Community Fairs given an extra dimension
The second series of Fenland District Council’s Community Fairs will give people more opportunities to raise concerns about crime and antisocial behaviour and to discuss other pressing local issues.
Each of the six fairs, which start next month, will have an extra meeting attached to it, focusing mainly on community safety issues and encouraging a wider debate on police priorities.
The first fair in this year’s series will be held at the Manor Leisure Centre in Whittlesey on Tuesday, March 9, with five more following over the next two months (see panel).
Cllr Steve Garratt, chairman of the Whittlesey Neighbourhood Management Board, said: “The first round of fairs proved a really worthwhile exercise, giving a lot of people the chance to engage with the council and all its key partners in a relaxed and informal way. Now we want to take that approach a step further.
“In particular, these extra meetings will make it easier for the public to have a greater say in influencing police priorities. But they will also enable people in each area to discuss other issues that are important to them in more detail. People will be able to go just to the fair or just the meeting afterwards or both – whatever suits them best. It’s a ‘pick’n’mix’ arrangement.
“What we’re trying to do is enable the whole community to become actively involved in deciding what goes on in their particular patch. We’re particularly keen to get young people along to enable them to have their say about the issues that most affect them.”
The additional meetings will be called “neighbourhood forums”.
The fairs will be very similar to those held throughout the district last autumn. They will include stalls offering advice, help and free handouts on a wide range of subjects, including benefits, health, energy efficiency and crime prevention. To encourage families to attend there will also be various fun activities and competitions for children. Free transport will be provided for those who need it.
The new-style fairs are being trialled for a year. Some changes have been made following local people’s feedback on the previous round.
There are five new venues to make them more easily accessible and, where practicable, each one will be organised into clearly defined “special interest” zones – with, for example, one for children and others on safety or skills. There will also be more stalls offering activities that residents can take part in.
THE FAIRGROUNDS
Here are the details of the fairs and accompanying forums:
- Whittlesey: Tuesday, March 9. Manor Leisure Centre, 4-7pm. Neighbourhood Forum, 7pm
- Rural South (covering the parishes of Benwick, Christchurch, Doddington, Manea and Wimblington): Saturday, March 13. Doddington Village Hall, 10am-1pm. Neighbourhood Forum, 1pm
- Chatteris: Wednesday, March 17. Cromwell Community College, 5-8pm. Neighbourhood Forum, 7pm
- March: Saturday, April 17. March Market Place and Town Hall, 9am-12 noon. Neighbourhood Forum, 12 noon
- Rural North (covering the parishes of Elm, Gorefield, Leverington, Newton, Parson Drove, Tydd St Giles and Wisbech St Mary): Saturday, April 24. Wisbech St Mary Village Hall, 11am-2pm. Neighbourhood Forum, 2pm
- Wisbech: Thursday, April 29. Queen Mary Centre, 4-7pm. Neighbourhood Forum, 7pm