The town council is on a mission to create more transparency and a conversation with the public with the launch of two brand new initiatives.

New committee Faversham Future Forum will look at the most important issues affecting the town but there will be more than the usual 30 minutes of questions, the whole duration will be open to input from the public gallery.

Adding to the council’s vow to embrace the digital age, newly-elected member John Ogden-Starkel has instigated Faversham Voice, a quarterly consultation asking for your views on the things concerning you when an important decision is on its way.

Cllr Ogden-Starkel is urging residents to sign up to a database with their email address or home address and get involved.

Once more than 2,000 users have registered, the council will begin to send out surveys to gauge opinion.

Cllr Ogden-Starkel said: “There are so many issues being discussed and decided and we want to find out what people think, we want them to be involved in the decision-making.

“Whether it is parking around the Guildhall, driving rules through the town centre, the junction to the Mall, the housing developments popping up and safety on the roads, we need an idea of what the residents think.

“It is about bringing the public and the council together and I feel it is going to be a great way for us to engage with everyone.

“We just need more people to sign up and then we can get started.”

The first Faversham Future Forum took place last Monday and mainly discussed the developments with outline planning permission: Love Lane, Perry Court and Oare Gravel Works, among others.

Mayor Shiel Campbell chaired the meeting. She said: “There are four to six developments with outline planning permission covering all four corners of the town.

“This is not about the how or why, but working together to create a wish list to take forward to developers.

“We won’t all get what we want, but if we work together we may get something.

“This is not a protest group but the coordination of a continuous conversation about Faversham.”

The next meeting takes place on Monday, July 11, from 7pm until 9pm, possibly at 12 Market Place, but to be confirmed.

Attendees are asked to bring a list of five things they love about Faversham.

To sign up to Faversham Voice, click here.