RESIDENTS in Hatch Warren and Beggarwood are being encouraged to find out how they can shape where they live by coming along to a drop-in session next month.

The session, taking place between 10am and noon on Saturday, 9 March at Beggarwood Community Centre, will give residents the chance to find out more about what a community-led plan is and how they can get involved.

The aim of a community-led plan is to involve residents in identifying the key issues and priorities that affect them within their community and develop projects and actions to address them.

They also offer the community an opportunity to find innovative solutions to local needs and to encourage community action.

Once a group has been formed they can, working with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, begin to create a new vision and community-led action plan.

This will identify what challenges the community would like to see addressed, who would be the best group or organisation to take these forward and when they could realistically be achieved.

Cabinet member for communities and community safety Councillor Simon Bound said: “The aim of creating a community-led plan for your area is to improve the quality of life for people living and working in Hatch Warren and Beggarwood, meaning information can be better shared between partner organisations and communities so that local priorities or constraints are understood.

“This type of project can really bring the community together in a common purpose and give residents the opportunity to help shape the area they live in as well as offering a valuable opportunity for local residents, organisations and service providers to work together on local issues.”

For more information, go to basingstoke.gov.uk/community-planning or contact Jennie Gardner by phone on 07584 396256 or by email at jennie.gardner@basingstoke.gov.uk.