CONSULTANTS drawing up £2m plans to secure Bishop Auckland's future will be asking the public for views on their ideas next week.

The town has until next month to produce proposals for spending a share of a £20m County Durham Renaissance Initiative to improve the environment of urban centres.

Design and architectural experts from Red Box, of Newcastle, have been talking to groups and individuals in the town in advance of Monday's meeting.

The team's brief is to examine potential development sites and areas for enhancement, including North Bondgate, Fore Bondgate, Clarendon Motors and Westgate Road.

The town centre strategy is also under review, and Wear Valley District Council is exploring sources of funding in addition to the money from One NorthEast's single programme funding.

Bob Hope, the council's regeneration director, said: "This represents a major opportunity for Bishop Auckland. It is part of a series of initiatives that been taken to improve the town and make sure that it takes its rightful place as one of the main shopping centres in County Durham.

"The consultants have some initial ideas, but we want to hear from people who have their own thoughts and proposals.

"The more input that groups such as the Town Centre Forum and the traders association have, the more likely we are to see the results that everybody in the town want."

The Red Box team are due to submit their report next month, and have invited community organisations and other groups to the meeting at 5.30pm in Bishop Auckland Town Hall.

Bishop Auckland has experienced an economic revival, with empty shops and business premises snapped by traders and developers.

However, traders are waiting to gauge the impact of parking charges introduced in the town centre last week.