A NEW forum aimed at giving residents in the south of Selby district a stronger voice about their local services will be launched on Thursday.

The first meeting of the Southern Area Community Engagement Forum will take place at Chapel Haddlesey Church Hall, starting at 6.30pm.

The forum has been set up to give residents a chance to make their views known to a number of organisations delivering local services, including Selby District Council, North Yorkshire County Council, North Yorkshire Police, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and the area’s parish councils. It covers the whole of the southern part of the Selby district in an area from Hambleton to Drax and from Burn to Kirk Smeaton.

Coun Cliff Lunn, chairman of the new group, said: “What you say through your new engagement forum could make a very positive difference to your life and your community. “The forum will give you a chance to have a say direct to the people delivering your services. It’s also an opportunity for the organisations involved to work more closely together to meet local needs, as it focuses our efforts so we can use our resources effectively to meet your needs.”

The launch of the forum follows a successful pilot in the Tadcaster area, where a similar group has enabled people to raise issues of concern and work alongside the organisations involved to improve things in their local area. As a direct result of what people have said at the Tadcaster and Villages Forum, new night marshal street patrols and extra late-night CCTV coverage have been introduced. Improvements have also been made to Tadcaster’s bus station and there are plans for new facilities for young people based on the issues raised by residents through the group.

On Thursday, before the formal meeting at 7pm, there will be a chance for people to speak informally to representatives of the organisations involved. For those who wish to raise comments, but who prefer not to do so at the public meeting, there will be a chance to have a say through a comments board or anonymous post box. For more information about the new forum and the ongoing work with the Tadcaster and Villages forum, log on to selby.gov.uk/cef