THE public are being invited to have their say and find out information at a meeting in Crediton, one of a series of three community “One Stop Shop” meetings, being held over the next two months in Mid Devon.

The meetings will be informal but will offer the public a chance to meet representatives from public agencies all at the same place at the same time.

The organiser, Police Constable Nigel Berry, said that, to date, agencies attending will include representatives from Devon and Cornwall Police, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, the NHS, local authorities and housing associations.

PC Berry explained: “My aim is it provide and create an easy access to integrated community-based services for the community. This will allow individuals to raise their issues that affect them or their communities with the agencies present.

“As you are aware, issues that are normally raised today require a multi agency approach to tackle them. By having all the agencies together and able to speak to each other on the night should cut out red tape, delays in contacting each other and allow us to be able to tackle any problems in a more cost effective manner benefiting everyone involved.

“We see this as a new and exciting idea. This type of meeting will be the first of its kind within our Local Policing Area.

“We hope by implementing them it will help our communities and agencies reduce long-term offending and ultimately reduce demand on all the public sector agencies.

“This has now become more prevalent, given the announcement by the government of further budget cuts and financial constraints to all these services. We will have to find new ways to save money and utilise our resources to try and deal with the cuts and we believe by holding these meetings this will help with our service delivery with minimal costs involved.”

The Crediton meeting will be held in the meeting room at Crediton Fire Station between 6pm and 8pm on Tuesday, September 29 – and all are invited to attend.

Similar meetings will also be held at Cullompton Fire Station between 6pm and 8pm on Thursday, September 17 and in the Mayoralty Room/Council Chamber, Tiverton Town Hall, St Andrew’s Street, Tiverton, between 6pm and 8pm on Tuesday, October 27.