COUNCILLORS in Newton Abbot will be back on the streets again for this year’s annual town meeting.

The meeting will return to Courtenay Street on Saturday May 16 with free crafts and face-to-face meetings with councillors.

Although the event is not an official town council one, the authority stages it on behalf of the community.

Similar meetings take place across the country but are usually held in council offices and often in the evening when many people prefer to be at home.

But for more than a decade, Newton Abbot’s Annual Meeting has taken place among shoppers on busy Saturday mornings.

This year is no exception with members, officers and museum staff on hand from 10am to 1.30pm.

All will be happy discuss matters of local interest, listen to suggestions or offer information about local events.

With Teignbridge District Council’s refurbishment of the Market Hall and Market Walk nearing completion, and its launch of a survey on further regeneration projects, Mayor Cllr Colin Parker is certain people will have plenty to talk about.

‘Our town centre has seen so much change in recent years, not least in Queen Street and now the Market area, I’m sure residents will have opinions they want to share,’ he said.

‘And we want to hear those opinions, perhaps explain which authority has been leading the recent changes and correct any misunderstandings that have understandably come about.

‘There’s also the prospect of Local Government Reorganisation and what the implications might be for Newton Abbot as a community and us as a town council.

‘Could it mean opportunities to take more control of our own destiny or might there be a risk we’ll become even more remote from decision-making of the authority that replaces the current district and county structures?

‘Members of our museum team will also be on hand to share their excitement about the new store that’s planned and with it even more opportunities to get involved.

‘We look forward to meeting everyone.’