RESIDENTS of Cardenden have a unique opportunity to shape their area’s future at a Reclaiming Our Coalfield Communities ‘Have Your Say’ Day in St Fothad’s Church, Auchterderran, from 11am to 2pm, on Saturday.

The session will be jointly run by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust and the Electoral Reform Society and have the twin objectives of enhancing democracy and laying the foundations for a Five Year Community Action Plan for the area.

Lorna Bett, the Coalfield Regeneration Trust's community engagement worker in Cardenden said: “We are very excited at giving local people a real say in what the future has to hold for them and their area.

“We hope anyone with views on how this community can realise its potential will get involved, either by contacting me to register their interest, or simply turning up on the day.

“We are laying on a free lunch, and there will be a follow up session at the same time and place on Saturday March 17 to develop the ideas that we come up with on Saturday".

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust is putting up a £20,000 participatory budget to get key priorities off the ground.

The Reclaiming Our Coalfields programme has won £40,000 of backing from the Scottish Government’s Aspiring Communities Fund and the European Social Fund. The programme is also up and running in the mining communities of Bo’ness and Dalmellington.

Bob Young Scottish Trustee of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust said: “This programme builds on the success of our Coalfields Communities Futures programme with our colleagues from the Electoral Reform Society ensuring it enhances local democracy.

“I am sure the people of Cardenden will grab this opportunity to shape the area’s future with both hands.”

Lorna Bett can be contacted on 07837-657-121