Children pick ‘Vantastic’ names for Play Ranger Service fleet

Primary school children have helped bring to life a fleet bringing play opportunities to youngsters across Denbighshire.

The Play Ranger Service’s three fleet vans are sporting new identities thanks to a competition run across schools to give them a name.

Operating from the Oaktree Centre in Rhyl, the service provides open access play opportunities for communities across the county by using its fleet of three vans which includes two EV vehicles.

A Fiat e-Scudo medium van joined two Peugeot Partner vehicles this year, one of which is EV powered, to boost the Play Ranger Fleet. The new addition was supported by funding from the Welsh Government Energy Service and All Wales Play Opportunities Grants.

The additional EV helps the Play Ranger Service provide greener miles and lower costs and maintenance for the running of the scheme.

Denbighshire County Council declared a climate and nature emergency in 2019 and has since been adopting zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) into its fleet. Currently, more than 20% of its vehicles in its fleet are made up of ZEVs.

Thanks to winning schools Ysgol Melyd, Gellifor and St Asaph VP, the three vans are now known as Myfanwy, Vantastic and The Play Ranger Rover.

Each of the three schools had a visit during the International Day of Play held recently from the van they had helped name.

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport said: “Well done to the children for picking such fantastic names for this important fleet of vans. This trio help bring joy and fun to many, many children across our county and it’s lovely to see the youngsters giving it back to the service to help give their fleet vans an identity and character while out on the roads of Denbighshire.”