EVESHAM and Pershore people are being urged to speak up about which Worcestershire County Council services are most important to them before the effects of budget cuts begin to be felt.

The council has started a second phase of public consultation about its future budget, and wants as many people as possible to reply to surveys through their letterbox, on the council’s website and available in libraries, Worcestershire Hub customer centres and children’s centres throughout the county.

Journal readers can get involved by turning to page nine of this week's edition, completing the survey and returning it to the freepost address by the deadline of Monday, November 22.

The authority has been planning for budget cuts through its BOLD (Better Outcomes, Lean Delivery) programme, which has already found ways to save more than £40 million by 2013.

The Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review means the authority is now looking to save between £60 million and £70 million by 2014.

The exact amount depends on further Government announcements about specific grants, expected before the end of the year.

A countywide consultation earlier in 2010 helped the council to prioritise its services and now it needs to know which of the priorities are the most important to local people. The results of the surveys will be combined with face-to-face interviews and considered by councillors before decisions are made.

The budget survey can be completed online by visiting worcestershire.gov.uk/ budgetsurveyc