Time to talk

PHOTO: RUBY SHAW
PHOTO: RUBY SHAW
Central Otago District councillors and Vincent Community board members Tracy Paterson (left) and Tamah Alley attended their first community drop-in session, held at Oliver’s Restaurant in Clyde on Friday morning.

Cr Alley said the drop-in sessions meant the councillors could address concerns, questions or feedback residents had — "anything people want to talk about", she said.

A "handful" of people had spoken to councillors on Friday morning about a range of issues affecting Clyde, including the heritage precinct upgrade.

Cr Paterson said previously, residents had told her councillors were not accessible.

Drop-in sessions were a good way for councillors to be on hand to the public, and were potentially less daunting than a council meeting, she said.

"We want to be accessible for people," Cr Alley said.

The councillors planned to repeat the drop-in sessions around the Vincent ward, with a range of times to try to reach as many people as possible.

The drop-in sessions will be advertised on social media and in the local area before the meeting.