WYRE Forest people can make their voices heard as the county council prepares for a spending squeeze.

Worcestershire County Council is urging residents to speak their mind before next year's budget is set.

A specific section of the council's website has been given over for people using the internet to give feedback through a questionnaire.

Telephone surveys will also be launched to canvass views from members of the public, throughout November.

The authority's finance chiefs want to hear people's thoughts before drawing up day-to-day spending plans for 2008/09.

County Hall needs to remove £25million from its revenue budget by 2011 in the face of rising costs coupled with both tighter funding increases and increased efficiency targets from Government.

Issues have already been raised with the cabinet and the overview and scrutiny steering committee is currently raking over these.

Residents' views are needed as part of this process and will be fed back to Cabinet at the budget proposal meeting, on December 20.

Further consultation with stakeholders, including parish and town councils and unions will then follow before firm proposals are put forward by cabinet, on February 8, with a final decision by full council, on February 21.

Adrian Hardman, cabinet member for finance, said: "We find ourselves in even more challenging times and the need to remove £25million from our revenue budget is bringing greater and greater pressure on our ability to deliver the quality services residents expect and demand.

"The Worcestershire way has always been to do a lot with a little, and we can always strive to be leaner and meaner.

"However, the Government's requirement on us to find three per cent more efficiency savings annually, on top of the £23 million we've identified over the last three years, is becoming more and more difficult without jeopardising services.

"We are also acutely aware some residents find it very difficult to cope with the levels of council tax we have to set to protect these services, especially those on fixed or low incomes.

"That's why we need residents views on that which we're proposing to ensure that we get the right balance. I'd urge as many people as possible to look at the website to submit their opinions."