With just days to go before the start of the new area boards, awareness roadshows are on the way to tell people about the how they can get involved in making decisions that affect their local area.

Eighteen area boards will be set up across the county from the end of June and will give residents a major voice within their local communities and the chance to influence the decisions which affect their everyday lives.

Local people and key organisations like town and parish councils, the police and the local NHS will all play an active part in area boards.

Each area board will cover a community area - and it is in each of these areas that the council’s roadshow will be visiting. The roadshows will start on June 23 in Chippenham and Amesbury and end on July 16 in Winterslow and Westbury.

The awareness roadshows will be an opportunity to publicise the forthcoming area boards.

Area managers and local councillors from the area boards will be on hand to give information about how people really can make a difference in their community by becoming part of their local area board.

The awareness roadshows will run from 11am until 2pm at the following venues and dates: Chippenham, High Street Bridge – Tuesday June 23 Amesbury, Central car park – Tuesday June 23 Melksham, High Street Car Park opposite Town Hall – Wednesday June 24 Warminster, Library car park - Thursday June 25 Trowbridge, The Shires – Thursday June 25 Malmesbury, Market Cross – Friday June 26 Tidworth, Tesco car park - Monday June 29 Calne, High Street car park – Tuesday June 30 Bradford on Avon, Library car park – Wednesday July 1 Marlborough, High Street, front of Waitrose – Monday July 6 Mere, Library – Tuesday July 7 Wootton Bassett, High Street, Town Hall – Tuesday July 7 Pewsey, Co-op car park – Thursday July 9 Devizes, Market Place – Monday July 13 Salisbury, Market Place, guildhall car park – Tuesday July 14 Corsham, Somerfield car park – Tuesday July 14 Winterslow Village Hall – Thursday July 16 Westbury Library – Thursday July 16 John Thomson, cabinet member responsible for communities, said: “We would really like to see as many people as possible get involved in their local area board and influence local decisions.

“Getting out and about into our town and villages with the roadshow is a great opportunity for us to let everyone know more about how they can get involved. We hope that by finding out more, people will be encouraged to come along and have their say.”

For more information about area boards contact areaboards@wiltshire.gov.uk or contact Wiltshire Council on 0300 456 0100.

ENDS Notes for editors First area board meetings across the council are as follows: 29 June - Chippenham (Hardenhuish School) 30 June - Amesbury (Antrobus House) 1 July - Melksham (Melksham Town Hall) 2 July - Warminster (Kingdown Community School - main hall) 2 July - Trowbridge (Civic Hall) 2 July - Malmesbury (Malmesbury Town Hall) 6 July - Tidworth (Phoenix Hall, High Street, Netheravon) 7 July - Calne (Calne Town Hall) 8 July - Bradford on Avon (St. Margaret's Hall) 13 July - Marlborough (Kennet Valley Village Hall, Lockeridge) 14 July - South West Wiltshire (covering Mere, Tisbury, Wilton)(Mere Lecture Hall) 15 July - Wootton Bassett & Cricklade (Marsh Farm Hotel, Wootton Bassett) 16 July - Pewsey (Bouverie Hall, Pewsey) 20 July - Devizes (Corn Exchange) 21 July - Corsham (Corsham Town Hall) 23 July - Salisbury (City Hall) 23 July - Westbury (Westbury Labour Club and Institute Ltd.) 23 July - Southern Wiltshire (Downton and surrounding villages)(Winterslow Village Hall)