TWO international-style citizens juries have been established in Wirral and Halton to let local people have a say about how improvements in the Mersey waterfront should be carried out.

The government's Northwest Development Agency has backed the Mersey Waterfront programme to introduce two pilot Peoples Panels giving local people a voice about waterfront improvements.

Enthusiasm for the Mersey Waterfront programme from local communities through 2003 has led to the first two Peoples Panels being launched at an introductory event at the Boat Museum, Ellesemere Port.

The Peoples Panels concept is based on the international Citizens Juries idea where small groups of people are charged with making recommendations about their local area.

They are seen as an important way of unleashing people's energy and ideas. Similar panels for Liverpool and Sefton will be established during the year.

Chair of Mersey Waterfront, Sara Wilde, said: "The Peoples Panels will give local people the chance to have an influence on the regeneration of their local waterfront.

"It makes perfect sense for the communities who live near the waterfront to have the opportunity to have a say on the future development of their area."