AN open meeting to help build community resilience along the Swanage coast during extreme weather emergencies has been announced.

The Swanage Coastal Change Forum meeting, including speakers from the Environment Agency, coastguard, fire and rescue, police and Purbeck council’s emergency planning team, is scheduled for early December.

It is titled ‘Severe weather – who is responsible for what?’ A forum spokesman explained: “The meeting is open to the public and we hope there will be a good turnout from the community to help prepare them and introduce them to their local representatives from the organisations.

“Swanage Coastal Change Forum was formed in 2011. It is an independent group of local organisations which meet to discuss topics linked to coastal change.”

Swanage has been affected by a number of landslips and incidents of localised flooding in recent years.

A steering group advises the forum and includes representatives from a number of agencies and organisations, including Purbeck District Council, Swanage Town Council, Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, Jurassic Coast Trust, Natural England and the National Trust.

The spokesman said: “This meeting will focus on what different organisations are responsible for when severe weather strikes.

“The aim is to build community resilience in extreme weather and ensure the community is prepared.”

The open meeting, at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Victoria Avenue, Swanage, takes place from 6pm on December 3.

If you would like to attend email swanagecoastalchange@dorsetcc.gov.uk or call 01305 224833.