“BY staying apart, we’re saving lives, and helping to keep Wrexham as safe as it can be”, the council’s leader has said.

Cllr Mark Pritchard message about maintaining social distancing comes within the daily news updates from Wrexham County Borough Council.

The most recent update says that from next week, March 30, home to school transport will be suspended until further notice across the county.

The statement, jointly given from Cllr Pritchard and the council’s chief executive Ian Bancroft, said: “As you know, schools in Wrexham have been providing places for the children of ‘key workers’, as well as children registered as vulnerable.

“From Monday, March 30, home to school transport will be suspended until further notice across the county borough. This is to reduce non-essential travel and to ensure social distancing of children.

“The take-up of home to school transport has been extremely low this week, which also contributed to the decision.”

It was confirmed that SEN (special education needs) home to school transport will continue for children travelling to their usual facilities.

The statement also addresses free school meal provision.

Cllr Pritchard said: “We’re working hard to put in place measures to provide free school meals to children who aren’t in school at the moment.

“This is a huge challenge for councils across Wales and we’re looking into using some of our own premises to distribute ‘grab and go’ food bags which contain a packed lunch.

“We can produce sufficient numbers, we just need to find the most effective distribution method. We don’t want to crowd schools or create unnecessary gatherings, so will need to plan carefully.

The note adds that in order to help workers providing critical services for the public, the council will be suspending all charging in council-owned public car parks from March 25.

The suspension of charging in our car parks is only to support those going about delivering critical services and doing essential food shopping.

The council stresses that people should not be travelling or leaving their homes unless it is in line with the Government’s latest instructions.

It is said in the update that, whilst public footpaths remain open, users must adhere to social distancing.

It is also referenced that reports are being made of people continuing to use council-owned play areas despite them being closed to the public until further notice on Monday, March 23.

Confirmation was given that gas servicing of council houses will continue across the county borough as normal.

Other news from the briefing includes the cancellation on the council’s Planning Committee scheduled for April due to the ‘impact coronavirus has had on planning and building control services’.