Last updated 16:03, Thursday, 09 October 2008

CLEATOR Moor residents will be given the power to change their community for the better next week as part of a radical scheme.

Together We Can is an action plan that will enable people to engage with public bodies and influence the decisions that affect their communities.

For a week, beginning October 20, a team of canvassers will be visiting residents to ask about ways of improving Cleator Moor, such as removing chewing gum from pavements to dealing with anti-social behaviour.

Organisations such as Cumbria County Council and Copeland Borough Council, Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, NHS Cumbria, Cumbria Constabulary and other community and voluntary organisations will work with residents to target areas of change.

Barbara Cannon, Cumbria County Council’s cabinet member for communities, said: “Together We Can will allow local service providers to come together with the people of Cleator Moor and make a positive difference.

“The project recognises that public bodies don’t always have all the answers to the specific issues in a specific area.

“I believe that local people are the experts at understanding which services work well in their area, and which don’t. Together We Can aims to put local people in a position to influence improvements to local services.’’

When questioned last year, 52 per cent of the area’s residents were satisfied with county council services, but only 31 per cent felt able to influence decisions about services in their local area.

At that time the top three issues for residents were activities for teenagers, job prospects and crime levels.