People living in the Ellesmere area and villages south of Oswestry have the chance to get involved in local government this week.

Two Local Joint Committees, set up by Shropshire Council and involving town and parish councillors, will be held. The first is at Hordley and Bagley Hall today, where public transport will be a main item on the agenda, and the second is at Cockshutt Millennium Hall tomorrow.

People from Whittington, West Felton, Ruyton-XI-Towns, Hordley and Baschurch are welcome to go along to the Five Perry Parishes meeting at 7pm tonight.

A member of the local policing team will also be on hand to hear any concerns or issues that people have and there will be time set aside for residents to raise any other problems in the area.

Committee officer, Mr Tim Ward, said: “The local joint committee is an excellent way for local people to be able to get involved in decisions about their community and to question councillors or council officers about decisions they have made or want to make.

“It also provides an opportunity for residents to put forward their own views.”

Residents of the Ellesmere area are invited to attend the meeting of the Ellesmere Local Joint Committee on Wednesday at Cockshutt Millennium Hall.

The main item on the agenda for the meeting will be Shropshire Council’s Market Towns Revitalisation Programme, which is to give major grants to towns including Ellesmere to help its economy.

There will also be a presentation from Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Brian Williams, the chairman of the Ellesmere committee said: “This meeting is a great opportunity for local people to find out more about services in this area. More importantly, it will give them the chance to tell us what they think, and whether these services could or should be improved.”

Both committees will make decisions on funding applications received.

By Sue Austin