All I want for Christmas….. is a Community Centre!
We are excited to announce that the Waverley Community Hub is completed! We’ve put in a lot of effort preparing for a December opening, only to be held back by staffing challenges. It’s frustrating for us, especially when you’re so close to opening fully and momentum gets interrupted. Fingers crossed we have resolved this and can open early 2026!
We reflected on when we last consulted the community back in 2023 about what the Waverley Community Hub would need to deliver. You asked for amongst other things, space to gather for club meetings, attend fitness classes, hire for private parties, host a youth club and seasonal craft fayre. You also wanted a kitchen with a fridge to store party food, access to the Wi-Fi, large screen to connect to, a mini-library and many other fantastic ideas. The Hub has all of these.
We’ve been laying the groundwork for the Hub to become more than just a venue, but a real community space. Even if the full rollout is delayed, the fact is that we’re already planning resident-focused activities to ensure long-term impact and engagement on the community. By the time this goes to print, we should have a few more internal pictures for you to look at www.waverley-cc.gov.uk/community-centre-build
The National Lottery team who has been with us through this journey visited the community centre site in early November and were pleased to see the Community Centre moving towards completion. They are hopefully coming back in June 2026 to see it in use while we host the next Funday.
More Christmas magic awaits you
We’re starting Christmas early in Waverley, and as is the tradition, we’ll be dressing the tree gifted by Harworth in Central Park on Saturday 29 November at 11am. Please do come and join us. It’s a great opportunity to place baubles on the tree and chat to the councillors.
The Christmas light-switch on is Saturday 6 December starting at 4:30pm at Olive Lane. This will be a lovely event for all of the family. There’ll be a brass band, Santa’s grotto, Elf on the Shelf, food and drinks stalls and the light switch on.
As ‘Elsa’ and ‘Spiderman’ had such a lovely time at our Summer Fun Day, Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes have arranged for some more special guests to come along to the Olive Lane event – a big thank you to them for supporting another event.
Remembrance Sunday
This November, residents came together for a heartfelt outdoor Remembrance Sunday service in Waverley, led by our very own Reverend Philip from the Rivers Team Ministry. Held near the memorial totem and bench, the gathering offered a peaceful space for reflection—where community members could pause to honour and remember loved ones who are no longer with us.
The memorial bench remains a quiet and meaningful spot for anyone wishing to take a moment of remembrance throughout the year.
Family Forest Fun
Over 100 people from Waverley families enjoyed fun forest sessions during October half term facilitated by Angela from Adventuring Angels and funded by WCC. They enjoyed making broom sticks, magic leaf wands and stickeltons in the woods here in Waverley. There will be more sessions for Waverley families during the Christmas holidays.
Keep an eye out for more information soon on the Adventuring Angels Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/forestforeveryone and the WCC website and Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/waverleycommunitycouncil
Gritting in winter
Most of the roads across Waverley are unadopted. Adopted roads (Mitchell Way, Stephenson Way, parts of Wensley Road, Ashbourne Road and Matlock Way as well as all of Parwich Court) are the responsibility of RMBC, but minor side roads won’t be gritted. It is usually only bus routes that are gritted.
Highfield Land and Lescar Road will be gritted by Rotherham Council this winter, as well as Poplar Way as usual.
The grit bins across Waverley have been left by various developers for residents. The grit bin locations are; top of Tideswell Walk, corner of Cressbrook Road with Stephenson Way, end of Rowsley Drive, Ashbourne Way (junction with Calver Way), and Ashford Court. Harworth provided three more grit bins including one near the school, another near Autumn Fields and one around Catcliffe corner pond off Highfield Lane. Harworth will ensure these are refilled for residents before winter, and residents are then welcome to use the salt.
Residents can become a snow warden. Rotherham Council will provide you with equipment (snow shovel, hi-vis), grit and some training all for free. More information can be found on their website: www.rotherham.gov.uk/winter-roads/snow-warden
Precept
The WCC, like many parish and town councils, is funded by an annual payment, or precept, which in Waverley is part of your council tax bill from Rotherham Council.
The WCC have begun discussing the budget for the next financial year, with our precept request usually submitted to Rotherham Council by February 2025. Agendas and minutes of meetings are in the public domain via the website and residents are welcome to come and listen to meetings. Once agreed by the WCC members, the precept summary is placed on the website in February too. The April council tax bill will include the proportion of money to come to the WCC.
In the past year we’ve supported the Waverley Buds, held our summer Fun Day (and Christmas light-switch on) at Olive Lane, provided funding towards the Forest School run by Adventuring Angels, and completed the Community Hub.
The WCC budget for 2026-27 will include the running cost of the new Community Hub and the relevant staff. We’ll also be looking for grants to support activities at the Hub.
If you are interested in the WCC proportion of your council tax bill, do come to the next two meetings. All details can be found on our website: www.waverley-cc.gov.uk/council-meetings
