SIDMOUTH resident are first in line to have a say on ‘tough’ county cash cuts next month.

Devon County Council (DCC) will launch a new round of public consultations on the spending choices it faces - and people in Ottery St Mary will also get to have their say.

The authority is likely to have to save �40million in 2012 following the �54.6million of reductions it made this year.

More than �10million will be found by cutting management, administrative costs and back office expenditure, say DCC chiefs.

But around �30 million will still need to be found from local services –a reduction of seven per cent.

Sidmouth will be the first town in the county to stage a ‘Tough Choices’ session, open to all, at Stowford Community Centre on Wednesday, October 5, at 6,30pm.

Ottery will follow with an event at The Institute, also at 6.30pm, on Tuesday, October 25.

“We’re far from out of the woods yet as people have seen from the massive jitters on world stock markets,” said Mr Hart this week.

“The views, ideas and opinions of our residents matter, which is why I will be reporting back to them on how we acted on their suggestions.

“Local people pay for the services we provide and make use of our schools, care for the elderly, roads, libraries and the many other things we do.”

Last year, nearly 1,000 people attended the 15 public meetings in market towns across the county.

More than 35,000 people took part with many completing an online survey.