Bridport residents are being urged to have their say on local adult social care services, and what is required to meet the future needs of the area.

A public consultation starts this month and Dorset County Council is encouraging the public to get involved and help shape local priorities for the next decade.

The county council has pledged to invest £4.7 million to support the delivery of services in Bridport, including day centres, residential care for older people and support for people to stay healthy and independent in the community for as long as possible. Facilities for children’s services in the town will also feature in the review.

To help gauge how the money can most effectively be used to meet local needs, public meetings will be held on Monday September 23 at the Salt House, West Bay and at Bridport Town Hall on Thursday, September 26. Both will run from 4pm until 8pm, with a presentation at 7pm.

A stand will also be in place, attended by council representatives, outside the Tourist Information Centre in Bridport on Saturday, September 28 from 10am to 2pm, where people can find out more information and give their views.

Carers, service users, health and social care professionals and community groups gave their views at a recent workshop held at the Town Hall. Community transport, day services, sheltered housing and residential care were discussed, as well as services for children and families and access to information.

The key feedback from the workshop will be presented at the public meetings for more people to comment on.

Coun Jill Haynes, Cabinet member for adult social care at Dorset County Council, said: “It was great to see so many local people who use services turning out for the initial workshop. Their involvement in the initial planning stage is essential to shape services for the future.

“We want to support people to live independent and fulfilling lives, based on choices that are important to them, and also to find more innovative ways to deliver services in the future.

“Nothing has been agreed yet – the detail will come later. The public meetings will give us an opportunity to hear the views of local people and find out their priorities. We are committed to modernise and improve services and are urging all those who are interested to attend one of the meetings.”

Local county councillor Ros Kayes added: "The workshop gave us a very positive start to engaging with local people and organisations, producing a lot of useful ideas and suggestions. We all know that Bridport is full of creativity and imagination about how services can be provided.

“I really want the county council to be able to harness that creativity and for that to happen, we as a community need to express what we want. I hope that as many local residents as possible will visit the open sessions later this month and take part in shaping our services for the future. This is your chance to have a say and to express concerns about changes in provision and to make sure that they are addressed.”

Feedback from these events will be used to shape some options for county councillors to consider and, once preferred options are agreed, a formal public consultation will take place towards the end of the year.