There was a meeting of Holsworthy branch of the Senior Council for Devon in the Manor Suite on Tuesday evening, (November 24).

Although the branch represents the interests of the Over 50s in the Holsworthy area, and voices their concerns, it currently has only 20 members many of whom are not actively involved.

Trevor Silifant regretted that so few of the villages were represented and Richard Brown, also attending for the first time, said other local organisations were struggling through apathy.

The acting chairman, Margaret Coles, stressed they were not merely duplicating the work of other organisations and had a direct influence on the development of policies and the planning of services.

Most of the meeting was devoted to discussing a strategy for increasing membership based on ideas which had emerged from a meeting last month with Lorna Turner of the Community Enterprise Unit. In the New Year they would invite the new Senior Council recruitment officer, Tim Hall, who was about to start work.

A project to produce a Disability Map of Holsworthy in conjunction with the Community College and the Town Council was given the go-ahead.

The next meeting will be at 7pm on January 26.