Pints in the Parishes is Back - New Schedule of Dates

Having written on here recently that 'Pints in the Parishes' is re-starting soon, I can now confirm a full, new schedule of these events at local village pubs around the Borough. I wrote out to all Parish Councils in July, asking if they would like to nominate a local pub which might be a suitable venue for me to visit one evening and give local residents the chance to talk to me directly about any issues they want to raise, in an informal environment. Once again I got an excellent response from the Parish Councils, and I must thank them for their suggestions. I then drew pub names out of a hat, after at first restricting the initial draw to those villages in which I have not yet held a Pints in the Parishes session. I then contacted the pubs to check that they are happy to have me, and can now confirm the full list of new dates and venues. Please have a look and see if I'm coming your way at all. It's always great to be able to talk to a good number of people and gather views on the issues of importance for our local communities. Here's the schedule:

25th October 2011: The Chequers, Wootton

22nd November 2011: Prince of Wales, Bromham

24th January 2012: Oakley Arms, Harrold

21st February 2012: Bedford Arms, Oakley

27th March 2012: Five Bells, Cople

24th April 2012: Bedford Golf Club, Great Denham

29th May 2012: Royal Oak, Roxton

13th June 2012: Three Compasses, Upper Dean

As I say, the purpose of 'pints in the parishes' is to foster a genuine, direct dialogue with residents in the informal surroundings of their local pub. The British pub has long been a traditional place for discussing the issues of the day and pubs are still at the heart of many communities.

I hope that these evenings help bring a few more people into community pubs and give rural residents a fair chance to raise any issues with me directly, in relaxed, informal surroundings. I've certainly enjoyed speaking directly to a large number of residents during the sessions across the rural areas of the Borough, and hope that these sessions are as successful as those which have taken place to date.