NEWTON Abbot Civic Society is to tweak its name at the 18th annual meeting on Saturday, November 14.

There, it will be confirmed that it will be renamed to include the word ‘district’.

Acting chairman Keith Stokes-Smith, the society’s founder and president, who will chair the meeting, said it would enable a number of communities bordering Newton Abbot – including Kingsteignton, Teigngrace, Ogwell and Abbotskerswell – to be formally represented and those living there to join.

‘Some neighbouring communities do not have access to an independent national organisation like ourselves to act as a neighbourhood watchdog and to represent them where the interest of the community may be affected.

‘The society exists to preserve and protect all that is best in our community, to improve amenities and to prevent encroachments and developments that might spoil our environment.

‘That is not to say that we will always succeed but with the help of members and Civic Voice, of which we are a member, the national body which has access to central government, we will always do our best,’ he said.

Mr Stokes-Smith, a magistrate, is giving a talk about the magistracy at the meeting, held in the Passmore Edwards Building, Market Street, Newton Abbot, to begin at 10.30am.