A PUBLIC meeting at Picklenash School will help to relaunch and revitalise Newent's Town Team, which has suffered from falling attendance in the past year and a half.

One idea to be discussed will be the appointment of a town team manager.

Group spokesman, local photographer, Colin Thomas said: "As far as the Town Team is concerned at present there are approximately 15 members , including me; we meet in Picklenash school every six weeks and it has been going for approximately 18 months.

"At the outset there were in excess of fifty people attending but this has dwindled drastically in recent months."

Mr Thomas added: "Town Teams were created nationally to help develop towns. It appears at present Newent is the only town in the Forest taking up this challenge, which should make us proud.

"Since its launch, Newent's Town Team has quietly begun the business of making changes to our town.The Team is a coalition of volunteer local residents, organisations and businesses who care passionately about our local area."

Mr Thomas said most aspects of the team's work were still in early stages.

Projects will include improving Newent's profile online; "planning events for out town to enjoy", and improving signage and access to Newent.

Mr Thomas said: "We have two ends in view: to make our Town a better and more rewarding place to live and a making it a more attractive place to visit and indeed come back to.

"Many of these projects will require funding locally as well as attracting European and other grant money, and are planning to provide an overall co-ordinator for all of this - a Town Team Manager."

The team has not yet reached the point "where applications for grant monies can be submitted".

Mr Thomas said: "As with all bureaucracy these things do take time but are getting tantalisingly close. it is for this reason that we need input from more people. Newent Town Team will move forward better with new people coming to help and supplying new ideas and enthusiasm.

"For these reasons we are calling a public meeting of the Town Team on the April 15 at Picklenash School with a 6.45 to 7pm start.