SWINDON Council's Area Panel South has a new chairwoman.

Coun Fionuala Foley (Con, Old Town & Lawn) was elected as the replacement for Coun Wendy Johnson (Lib Dem, Old Town & Lawn) as the new chairman for the 2002/2003 municipal year.

Area panels provide a forum for debate of key local issues.

The meetings give people opportunities to raise concerns and feed their views into the council's decision-making process.

The South Panel covers five wards Eastcott, Central, Ridgeway, Old Town and Lawn, Wroughton and Chiseldon.

Coun Foley invites all interested individuals, resident groups and community groups to get involved with the panel. If anybody wishes to raise items for consideration by the panel, they are asked to contact Coun Foley on Swindon 528880.