HIGHWAYS issues will be discussed at the next meeting of Essex County Council’s West Essex Area Forum.

Local residents are invited to the meeting, at the Adult Community College, at The Gables, off Fyfield Road, Ongar, at 10am on Thursday, September 11.

Other topics under discussion will include road safety; an update on the development of the white water canoe course at Lee Valley Park, near Waltham Abbey, for the London 2012 Olympics.

There are four area forums in Essex – Mid, East, South and West – and meetings take place at venues across the county to involve local people in decision making.

Members of the public are welcome to attend and can just turn up on the day.

Forum chairman, councillor John Roberts said: “We’re always delighted to see local residents at our forum which has been set up to help empower local people and benefit their communities directly. There are some very interesting subjects on the agenda and we would urge as many people as possible to come to this meeting as we need your feedback.”

Forums comprise all county councillors from relevant electoral divisions and representatives from borough or district councils, the Essex Association of Local Councils, health groups or trusts, police, fire and Councils for Voluntary Service.