A NEW initiative taking parish councillors in Williton into their local community will be launched on Wednesday (March 5).

The council will hold a public meeting in the Danesborough View meeting room to give villagers the chance to raise any issues they may have.

The meeting, which will begin at 7pm, is the first of what could be a series of 'surgeries' held in different locations in the parish.

The scheme, thought up by council chairman Cllr Robert McDonald, follows a poor response to a number of public meetings in the last few months on specific issues, including anti-social behaviour.

Cllr McDonald suggested that if the community would not come to the council, then the council should go out to the people.

Councillors have pledged that Wednesday's meeting will be totally informal and will have no agenda.

"It is aimed at residents, young and old, to meet their parish councillors and discuss informally ways they can help parishioners," said a spokesman.