RESIDENTS on Hartlepool's Headland have been thanked for the vital part they are playing in shaping a project in their area.

About 250 people attended a two-day public exhibition in the Borough Buildings on the Headland to give their views on four proposals - each by a different urban design firm - for creating a town square on the Headland.

The aim is to redesign the area in front of the Borough Buildings between Middlegate, the promenade, St Hilda's Church and Northgate to create a town square.

Councillor John Marshall, chairman of the North Hartlepool Partnership, said yesterday: "I am delighted that so many people made the effort to come and give their views on this important issue.

"I hope that they will come in even larger numbers when the detailed design proposals are developed and put out to public consultation."

The residents' comments are now being studied by the town square project steering group, which includes the partnership, the council, the Headland Parish Council and One NorthEast.

The steering group will take account of the views before making a recommendation on which of the four urban design firms is the preferred one for designing the town square.

Its recommendation will be put to a joint meeting of the North Hartlepool Partnership and Hartlepool Council for approval on November 18.

Once the urban design firm has been chosen, it will be asked to develop its town square design proposal in greater detail. Then the detailed design proposal will be put out to public consultation.