COWDENBEATH residents have been invited to take part in ‘The Big Beath Blether’ this Sunday as the first step to shaping the town’s future for the next five years.

The session will be held in the Maxwell Centre, Stenhouse Street on Sunday December 9 11.00 am – 3.30pm, with lunch provided. The session is part of a joint venture by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust and the Electoral Reform Society as part of CRT’s Coalfields Community Futures programme which aims to give local people a bigger say in decisions that affect their lives.

Pauline Grandison, Programme Manager CRT, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Cowdenbeath residents to have a real say in shaping their future.

“The programme will encourage people to ‘Act As If You Own The Place’ when considering projects and plans to make the town a better place in which to live work and play in.

“It is really important that as many people as possible come along to the session, which we believe will be really enjoyable as well as giving those who take part a genuine sense of having contributed to their community.

“At the end of the day we will have a Five Year Community Action plan which truly reflects the views and aspirations of the people of Cowdenbeath”.

Nicky Wilson, Scottish Trustee of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust said: “We are delighted to be working with the Electoral Reform society to take our hugely successful Coalfields Community Futures programme to a new leve"l.

Willie Sullivan, Scottish Director of the Electoral Reform Society said: “The ‘Act As If You Own The Place’ approach will take decision making closer the real experts, the local people who will be most affected.

“It will free them up to say what they really think would be good for their community without worrying what planners and other officials might think of their ideas”.

There is also a Participatory Budget available for local groups to apply for funding projects that will benefit the community of Cowdenbeath.

For more information on the funding please contact pauline.grandison@coalfields-regen.org.uk