Residents in the Heworth and Walmgate wards of the city are to get the opportunity to quiz community leaders as well as join in the fun at City of York Council's first ever ward committee spring fayre next week (Saturday, March 16). The fayre, which is being staged between 2pm and 4pm at St Hilda's Church, Tang Hall Lane, on Saturday, March 16, will feature traditional Spring Fayre attractions as well as the opportunity for residents to meet councillors, youth workers, the police and other service providers in the area. Stalls will include those featuring arts and crafts, a tombola, refreshments, egg decorating and face painting and children will be able to get to climb aboard a fire engine as part of a North Yorkshire Fire Service display. Charlotte Pell, the council's neighbourhood coordinator, said, "We are hoping to provide a relaxed environment where people can turn up and just enjoy the activities or meet community groups and discuss local issues if they want to." Groups represented at the fayre will include the police, the fire service, the detached youth work service, Cherrytree House, Tang Hall Children's University, the young Women's Youth Work Project and Badger Hill After School Club. The Foss Islands cycle track ranger and a community arts worker will also attend. Charlotte said, "The Spring Fayre will also be an opportunity for the ward committee to report back to residents on how both Heworth and Walmgate Ward Committee funds have been spent over the year 2001/2002 and to encourage residents to take part in voting on how the Ward Committee budgets should be spent in 2002/2003. "It is also an opportunity for residents to find out what is going on in their local area. We are hoping that the fayre will provide an enjoyable afternoon out for all ages but will also bring several organisations closer to the people to whom they are accountable."

Local resident John Horsley is backing the event. He said, "We are looking forward to finding out how the Ward Committee funds have been spent to improve things for local people. "We're hoping that some people will pop in to the fayre for ten minutes to browse and others will want to find out more about what's going on in their local area" END