News & Updates

12th July 2025

A Week of Community Connections and Planning Ahead

On Wednesday morning, I had the pleasure of attending a committee meeting with the Connah's Quay Old People’s Association. We discussed some exciting ideas for upcoming events, including afternoon treats, a buffet, plans for the annual Christmas meal at the Civic Hall, and a surprise being considered for the New Year. The weekly bingo and social meet-up means a lot to the members, and it’s genuinely rewarding to help plan ahead and suggest new ways to make them feel valued.

Later that afternoon, Vince and I visited Bernie Trickett’s Deeside Photo Display at the Town Council Office – it was absolutely fantastic (see article of 9th July). Afterwards, I attended the Connah’s Quay Summer Festival debrief. It was a productive session with great discussion, reflections on what worked well, and some brilliant ideas already in motion for next year. Huge thanks were given to everyone involved for their hard work and input.

On Friday, I took part in the Wepre Stakeholder meeting where recent developments were reviewed, including the disappointing news of a break-in at the visitor centre, which is currently under police investigation. Despite that, there was lots of positivity shared by the groups involved. We were also joined by project officer Carolyne Prew from 'Keep Wales Tidy' – it was a real pleasure to meet her and chat about everything from litter picking to local environmental projects. I left with a much deeper understanding and lots of helpful takeaways.

All in all, it’s been a busy and productive week – with plenty more to look forward to next including a meet up and walkabout with the local PCSO.

5th July 2025

🌞 Connah’s Quay Summer Festival – Debrief Meeting

Council members and park rangers will be meeting next Wednesday 9th July for a debrief on this year’s Summer Festival. If you have any feedback, suggestions, or comments you'd like me to share on your behalf, I’d be more than happy to pass them on.

📧 Please feel free to email me at: hello@rachaelfenwickcqs.co.uk or fill in my online form on the contact page.

Let’s keep building on what makes our community events so special! 💬💙 View Photo Gallery

1st July 2025

YSGOL WEPRE Summer Fayre 2025 - Friday 11th July 2025

🎉 Free entry! If you’d like to lend a hand, please get in touch with the school PTA directly (via facebook or email info@weprepta.co.uk).

🎁 Donations are very welcome – you can contact me or drop them off at the school during opening hours.

🛍️ Stalls are £20 if you’d like to pitch up – a great opportunity to get involved!

💰 Every penny raised from the fayre goes toward supporting the school and funding much-needed resources.

🌟 It’s set to be a lovely, fun-filled afternoon!

9th July 2025

Bernard Trickett’s Last Nostalgic Exhibition of Deeside Photos

Had the pleasure of attending this photo display, and what a collection it was!

The room was filled with an incredible archive of Deeside’s history – from maritime documents and old maps, to school photos, street parties, armed forces, parades, and ships from the Port of Connah’s Quay – dating all the way back to the 1800s. Some of these pieces are one-of-a-kind and fortunate to have been so carefully preserved. Nice to see so many books and pamphlets written by Bernie and other locals too.

It was a real pleasure to meet Bernie himself, a kind and passionate man who was more than happy to share the story of how it all began. Huge thanks to Bernie, Ron, and the volunteers who brought this treasure trove to life for us all to enjoy.

30 June 2025

Connah's Quay Town Council Summer Festival 2025

🌞 What an incredible day at the Connah’s Quay Summer Festival! The sense of community was truly inspiring. 💙

The Vice Chair and I were thrilled to meet so many of you – apologies if we missed anyone; we were volunteering as set up assistants, dignitories, car park attendants and anything else we could assist with, literally dashing around all day! 🙈

Thanks to your generosity at the gates, an amazing £750 was raised for the Chair’s chosen charity, Claire House Children’s Hospice. 💐

We’re so grateful to everyone who donated – your support makes a real difference to a wonderful cause.

From the entertainment and hospitality to our incredible public, volunteers, staff, and park rangers – you helped make this the highlight of our calendar. Feeling proud, thankful, and truly overwhelmed. 🙌 View Photo Gallery

25th June 2025

Bringing Back the Bloom: A Fresh Look at Connah’s Quay Wildflowers

Following a great conversation with Amanda and Harry from the Biodiversity Team - who I had the pleasure of meeting at the Buzzy Bee event in Wepre Park this past May - I raised some concerns about the state of the wildflower program in Connah’s Quay.

When the scheme was first introduced, I remember the results being quite specatacular. The first year’s annual wildflower patches were vibrant, colourful, and brought a real uplift to the community - very much like the sea of daffodils we enjoy each Spring along Mold Road. Unfortunately, it feels like that same impact hasn't been sustained in recent years, and the town has seen far fewer displays than neighbouring areas such as Flint.

As someone passionate about conservation, I do appreciate the distinction between annual and perennial wildflower mixes. Each has its benefits: annuals provide immediate bursts of colour, while perennials return year after year, supporting long-term biodiversity and providing vital forage for pollinators. Both have a place, and both play a vital role in local ecology. However, I couldn’t help but feel that Connah’s Quay may have been overlooked when it comes to the distribution and maintenance of these habitats.

Amanda and Harry were really receptive to the feedback and kindly said they would look into it. I’ve since followed up with an email to the Flintshire Biodiversity Team, firstly to thank them for the incredible work they continue to do across the county, but also to formally request that the wildflower strategy for Connah’s Quay be reviewed and potentially refreshed.

I look forward to hearing their thoughts and will share any updates here as soon as I can.

20 June 2025

Your Invite to Join CQ South’s Neighbourhood Watch

I'm pleased to share that I’m now an official Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator and have created a new watch for Connah’s Quay South Ward.

My aim is to help build this into a simple but effective way for residents to stay connected, keep an eye out, and support one another in our neighbourhood.

I’ve created a new Facebook group for the ward, which I'm pleased to say is already getting some engagement - you are welcome to join here:
👉 Connah’s Quay South Watch Facebook Group

The group will share: ✅ Updates on local scams ✅ Information from the police ✅ Community safety tips ✅ Notices about local get-togethers

I’m aware that there are other Neighbourhood Watch groups active in the area, and this group isn’t intended to replace them. Instead, it aims to complement their efforts — we’re all working towards the same goal of a safer, more connected community.

As always, if you witness something suspicious or experience anti-social behaviour, please report it to the police or relevant authority first. This group is here to offer additional support, connection, and shared awareness — not to act as a replacement for official channels.

It’s specifically aimed at residents in Connah’s Quay South, but if you live nearby and want to be part of it, you’re very welcome to join.

For those not on facebook, I will be setting up a newsletter subscription, online first and I will see if I can attract some funding to be able to issue paper copies to those not online.

Let’s all work together to strengthen our community connections and keep our neighbourhood safe and supportive.

20 June 2025

Wepre Park Site Visit - Summer Festival Preparations

Town Councillors and staff visited the park this morning for the final site meeting, and everything is coming together beautifully in preparation for this year’s Town Council Community Summer Festival.

The festival takes place on Saturday 28th June 2025, with the opening ceremony at 11am. While there will sadly be no parade this year due to the high cost of road closure charges by Flintshire County Council, the day is still packed with entertainment and activities for all ages.

Expect a fun fair, live stage performances, a beer tent, wrestling, a dog show, fantastic stalls, and much more. The event is expected to finish around 9pm.

Several councillors and I will be volunteering and helping out throughout the day. Please do come along, enjoy the festival, and don’t hesitate to stop for a chat - we’d love to see you!

14 June 2025

Playpark Improvements – Fron Road Site Visit Update

Following the 2022 local elections, an agreement was made between Flintshire County Council (FCC) and Connah’s Quay Town Council (CQTC) to jointly fund upgrades, improvements, and repairs to local play areas. Each party committed £10,000 per year, bringing the total annual investment to £20,000.

It was agreed that one play area would be selected each year based on assessed need, rotating across the four wards to ensure fair coverage. Since 2022, play areas in Golftyn, South, and Central wards have already benefited from this funding.

Next in line for 2025 is the Fron Road play area and multi-sports zone in the Wepre ward. A site visit was recently held between Connah’s Quay Town councillors and Richard Roberts, FCC’s Play Design Officer, to assess which items of equipment should be prioritised for replacement and to explore indicative costings. All town councillors were formally invited to attend, myself Cllr Rachael Fenwick (South), Cllr Antony Wren (South), Cllr Vince Roberts (Central), Cllr Manship and Cllr Roz Mansell (both of Wepre) attended on the day. When available, these proposals will be brought before Full Council for consideration.

Sincere thanks to Richard for his time and valuable input. I’ll continue to share updates as this project progresses.

14 June 2025

Salvation Army Community BBQ Party

Cllr Vince Roberts and I had a lovely afternoon at the summer BBQ hosted by the Connah's Quay Salvation Army on Dee Road. It had been a while since we last caught up with our friends there, and it was a pleasure to reconnect.

Thankfully, the weather stayed dry and the event was filled with friendly conversation. A big thank you to Eveline and David Haines, along with all the volunteers, for organising this much-loved annual gathering. It’s a fantastic way to kick off a busy community calendar that we’re proud to be part of.

Special thanks also to PCSO Gemma Wilde for attending and taking the time to speak with residents—her continued support is always appreciated.

We’re looking forward to many more events like this in the months ahead.

13 June 2025

Helping EJ’s Pigeon & Dove Rescue Continue Its Vital Work

Recently, I was able to deliver two donated bags of feed to the wonderful EJ’s Pigeon & Dove Rescue & Rehab here in Connah’s Quay South. This small, home-run rescue is a vital lifeline for injured, disabled, non-releasable, and unwanted racing pigeons, as well as wild birds from across the area. EJ also provides sanctuary for local foxes and badgers when needed.

The rescue is currently caring for around 100 pigeons and doves. Although space is full, the demand for help never stops. The rescue is entirely self-funded, and the cost of feed is a constant challenge.

A huge thank you to Gary Sibbald for kindly responding when I reached out for help with the feed donation.

Please consider visiting EJ’s Facebook page, giving it a like or follow, and checking out the Amazon wish list pinned at the top. Even the smallest gesture—a bag of feed or a few pounds—makes a real difference to the care of our most vulnerable wildlife. Let’s help keep this local lifeline going.

👉 facebook.com/ejspigeonanddoverehabilitation

12 June 2025

Eye 2 Eye Group for the Sight Impaired

I had a lovely phone chat today with a local lady from our ward who is sight impaired — she described the Eye 2 Eye group as a real lifeline. Based in Garden City, it’s a safe, familiar space where she’s made new friends, really enjoys the activities and found much needed support. 🧡 If you know someone who could benefit from a group like this, please do pass it on. Thank you!

Eye 2 Eye, a registered charity based in Flintshire, a social club for the visually impaired.
Contact: Pauline Ellis - 07521 988108 - email: pauline-ellis@outlook.com

09 June 2025

Wepre Park Waiting Restrictions - Public Consultation

The proposed upcoming waiting restrictions (double yellow lines) around Wepre park have been published and out for public consultation. Full details on the FCC website here: Connah's Quay Prohibition of Waiting (PDF)

This has been in consideration following the plan to introduce parking charges at Wepre Park expected to take place sometime during Summer 2025. Paper copies are available to view on several lamposts around the effective areas, Wepre Lane etc. The consultation is open to objections for 21 days ending Friday 27th June 2025 or by emailing quoting reference number SS/TRO/JB/71 (full details on pdf above).

08 June 2025

Appointed as Town Council Representative to Wepre Park Stakeholder Group

At the recent June Town Council meeting, I was delighted to have been nominated and elected as the Town Council’s representative on the Wepre Park Stakeholder Group.

Biodiversity and conservation are causes I’m passionate about, particularly here in South Ward. I put forward my case during the nomination process and was pleased to receive the support of fellow council members.

The next Stakeholder Group meeting takes place on 11th July, and I’m very much looking forward to attending.

To explain a little more – the Wepre Park Stakeholder Group brings together key organisations and local businesses involved in hosting events and activities at the park. The group meets every two months and plays a vital role in sharing updates, resolving any issues or potential conflicts, and encouraging collaborative working.

Group members include representatives from Flintshire County Council, local councillors, Connah’s Quay Town FC/FC Nomads Youth, Connah’s Quay Angling Club, Friends of Wepre Park, Old Hall Café, and Wepre Parkrun.

📌 Council Minutes Note: 33. REPRESENTATIVE – To agree a Town Council representative to attend future Wepre Park Stakeholder Meetings. Members agreed that Councillor R. Fenwick be the elected representative and to report any relevant information to full council.

28 May 2025

Afternoon Tea at the Connah's Quay OPA

We all had a lovely treat today at the Connah's Quay Old People's Association 🎉💙 Every Wednesday, they host a brilliant bingo session for the over-60s community, and today was one of those special afternoons where we came together to enjoy a delicious afternoon tea before the bingo began. 🍰☕

A huge thank you to the wonderful ladies who organised the food — it was absolutely delicious! 🙌

The Association offers so much more too — members can enjoy free events, day trips, a Christmas party, and more, all helping to create a fantastic sense of companionship and community.

If you or someone you know would benefit from joining, there are still a few places available. Membership costs £21 per year and entitles you to the free day trips, parties etc plus you can enter into the weekly bingo jackpot. Carers can come along as guests but will not be entitled to membership priviledges unless they too become a member. Please contact me for more details or come along on Wednesday afternoon for 1pm - The Bingo usually starts around 2pm after everyone has enjoyed a cup of tea and biscuits and the weekly raffle.

27 May 2025

👶🌳 New Local Baby Groups Starting Next Month!

First session is a walk at Wepre Park on Wednesday 11th June 10-11am. Ideal for new parents & those looking to connect/make friends with other local parents.

Advance booking required 👉https://bookwhen.com/cibsiryfflint (opens a new window)

21 May 2025

Training Courses

This evening I attended a New Councillor Induction training session with 'One Voice Wales'.

'One Voice Wales' serves as the principal organisation (ombudsman) representing community and town councils across Wales, offering a range of services to support and strengthen their work.

A wide range of training courses are offered throughout the year, supporting ongoing development. Each councillor is encouraged to take responsibility for their own training programme, ensuring they stay up to date and continue to grow in their role. With the exception of the mandatory Code of Conduct session, these are optional and allow each councillor to choose topics that align with their interests or areas of focus. I’ve registered for six additional courses over July and August, including one on biodiversity. I’m particularly looking forward to that session, as I hope to build on my current knowledge and explore how it can be applied to help improve our town.

20 May 2025

Flintshire Dementia Awareness Network

Today, Cllr Vince Roberts and I attended the Flintshire Dementia Awareness Network event, joining many local groups, carers, and organisations. It was fantastic to see such a strong turnout for this first session, which focused on making connections and beginning important conversations about how we can work together to create a more dementia-friendly and inclusive Flintshire.

As community councillors, one of our key responsibilities is to help signpost residents to the right support. Events like this are invaluable in helping us understand what services are available and how we can better connect people with them.

We’ll certainly be attending future sessions. Dementia affects so many of us in different ways, and early support can make a real difference. There is help out there—and by working together, we can make sure people know where to find it. 💜.

18 May 2025

Buzzy Bee Day Event at Wepre Park

We had a fantastic time at Buzzy Bee Day in Wepre Park, celebrating World Bee Day!

It was a real highlight to meet entomologist Richard Dawson, who led several engaging guided tours. His expert knowledge helped us catch and identify a wide variety of insects - kids (and grown-ups!) really enjoyed it!

Thanks to Amanda and Harry from the FCC Biodiversity team for sharing their insights, to The Little Honey House for their brilliant live hive displays, and to the Friends of Wepre Park for putting on such a well-organised and enjoyable event.

And of course, a special shout-out to Ste, our Countryside Ranger, who always goes above and beyond to make these events a success for the community 👏

The turnout was great, with lots of families enjoying the day. It was heartwarming to see children so curious and enthusiastic about nature. We left having learned a lot - and with big smiles on our faces! I will always be happy to support events like this.

17 May 2025

May 2025 Town Council Meetings

I attended both the Town Council's monthly meeting on 7th May 2025 and the Annual General Meeting on 14th May 2025.

The agendas and official minutes for both meetings are available on the Town Council’s website: View Meeting Documents.

The meetings are open to the public unless otherwise stated on the Agenda. This would be stated as ‘Part 2 – Exclusion of Press and Public’. If you wish to join virtually via Zoom, please contact the Town Clerk to request the meeting ID no later than 4pm on the Monday prior to the meeting.

Please note that members of the public may only speak on items listed on the agenda, and the Chair may apply time limits to public contributions.

16 May 2025

Update & Connah's Quay Town Council AGM

This week has been just as busy. On Monday 12th, I attended the Friends of Wepre Park bi-monthly meeting. With my strong interest in conservation, I was pleased to receive a warm welcome and hear updates on the group’s fantastic work to improve our beloved Wepre Park.

Wednesday was the Town Council’s AGM, where I’m delighted to announce I was voted to represent the Connah’s Quay Old People’s Association. Alongside my partner, Cllr Vince Roberts of Central Ward, we volunteer there every Wednesday, and I’m excited to now support the group in an official capacity. I was also elected to the members’ panel, and with Vince honoured as Vice-Chair, I will serve as his official consort and very proud to support him in this role. Congratulations to all the new committee members on their appointments!

On Friday, I attended the Wepre Park Stakeholders meeting, which was another great opportunity to connect with new contacts and gain insight into how the various groups work together to support the park.

13 May 2025

Uniper Targeted Consultation – Have Your Say

Following the statutory consultation held in November 2024, many residents will now have received updated literature from Uniper regarding changes to their original proposals for the Connah’s Quay project.

From 8th May to 6th June 2025, Uniper is holding a targeted consultation focused specifically on the proposed design changes. This is an opportunity for residents to review the updated documentation and provide feedback. Please take the time to read through the material provided.

📝 You can submit your feedback directly via the Uniper website. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the ‘Submit Your Feedback’ box:
👉 https://uniperuk.consulting/cqlcp/project-consultation-documents-3

📬 You can also contact the Community Relations Team with any questions or comments:
📞 Telephone: 0800 0129156
📧 Email: info@connahsquaylcp.co.uk
✉️ Post: FREEPOST CQLCP (no stamp required)

Please help ensure as many people as possible are informed and able to take part in the consultation.

08 May 2025

Lighting of the Beacon - VE Day

Vince and I were so proud to attend the ‘Lighting of the Beacon’ ceremony this evening at Dock Road, Connah’s Quay.

It was a moving and emotional commemoration — with heartfelt readings in both English and Welsh, speeches, a stirring hymn, and a poignant two-minute silence.

A huge thank you to all who organised such a respectful and meaningful evening, and to the many members of our community who came out to pay tribute together.

07 May 2025

First Week Update

I was very pleased to attend my first Town Council meeting this week and received a really warm welcome. It’s been a busy start—I've already begun making introductions to local people and organisations, and I’ve started taking on casework too. Several residents have been in touch with enquiries; some have already been resolved, while others are ongoing but moving in the right direction. I’ve also repurposed my website and am in the process of bringing it up to date. There’s lots to do, but I’m enjoying every moment of it.

01 May 2025

Election Day. Thank you South Ward!

I'm delighted to announce that I’ve been elected as Town Councillor for Connah’s Quay South.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who came out to vote — and especially to those who placed their standing. The results speak for themselves, and I’m honoured to represent our community.

My role as councillor begins immediately. I've completed all formalities and am now officially available — so if there’s anything I can help with, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

582 – Rachael Fenwick (Independent)
134 – Chris Risley (Welsh Labour)
103 – Dave Vernon (Independent)

Thank you also to Chris and Dave for standing in the election and giving residents a choice. Putting yourself forward is no small undertaking, and I respect their commitment. I appreciate their kind congratulations following the result.