Have your say at community meeting (From This is The West Country)

Have your say at community meeting

8:00am Monday 29th October 2012 in News Exclusive By Kirsty James

A MASSIVE community meeting will be held next month to encourage people to have their say on key issues.

The meeting, which also aims to form a committee of residents, will be held on November 29 at Bridgwater College Academy, formally East Bridgwater School.

The committee will prioritise funding opportunities, air concerns and give people a say on what they want to see happening in their community.

Councillor Ian Tucker, who is helping to organise the meeting, told the Mercury: “We noticed that not many people were turning up to the Police PACT meetings and were missing out on having a say.

“It is very important residents know what is available, exactly where to go for help and are aware of future plans.

“There are a lot of key issues which will impact many people’s lives in Bridgwater and this meeting will provide a great opportunity to discuss them.”

Cllr Tucker said the original plan was to hold a fairly small meeting but many organisations have got involved, including the Citizen’s Advice Bureaux, fire brigade, police, Rollercoaster and Sydenham Children's Centre, housing associations and development representatives.

People will also have a chance to question staff from EDF on the impact the company will have on the community, including the creation of jobs.

There is even a competition, organised by the Sydenham and Bower councillors, for children in the four surrounding schools to design a picture for the front cover of leaflets advertising the meeting, which will be distributed on the coming weeks.

The competition will be judged this morning (October 29) at Bridgwater House by the mayor and Cllr David Loveridge, County Councillor for the Sydenham and Bower wards, has secured funding for five Galaxy tablets and two sets of earphones as prizes.

The overall winner will get a tablet and a set of top earphones and his or her picture will be used on the front cover of the leaflet.

The winners will be revealed when they are awarded their prizes at the meeting.