Chance to share views about life in the Whixall area
People who live or work in the communities that make up the parish of Whixall are invited to share their local knowledge about life in the area at a one-off evening event on Thursday 2 February 2012.
People need to contact the council rather than turn up on the night, as there is a limit of 30 places, and places need to be reserved by noon on Thursday 26 January 2012.
The ideal is to have a mix of people of different ages and interests, and from different communities right across the parish. Eight people had signed up as at noon on Friday 13 January 2012, while there will also be three parish councillors taking part to share the parish council perspective.
Councillors Chris Mellings and Pauline Dee, the Shropshire Councillors for the area, said:
“We are keen to hear from people who may not have been involved in anything before but would be able to share an evening with us and each other, as well as from people already active in the community who want to give their views. This will help us build on the good stuff that is already happening in Whixall, including the parish plan that was produced by the community a little while back. In this way, we can make sure that we have the best quality information possible about life across the whole of the parish, based on local knowledge and views. The information will really help shape how we meet the future needs of our communities.”
Shropshire Council is looking for between 16 and 30 local people to take part in the event, from young people aged 11 years old and up and their parents, right through to people who have retired. The council will then be mixing people up on group discussion tables to share their local knowledge and views with each other.
The event will be held at the Social Centre on Thursday 2 February 2012, with refreshments from 6.30pm ahead of a 7pm start. The event will finish at around 9.45pm. There will also be a midpoint break for light refreshments and cakes, which are due to be provided by the cookery club at the school.
The event will use an interactive approach, in use with rural parishes and market towns in Shropshire, and based on a set of questions about what makes a community sustainable. The same questions are asked wherever it is used, so the answers can be used as a guideline for planning priorities and community priorities in that area. People will also be asked to give their views on what community benefits might be important to the area, and help their community develop and thrive in the future.
Councillor Gwilym Butler, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for community working, added:
“We need people to take part to tell us what it is like in this area, its positives and negatives. This will form a base for us to work together to plan for the future, delivering what the community wants and needs, and helping shape local planning policy in the process.”
Anyone interested in taking part in the event should contact Lois Dale by noon on Thursday 26 January 2012, either on telephone number 01743 255667 or via email to lois.dale@shropshire.gov.uk.
