WORK has started on a new plan to tackle unemployment, crime, transport, health and housing problems in rural East Cleveland.

Economic and social strategists in the district are appealing to members of the public to come forward with any fresh ideas.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has promised to base its plan on the views of the community, businesses and public services.

A public meeting, described as having vital importance to the future of rural East Cleveland, will take place at Loftus Town Hall on Tuesday at 6.30pm.

Public policy consultancy firm GHK has been commissioned by the council to develop the new strategy, which is due to be completed in March.

Beth Carss, the council's rural programmes officer, said: "The engagement of the local community in the process is key to the strategy's development. This is why a public meeting is being held early in the study to promote discussion about the area's key issues.

"Although the objectives of the current rural strategy, drafted in 1995, are still relevant, the context and delivery measures are outdated.

"The new strategy will update and replace the existing strategy for the rural area and reflect recent policy developments at subregional, regional, national and European levels."

Meanwhile, more than 50 villagers from Kirkleatham have responded to a council report on how to revitalise the village. The reaction was mixed, but many said there should be no new housing, even though the council hopes to sell land to developers and spend the cash this raises elsewhere in the community.

The authority report also suggests selling Kirkleatham Hall Museum to a hotel chain and moving the museum to the old stable block. The public response to that idea was more positive, although one respondent simply said: "Leave Kirkleatham alone."

Many villagers approved of the idea of creating a village green, although some were worried that it might encourage anti-social behaviour.

Others thought the scheme was good overall, but were worried that the quiet nature of the village might be disturbed.

Councillors will discuss the Kirkleatham Village Regeneration Strategy in the coming months.