Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

The new council - impersonnal, impractical, inopportune ?
In case you aren't aware of the fact, Wiltshire Council will come into effect on 1st April 2009, when the county's local district councils are taken over by the county council. It is anticipated (by those that don't wear rose tinted spectacles) that the 'improvement' will bring increased council tax and more difficult access to many services.

Now, local people are being asked to help shape the new council. Four roadshows across the county will be asking visitors to come up with three words to sum-up what the council will mean to them.

"We didn't think it was right to spend council tax payers' money employing a costly ad agency. Instead we want to ask local people about how they would like to see their new council and what they think are the important issues," explained Jane Scott who chairs the new council's implementation executive, and probably sees herself as the new Leader.

People visiting next week's roadshows will be able to find out more about their new council and chat to council staff. They will be asked to come up with three words that represent their new council. Their efforts will put them into a prize draw which could win them a day for two at a local spa - the four prizes which are worth up to £200 each have been donated by local hotels and businesses.

The local roadshow will be between 10.00am and 2.00pm in the exhibition vehicle parked in Trowbridge Fore Street on Wednesday September 3.

If you think the new council will be an improvement, send your three words of praise to Jane Scott. If you're not so sure, please send your three words to me using the 'Contact me' link above. No prizes from me, I'm afraid!!.