A NEW advice facility to be run as a pilot project in Princetown this month could become a permanent service ? if there is a proven demand.
High Moorland Community Action is starting the new legal surgery, to be run on Thursdays in March, April and May at Wesley House.
Jenny Coleman of HMCA said: ?Business in the Community has been working in Princetown to try and encourage different agencies and people to get involved in the village.
?One of the businesses that responded was the solicitors, Bevan Ashford, who agreed to do this pilot project.?
Jenny said the service will be completely confidential and will provide free half-hour consultations with a solicitor, to be held at the HMCA base at Wesley House in Princetown.
?The sessions can cover almost anything, from a dispute with a neighbour, to divorce, employment rights, housing issues ? all sorts of things ? but people must make an appointment,? said Jenny.
Appointments can be made for March 25, April 22 and 29, and May 20 and 27.
Jenny said if there is sufficient demand for the legal surgery, efforts will be made to try secure funding to hold a permanent surgery in future.
?If it proves successful, we can point to that and say there is a need, but we would have to have the evidence to show it?s something that people want,? she said.
High Moorland Community Action is a voluntary organisation formed by local residents with the aim of making the Dartmoor Forest parish a thriving place to live.
HMCA operates a community IT facility providing access to the internet, free computer courses, support and training for businesses and other training opportunities.
It also hosts the regular police surgery, knitting group and holiday and after school clubs.
Business in the Community is a national partnership organisation which businesses join to develop methods of increasing their impact on the community.
The organisation has an on-going relationship with HMCA in running a number of projects, including the new legal surgery.
To book an appointment at the legal surgery, call 01822 890732 or e-mail [email protected]">[email protected]