Members of the public have gone along to the first rural drop-in session in Ashwell to discuss issues affecting the North Herts villages.

Members of the public have gone along to a rural drop in session in Ashwell to discuss issues affecting the North Herts villages.

North Hertfordshire District Council, the police and Herts Fire and Rescue service were on hand to offer a wide range of information and advice on crime and rural matters at the event, which was a first of its kind.

Issues raised ranged from fly-tipping, to free home fire safety visits provided by the fire service, arson in fields with haystacks, and bins being left out on the street.

Councillor Tony Hunter, NHDC’s executive member for community engagement, said: “This was a great event with a number of agencies coming together with the aim of making our environment a safer place to live, work and visit. We were thrilled to see a good turn out and we received valuable feedback on issues affecting people’s local areas, as well as requests from residents asking us to repeat the event.”

The organisations involved are hoping to roll these events out to other villages in North Hertfordshire, and further updates will be available at www.north-herts.gov.uk.