Nearly 50 people living in Halesworth and the surrounding area attended an annual parish meeting organised by the community after the town council changed the date of its own scheduled event.

Wednesday's meeting at the Edgar Sewter School in Norwich Road, was held on the date originally booked by Halesworth Town Council for the annual parish meeting.

However councillors decided last week to change the date to May 20, which falls after the elections on May 7.

Acting town clerk Nick Rees said the change was due to the unavailability of some councillors and the issue of purdah – a period before elections when council activity must stop – which begins on March 30. He said the change had been agreed with Waveney District Council and the Suffolk Association of Local Councils.

However members of the public criticised the date change as it meant the town's electorate would be unable to quiz councillors on what they had achieved over the past 12 months to determine whether they were suitable for re-election.

A notice advertising the new community meeting said: 'We the undersigned residents of Halesworth, consider that five days is insufficient notice for Halesworth Town Council to postpone the annual parish meeting.

'Further, we consider the proposed new date to be unacceptable since it follows rather than precedes the May elections.'

Chaired by Malcolm Ballantine, the meeting gave people an opportunity to highlight issues of concern for discussion, which could then be raised with the council.

Items on the agenda included the future of the town's Tesco sites, what was happening with the Angel Link bus station, and how to deliver better sports facilities for Halesworth.

People at the meeting also agreed to hold a community litter pick after raising concerns about the 'tatty' state of the town.

Communications between the town and its council were also a topic for discussion, with several people suggesting more could be done to signpost how members of the public can raise items for the agendas.

There was also discussion about the state of the Rifle Hall, Patrick Stead Hospital and a street light, which had been taken away from Rectory Street.

Concluding the meeting, Mr Ballantine said: 'I'm really pleased we've had a really good co-operative meeting, so many thanks for coming and thank you all for entering into the spirit of the meeting.'

Feedback from the meeting will be provided to the town council, of which several members had attended.

Halesworth Town Council chairman Annette Dunning, said: 'Anyone living within the parish can call an annual parish meeting as long as they adhere to some legal requirements. As chairman of the council I would normally chair such a meeting. Sadly it seems they were not able to comply with the requirements and neither did they see the need to invite me. This does not mean they cannot get together, it just means on this occasion they cannot call it an annual parish meeting.

'But I look forward to hearing about any positive outcomes for our town.'