A GREATER say in issues affecting them is to be given to people in Hanley Swan and Hanley Castle.

This takes the form of a parish plan, which is being drawn up by Hanley Castle Parish Council as part of a Government initiative to devolve power to local authorities.

This will shape long-term social, economic, environmental and other policies, and could eventually impact upon everything from planning permission to health care.

As part of the process, which will take place over the next few months, the parish council is obliged to canvass local opinion. The cost of this will be partly offset by the Countryside Agency, which can provide grants of up to £5,000 or three-quarters of the expenditure, whichever is smaller.

"The first step is for us to be aware of what we need to do," said Coun Margaret Norris.

"Our parish is OK at the moment for most things. We could perhaps improve transport, but for things like highways we have a very good relationship with the Highways Authority, and we do not have a big enough council to take on planning.

"So we have to consult the whole parish and sit down and talk about what needs to be done."

The plan could also help the council towards getting "quality status", another Government initiative to allow local councils greater autonomy currently in the pipeline.

The council was holding its first meeting to discuss the plan last night (Thursday). Anyone interested in contributing to the process should contact town clerk Ann Canham on 01684 310366 or Margaret Norris on 01684 310786.