Chatteris people need to speak up now on what adult education courses or evening classes they would like to see provided in the town.

Calls for feedback have come from the town council and follow a meeting between Councillor Christine Colbert, chairman of the Town council Leisure and General purposes Committee and Jane Norman of Cambridgeshire County Council.

Ms Colbert explained residents have been baffled by the lack of provision of classes in the town while they are on offer in neighbouring Ramsey and Witchford.

She said: “Adult courses are available at Abbey College, Ramsey and Witchford Village College, but practically nothing has been available in Chatteris. This has been particularly baffling as Chatteris now has a population of around 12000. Also as the county council must be aware, the community is very poorly served by public transport making travel to courses outside town difficult or unattainable for many people.

During the past few years some moves have been made to study the wants and needs of Chatteris residents, but little in the way of results has been enjoyed. Chatteris Town Council has become increasingly concerned about the situation and recently has been pressing county council to finally get to grip with, and address, the problem.”

Ms Colbert said the meeting with Mrs Norman resulted in some positive progress and saw a wide range of possible subjects were discussed including: cookery, craft work, basic English, computer skills and cycle maintenance.

“I am very pleased to say that at long last I can see some rays of light at the end of the tunnel,” she said.

Information about courses that Cambridgeshire County can and does deliver are shown on their website: http://www.cambridgeshire.net/

Ms Colbert concluded: “Unsurprisingly, it was agreed that the group needs to ascertain the wants and needs of Chatteris so that a programme can be put in place. Local groups and resident surveys are planned, and it has been proposed that the group will have a stand and information available at the Chatteris Festival in June. Chatteris Town Council will continue to be involved in the project and are interested in hearing resident views.”

If anyone would like to put forward suggestions for courses they would like to participate in, then please email chatteriscouncil@btconnect.com