IDEAS for reviving the economy of job-starved Weardale will be presented to local people by a travelling summer roadshow, Government agency One NorthEast revealed yesterday.

London consultants GHK have prepared a report for a task force seeking ways of securing Weardale's future after one of its biggest employers, Lafarge Cement, ceases production at its Eastgate plant in August, with the loss of 150 jobs.

But the report has caused controversy even before its findings are known, because parish councillors and traders say they should have been asked for their views.

Wolsingham councillor Vere Shuttleworth fears measures will be imposed on dales communities.

He said: "I have no doubt that the Government will make money available for Weardale, but I am concerned that it will not be spent in the way residents would like.

"The consultants have not consulted either Stanhope or Wolsingham parish councils, who have representatives in every village, the chamber of trade or the Weardale Society.

"It seems they will impose on us what they think is good for us. They don't seem interested in what people think."

Diana Sutcliff, chairwoman of Stanhope Parish Council, said: "The site, which is in the middle of the parish, is the single most important issue, but the powers that be have seen fit to exclude us from the consultation process.

"They would be well-advised to seek and listen to local opinion before proposing anything."

But Dr John Bridge, One North-East chairman and leader of the task group, said that GHK's role had been to suggest realistic proposals for Weardale which would be put to Weardale residents over the coming weeks.

He said: "We are definitely not imposing anything on Weardale. We have simply looked for a number of ideas that we had to make sure were do-able before we asked people's opinions."

A boost to Weardale would be the reopening of the Weardale railway line, which could attract visitors through a link with a new offshoot of the National Railway Museum, coming to Shildon.