Power to the people of South Norfolk's Eastern Rivers!

Residents of South Norfolk's eastern river valleys get a chance to set the agenda for community improvement next week when the first Neighbourhood Forum opens at Hobart High School, Loddon.

The chairman of the Forum, and the council's Deputy Leader have both urged local people to come along and identify any problem hot spots for action and make strong representations for ways that could improve their local area.

That includes any comments they wish to make on possible future local government reorganisation.

The Eastern River Valleys Neighbourhood Forum, set up by South Norfolk Council, meets at Hobart High School on Thursday 22 November at 7.30pm.

That meeting is the first step in a process of preliminary work towards developing future improvement projects in the eastern rivers valleys area, which could attract council backing of up to £2,000 per project.

South Norfolk Deputy Leader Councillor Martin Wilby, who announced the five council Forums earlier this year said:

"Neighbourhood working is a priority for the new council.

"The council's new total neighbourhood package devolves power to local communities giving them the ability to take decisions and make things happen in their local area.

"We know that small grants go a long way in communities where volunteers run projects."

Council Leader, Councillor John Fuller said this is also a chance for local people to have their say on local government reorganisation and how it could affect their lives.

He has just chaired a summit meeting with over 100 town, parish and district councillors to debate the issue and draw up an agenda for action.

He said:

"Councils in Norfolk are being put in an impossible position by the demands to carve-up local government by the end of the month, but South Norfolk remains the only council which is consulting with residents about how councils in Norfolk might look for the next 100 years.

"This and every other South Norfolk Forum meeting is a vital opportunity to tell us how you feel about this rushed reorganisation."

The Eastern River Valleys Forum covers a big area from Trowse with Newton, Kirby Bedon and Surlingham to Burgh St Peter and Geldeston and from Shotesham to Norton subcourse and Haddiscoe.

Councillor Tony Game, who will chair the Forum, said:

"It is important to understand the very distinct needs and priorities of each part of our community. This is a chance to achieve that by helping neighbourhoods to take charge of their own area with assistance to obtain things that are out of reach.

"This will improve neighbourhoods and community spirit. But to achieve this, local people must be prepared to attend and put forward their case."

South Norfolk Council has set up five neighbourhood forums across the district and set aside a total of £138,000 to back community projects.

These projects will emerge through meetings like this one at Hobart High School and elsewhere.

The full list of Neighbourhood Forum meetings in November is as follows:

Norwich Fringe: 7.30pm on 21 November at Little Melton Village Hall; Chairman Cllr Margaret Dewsbury 01603 759653

Eastern River Valleys: 7.30pm on 22 November at Hobart High School; Chairman Cllr Tony Game 01603 518077

Central: 7.30pm on 28 November at South Norfolk Council, Long Stratton; Chairman Cllr Hedley Smith 01953 789168

Waveney Valley: 7.30pm on 29 November at Dickleburgh Village Hall; Chairman Cllr Tony Palmer 01379 640925

Wymondham and West: 7pm on 30 November at Fairland Church, Wymondham; Chairman Cllr Joe Mooney 01953 604482

Related pages

• Latest news