STUDENTS are to 'speed date' with councillors at Bridgwater YMCA this month.

Pupils from Haygrove School, Robert Blake Science College, King Alfred’s School and Chilton Trinity Technology College will be taking part in Local Democracy Day on October 19 from 9.30am to 2.30pm.

There will be three activities for the students, which includes speed dating with councillors and council staff. The students have three minutes ask any questions they like and at the end of the session they score the councillors on how easy they were to talk too.

Other activities will include a workshop on the regeneration of rundown areas of a town and a workshop around the environmental impacts of Hinkley Point C and the influx of workers to the area.

Councillor Duncan McGinty, Leader of Sedgemoor District Council, said: “At the moment, most young people do not view local politics as important in their daily lives. “However, they are the electors of tomorrow and things that are decided now by councils will have an effect on their later lives.” Research for the Local Government Association by Ipsos MORI shows just a quarter of 11-16 year olds believE their local councillor is the best person to approach in order to change something in their community. Cllr McGinty added: “By holding events such as this, we are hoping youngsters realise they can have a say and encourage them to take part in the running of their communities.”