FORTY thousand Kidderminster residents will be receiving a petition by post this weekend to have their say about creating a town council.

The letters have been posted by the Electoral Reform Service and will allow residents to add their signature in favour of the change.

Only 10 per cent of eligible voters need to sign the petition for Wyre Forest District Council to consider creating a Kidderminster authority.

Anne Hingley, chairman of the cross-party working group, said: “It’s time for the people of Kidderminster to have their say.

“A town council will help to increase our local democracy and we can finally be consulted on Kidderminster issues. At the moment, we don’t have a say over our hospital, our library or any planning issues, like Bewdley and Stourport do.”

Kidderminster borough council was abolished under local government reorganisation in 1974 but the town maintained traditions such as appointing a mayor through a board of charter trustees.

Under recent localism laws, district councils have been given the right to grant ‘town’ or ‘parish’ status.

The charter trustees will also be on hand outside Kidderminster Town Hall on Saturday and the following Saturday between 10am and 4pm to answer people’s questions.

Any person registered to vote can sign the petition, which will run until Friday, November 23.

Mrs Hingley added: “Hopefully we will get the 4,000 signatures needed so we can move to the next stage.”

If the 10 per cent is achieved, the district council can begin a year-long consultation process on the idea.