Good turn out for new community forums

The first two new-look Community Forum meetings in Herefordshire have been well-supported by members of the public keen to raise issues for partner agencies to address.

The meetings at the Hinton Community Hall in South Wye and Hereford Shirehall both attracted nearly 30 local people and brought forward a number of issues for action.

The meetings, on Tuesday and Wednesday last week, were the first in a pilot round of Community Forums – Partners And Communities Together meetings.  The new format is interactive and allows people the chance to put their issues forward and onto the agendas of partner agencies such as Herefordshire Council and West Mercia Police.

With no presentations and very little in the way of a formal agenda, the meetings are a simple and easy way to highlight areas of concern.

Issues raised included parking, littering and anti-social behaviour in Hollybush Walk and surrounding areas in Hinton, skateboarding and cycling in the city centre, misuse of box junctions and underage drinking in High Town.

Following the meeting, representatives of the partner agencies met to consider all the issues raised and task them for action.  A full report on the progress made with each issue will be given at the next round of Community Forums in February 2007.

Once the pilot series of meetings has concluded in November, a thorough evaluation will take place and a decision made on the future shape of Community Forums.  This could include making changes which will mean they need approval at a full meeting of Herefordshire Council.

“It was very pleasing to see a good turn-out for the first two meetings in the new-look series of Community Forums and the new format seemed to be well received,” said Chief Inspector Sue Thomas, who is in charge of Local Policing in Herefordshire.

“Many interesting issues were raised and we were able to give some instant feedback on the night in several cases as solutions were already underway.  In other cases, the partner agencies have met to consider the issues and will make sure they are dealt with over the next three months.”

The remaining Community Forum meetings take place at the following venues (all start at 7.30pm):

• Hereford Rural area – Credenhill Village Hall, Tuesday 14 November
• Ledbury area – St Katherine’s Hall, Ledbury, Wednesday 15 November
• Bromyard area – The Bromyard Centre, Bromyard, Thursday 16 November
• Leominster area – Green Lane Methodist Church, Leominster, Tuesday 21 November
• Kington area – Lady Hawkins Leisure Centre, Kington, Wednesday 22 November
• Ross-on-Wye area – The Ryefield Centre, Ross-on-Wye, Monday 27 November
• Golden Valley area – Golden Valley Community Centre, Peterchurch, Wednesday 29 November