September we welcomed the GB High Street judges. They arrived by train and were given a guided tour of some of the new businesses, some of the oldest businesses and some of the many businesses who provide Wellington’s beating heart. The Rowton Brewery created a special beer ‘Rising Star’ and buskers provided street entertainment
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and Spiceland gave them a sample of some of Wellington’s finest food. The town looked its best; the sun shone, the planting looked beautiful and so many people came to meet them. The judges were impressed with the many initiatives going on in the town to improve and regenerate; but most importantly, they loved the ‘community spirit’ which Wellington has in abundance.
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Your town for you, our community Behind the scenes in Wellington Wellington Town Council does a huge amount of ‘behind the scenes’ housekeeping – working closely with the police and the local homeless charities and there has been tangible progress made to reduce the number of rough sleepers. A new security lighting column has been installed at the back of shops in Espley Close and the town council is providing financial support to a ‘Shopwatch’ system which enables shops to be in direct contact with the police to help combat shoplifting and anti social behaviour. We have made some designated ‘Happy to Chat’ benches near the Council offices to encourage community engagement and counter loneliness.
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Local issues The town council has been actively meeting with retailers, market traders and residents to find a parking solution that works for all and enforcement officers started in January to counter issues such as illegal parking, dog fouling and littering. On Saturday nights the local team of Street Pastors can be found helping those in need at vulnerable times and be safe in our town. Regular Pubwatch meetings are held at the Town Council Offices. The council has also secured Speed Indicator Devices (SIDs) for Wellington to help combat speeding drivers and will be installing ‘Cyclists Dismount’ signs around the town centre.
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So what else does Wellington Town Council do for you? Award winning facilities! Provides public toilets at the Bus Station and Bowring Park. The facilities in The Parade have been named as top in the region as well as platinum standard winners for the fifth year running in the annual independently-run contest. The town council also provides flowering hanging baskets, poppy displays and the Christmas lighting and tree; the community clock and digital display board as well as the planting at the Bowring Park and leases out the Café there. It supports the Dothill Conservation Group and funds the Wellington Environmental Services Team (WEST) comprising two full time employees, a vehicle and rechargeable tools.
Wellington Town Council supports local events The council provides entertainment for children during the summer holiday in the Bowring Park and numerous events including the Christmas lights switch on in the Market Square and the Wellington Festival now in its 23rd year which has recently been held in both May and October. Free of charge to all, it provides arts, music, dance, poetry, literature and theatre. Wellington Town Council also facilitates and supports local events such as the Bayley Mile, Charter Day, Midsummer Fayre, Civic,
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Remembrance and community carol services…. We provide AEDs (defibrillators) in various locations using Borough Councillor Ward funding and other sources of finance and we organise an annual prostate testing event. The Town Council considers and comments on local planning applications and supports local charities with grant awards twice yearly and organises fundraising events such as the Mayor’s annual dinner.
Community awards The Mayor’s civic service and community awards evening in June saw five awards presented:
Jacob Chandler
Jim Mostyn
Andy Harnell
Rob Francis
Shannon Marsh-Lloyd
Artist of the Year
Contribution to Sport in the Community
Contribution to Dothill Nature Reserve
Services to Wellington’s Community
Young Volunteer Award
> Wellington’s Jacob Chandler
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A busy year Here’s a round up of a busy year of events in Wellington…
The Bayley Mile The ‘Bayley Mile’ a running race round an historical route in Wellington saw 121 Wellington pupils racing from 12 local schools, with four records broken.
Christmas lights switch on Huge crowds gathered to enjoy the Christmas lights switch on. Over 100 lanterns were made by children who were entertained by face painting, a puppet show and various other attractions. Wellington Brass Band contributed to making this event ‘the best yet’.
The Wellington Festival Held in the spring and autumn, over 2,000 people from across the UK, including nearly 400 children, attended the festivals which included performances from Wellington’s own Brass Band and RAF Shawbury Wives Choir. The 2019 Festival was sponsored by Anwyl Homes, Nathan Rous PR and the Telford Whitehouse Hotel. It really does have something for everyone!
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Children’s free holiday fun! Peggie Harrison School Poetry Competition As part of the Wellington Festival the Peggie Harrison School Poetry Competition once again ran throughout the summer. With five schools entering, there were 185 submissions and 10 prizes awarded.
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Six free children’s holiday events were held in Wellington’s Bowring Park in the summer holidays. Over the six weeks 900 children were thoroughly entertained by PJ the children’s entertainer, the Exotic Zoo, Leos’s Loco circus and a variety of arts and crafts.
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FORTHCOMING DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
CHARTER DAY
MAYOR’S CIVIC FUNDRAISER DINNER & RAFFLE
Saturday 7th March
Saturday 28th March
WELLINGTON FESTIVAL
VE DAY
Friday 1st May Saturday 9th May
● The Plough VE Day Friday 8th May ● WTC VE Commemoration Wellington Market Square Saturday 9th May
BAYLEY MILE
MIDSUMMER FAYRE
Wednesday 20th May
Saturday 13th June
SOUNDS IN THE SQUARE
FAMILY FUN DAYS IN THE BOWRING PARK
Throughout July & August
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Tuesday 21st July, Tuesday 28th July, Tuesday 4th Aug, Tuesday 11th Aug, Tuesday 18th Aug, Tuesday 25th Aug
This is our Wellington has been designed and printed by Plus Two Media Limited. All text copyright © Wellington Town Council 2020 Photographs supplied by Love Wellington and Wellington Town Council additional pictures from Wrekin News / Plus Two Media Limited archive. For more information about design and printing please contact James Baylis Telephone: 07977 481186 / 01952 228973 or email: james@plus2media.co.uk - www.plus2media.co.uk
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