TACKLING the issues residents believe to be most important will be the aim of a new meeting being held in Redditch on Monday.

People living in Smallwood and Southcrest are invited to the first ever Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meeting to be held in the north Worcestershire police division.

It will be held at the town hall in Alcester Street from 7pm and there will be a panel of representatives from the police and borough and county councils.

Residents will have the chance to voice their specific neighbourhood concerns - whether it is street lighting, anti-social behaviour, pavement repairs or noisy neighbours.

At the end of the meeting, residents will vote on what they deem to be the top three or four issues, which the panel will take away with them to devise a plan of action.

Another meeting will be held a month later where the panel will report back on the action taken over these issues.

Pc Andy Holliday said: "This is the first ever meeting where we will be accountable to the priorities of residents. It is quite groundbreaking and the first of its kind in our division.

"It will not be good enough for us to return to the meeting in a month's time and say nothing has been done on the issues most important to residents.

"Whether we will be able to give a positive or negative answer to residents, at least we will be able to give them answers."

He added: "These meetings are the spine of local policing. And they are a chance for people to help shape the future of their local area."

Residents will also have the chance to meet their neighbourhood beat bobby.

"We look forward to a good turnout at this first PACT meeting in November," added Pc Holliday.

The first meeting is solely for residents living in the central town district, but there will be sessions for other areas in the New Year.

For more details, call Redditch police station on 08457 444888.