A SPEAKERS' corner where budding orators can criticise the council or recite poetry should be created in Derby, according to the city's Labour group.

Councillor Ranjit Banwait will be putting a motion to full council later this month calling for a cross-party group to set up the initiative.

As shadow cabinet member for community cohesion, he said his plan would bring people together to express options.

"This is an exciting and innovative idea to encourage members of the public to exercise their right to free speech and enjoy one of the major benefits of living in a democracy," said Mr Banwait.

"From singing your favourite song, reciting a war poem on Remembrance Sunday, to getting things off your chest about the closure of public toilets, ordinary members of the public will be able to have their say and express themselves on whatever matters to them."

The motion to full council calls for a cross-party group to be set up to discuss the details of creating a corner.

No location is specified but Mr Banwait said obvious options would be the Sir Peter Hilton Memorial Gardens opposite the Council House, the Market Place or Cathedral Green.

The idea has been backed by the Derby District Speakers' Club.

The club, which has been around for 30 years, helps to train people in the art of public speaking.

Its education director, Michael Holland, said: "We think this is a good idea and would support it.

"It would give people a better chance to put a view point across to a wider audience.

"A lot of people write to the Derby Telegraph and that catches a lot of people but this would allow them to stand in public and expand on points they have made in a letter or give a speech, which would be great."

Mr Banwait has discussed his plans with Derby District Speakers' Club and managers of Derby Live, which organises performances for the city council.

He said there would have to be agreement by the cross-party working group about how the corner should operate.

"It is about reminding us all about the benefits of living in a democracy, while understanding that there are legal and ethical boundaries of what we can and can not say in public," he said. "For example, yes it is our right to disagree with a Government policy but it is wrong to break the law in agitating against it.

"It is about making people aware that there are peaceful and creative ways of having our say and making our point, while having some fun."

Mr Banwait said if he were to use the corner his first speech would not be political.

He said: "You may think I'll use it to talk politics, when actually I quite fancy reciting from one of my favourite Shakespeare plays – Hamlet."