PEOPLE in Overton will be offered free advice at a new parish council office in the village.

Advice on issues to do with fly-tipping, dog fouling and grass cutting will be available at the new facility.

Residents will also be able to raise their problems, which will be discussed by local councillors at parish council meetings.

At the latest parish council meeting, it was agreed to set up an office for a trial period in the centre of the village.

Overton Parish Council chairman Alan Whitney said: “I don’t think many people in the village know about the parish council and the help it can provide.

“What I would like is for people to know the name of the parish council clerk and be able to ask for help with problems they have. In some ways this is just catching up with lots of other areas.”

At the moment, the parish council has an office at St Mary’s Hall, in the High Street. However, due to its small space, it is treated as a storage space for council documents.

A location or launch date for the office has not yet been agreed, although discussions are ongoing about it being hosted at the new youth club in Overton High Street, which is due to open in September.

Ward member for Overton, Councillor Paula Baker, said: “I like the idea in principle of having an office in the village.

“However, I think a trial period of two or three months would be sensible so we can see if it’s a useful addition, and if not then we can come up with a better idea.”