CROOK may follow the lead of neighbouring areas when proposals to set up a parish or town council come under public discussion next month.

A public meeting on September 27 is being organised by Crook Community Partnership, at St Catherine's Community Centre, to explain to residents what a town council could offer.

Durham County Council has pledged that when the unitary County Durham Council comes into existence, in April 2009, it will work more closely with town and parish councils.

Crook is one of the last towns in Wear Valley to consider creating a council, following in the footsteps of Bishop Auckland and Willington which became town councils in May.

Crook Community Partnership has drawn up a map of Crook to illustrate what boundaries they operate within and recommend that any proposed council would do the same.

Andrew Hall, chairman of the partnership group, said: "I would hope that a town or parish council for Crook would create interaction with residents on a much more grassroots level.

"The people elected as councillors would come from the community and, together with local organisations, could deal more effectively with the concerns of Crook residents. A town or parish council could target issues much more effectively and could create jobs and possible training programmes.

"As well as some of the obvious areas that a council can cover, Crook could have a dedicated youth service, more control of building space and listen to what the residents want and need.

"The meeting is to raise awareness of the issue and to get the ball rolling, to see if people are interested in the idea."

Geoffrey Mowbray, Wear Valley District Councillor for Crook South Ward, said: "I am fully behind the idea of a town or parish council and would even consider standing for it. Crook would really benefit from one because we don't want local decisions being made by people who aren't from the area."

All residents are invited to the meeting, which starts at 7pm.