DESPITE a grilling from residents, councillors hailed Councillors Question Time as a success which they hope to repeat. Councillor Christine Drew said she thought the question time was a good way of communicating with people, instead of the usual flyeri

DESPITE a grilling from residents, councillors hailed Councillors' Question Time as a success which they hope to repeat.

Councillor Christine Drew said she thought the question time was a good way of communicating with people, instead of the usual flyering, as it was more personal.

She said: "We got a bit of a grilling but I am really pleased that everybody came and put their point of view across and they could listen to our points as well.

"It worked really well as we all got together, aired our views and worked as a team.

"We are definitely going to organise councillors' questions as a regular event, maybe twice a year."

Hilda Howson, of All Saints Road, went to the meeting. She said: "It was a very useful thing to attend.

"I didn't get the chance to ask my question as there were so many people there who wanted to raise issues, but I will definitely go to the next one."

A point of frustration within the meeting was the lack of power councillors had in respect of key topics such as the Dove amusement centre and the unitary council.

Mrs Drew said she understood the frustrations of locals but wanted them to know that the councillors are "fighting" despite a lack of support from central government.

She added: "The government does not give us enough power and at the end of the day they do not support us.

"We do not have enough say on local matters because the government lays down laws.