AS council tax bills begin to arrive in inboxes and on doormats across Swindon, the new reality of a wholly-parished town is beginning to hit home.

The debate over parishing began more than a year ago but it is only recently that more people are beginning to ask questions about how it will impact on the way local decisions are taken and on the way that areas are represented.

Shadow councils are currently in control of the newly created parishes but before long that will all change.

The first elections will be held on Thursday, May 4, to decide who will make up the democratically elected councils.

Applications to stand in those elections are open now and will close on April 18 at 5pm.

But why should people step forward? What opportunities will these new parish councils have to bring about change in local communities.

An event planned for this Thursday night at the Health Hydro hopes to provide some answers to those questions.

Billed as 'waking up to Swindon’s new parish councils', the panel discussion and subsequent Q&A will ask how the new councils can help to create more "positive, coherent and supportive communities".

Labour councillor, former parliamentary candidate and current chairman of Central Swindon South Shadow Parish Council, Chris Watts, will sit on the panel alongside fellow former parliamentary candidate and current Wroughton parish councillor Talis Kimberley-Fairbourn.

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They will be joined by long-time community leader and founder of Swindon Link, Roger Ogle.

Talis, Roger and Chris will outline what has been decided already, they will also look at who can stand for election and the time commitment than might be expected.

Key for Swindon Civic Voice, who are organising the event, will be a discussion around how the parish council might be kept non-partisan and more "neighbourly".

Given that much of the debate around parishing thus far has focused on the negatives and the scale of the challenge, the room will explore the possible benefits that local decision-making could, in theory, provide.

But ultimately the question will come down to who can be persuaded to stand in the rapidly approaching elections to decide how Swindon's communities will be represented in the coming years.

The event will get under way at 7pm - there will be a £4 admission charge for non Civic Voice members and a £2 charge for members to go towards venue hire and teas and coffees.