Last updated at 15:35, Wednesday, 19 August 2009

Our local neighbourhood forum has always been about giving the people of Aspatria a voice. It was set up fifteen years ago by the County Council and is still working hard supporting local projects and representing the interests of Aspatria residents. Pat Ackred works for the forum and is the local neighbourhood development officer. It's a long title but Pat has a key role. The forum ensures that everyone gets to have their say.

Neighbourhood Forum Meeting

As Pat says, "We're there to bridge the gap between the County Council and the community."

The group runs regular local drop in sessions and larger meetings four times a year around the area inviting anyone to attend and raise matters of local concern. The beauty is that each meeting is attended by representatives from the County Council, District Council, Police and Health Authorities or any other group which we think may contribute to solving local issues or concerns.

The role of the forum is as varied as the concerns raised by residents and it's success is down to nothing more complicated than getting everyone with an opinion and an influence into one room to talk. 

The value of the Neighbourhood Forum is not just in its role as an arbitrator but as a supporter of local schemes and projects which bring benefits to the local community.

Pat said, "We can offer support to local groups and projects by providing advice and funding. it doesn't have to be a ground breaking project; small schemes can make a big difference to a community. We've provided grants for  village halls and funded a Stepping Stones project for local people with learning difficulties. It's this grass roots support which often gets neglected when larger organisations are given responsibility for local funding. We really can work at an individual level and help to provide a local presence for the County Council."

Details of Drop In sessions and quarterly meetings are listed on the Neighbourhood Forum section of this website.

Meeting details are on the What's on page

First published at 10:57, Tuesday, 29 July 2008
Published by http://www.aspatrialocal.co.uk