From Mike Bomford, Exeter 382173, September 18, 2007

Public meetings in Braunton and Ilfracombe are planned to promote plans for a Senior Council for Devon, with local involvement in the two towns.

The dates are:

Ilfracombe 2:30pm to 4pm on Friday 28^th September, at the Lantern Centre, High Street, Ilfracombe. EX34 9QB

Braunton 7pm to 8:30pm on Thursday 4^th October, at the Vivian Moon Community Centre, Chaloners Road, Braunton.

A Devon Senior Council is taking shape as public meetings across the County are drumming up a wide body of public support.

So far 321 people have registered as members and many are now involved in getting the group set up.

The Senior Council will be a fully independent, non-party political body that will use its considerable influence to lobby and be part of local policy making to provide better local services for the over 50s.

People over 50 in Ilfracombe and Braunton are invited to attend the public meetings to give their views on growing older in their towns, and to learn about how their involvement in a Senior Council can help shape their communities' futures.

By 2028, Devon will have the second highest percentage of over 50s in the country, with over half of it population in that age group.

Devon County Council is leading the development of the Senior Council and funding a series of public meetings to promote it, with the Department for Work and Pensions.

Devon is one of only eight local authority areas in the country chosen by the Government to pilot new ways of supporting and empowering people over 50. Developing an independent Senior Council is part of this.