A lot has happened since the last issue of Wave. Following on from the March litter pick, there have been multiple requests for another one. So, the next litter pick is on Saturday 2 July, meeting up at the community garden off Highfield Lane at 10am for a 10:30am start. Equipment will be provided, and everyone is welcome to come along. Do chat to your local WCC councillors who will be attending too.

Waverley families

Last September Aughton Early Year’s (AEY) approached the WCC for grant funding towards specific activities for new parents and their new born babies. The upshot is that AEY ran an active bounce & play session, Gulliver’s Town Tots, Splash Time, Baby Sensory Christmas party, and a Bloom taster session.

This enabled AEY to provide over 300 slots of activities to Waverley families, the feedback was that these were all well received and have strengthened the relationships with Waverley families.

On the back of this success, AEY approached the WCC again for grant funding for this new financial year. Another Gulliver’s session, family swim, play mania and a messy play session are planned and for the slightly older children they will work with SJD Sports to offer activities and a picnic in the park. Aughton Early Years are delivering these directly, but when you have a chance to join-in we’d love to get your feedback on which session you preferred and why.

In addition to this, the Clerk is doing some engagement work with new parents. This kicked-off in June at a coffee morning, and will include attending another session at the Wintergreen babies’ group and then a playgroup session at the Catcliffe Memorial Hall in July.

Planning

In response to residents’ comments, the WCC also objected to the Waterside development, and insisted that if it went ahead there would be provisions for a defibrillator and throw rope, as the development will go close to the Lakes.

Unfortunately, Rotherham Council permitted the planning application, but Barrett’s acquiesced to our requests. We have also objected to the Sky-houses development (RB2022/1866) near Olive Lane, we await the date for the Rotherham Planning Board meeting, to exercise the ‘right to speak’. Again, this has been done on behalf of resident’s feedback.

Waverley Funday

This is taking place on Saturday 24 June, is not so far away. The caretaker at the Waverley Junior Academy is kindly working with us to ensure we can get the stalls in place early, and will be there until the end, so we can clean-up and leave the playground as we found it.

It is an absolute pleasure to work on these community events with residents. It really shows that the community spirit is here and is impacting on our positivity and wellbeing. While there will be some fundraising by the WCC (towards a defibrillator at the Catcliffe Corner), as well as Rotherham Hospital and the local Junior Academy too, entrance will be free and so will some of the activities like the outdoor giant garden games, the inflatables, watching the dance performers, meeting the fire brigade, and maybe having a little dance too.

For those who did not make the Harworth consultation event at the end of May, there will be another chance to see their information boards at the Funday, and provide comment.

Rachel Graham, Clerk