RESIDENTS in Billingham who feel their council tax is being spent to benefit neighbouring Stockton want to see a town council formed.

Colin Pollard, of Station Road, said there was a lot of feeling among local people that Billingham had deteriorated.

He wants to form a pressure group to help people regain pride in their town and make them feel that their voice can be heard.

He hopes to appeal to a lot of people so that he can present a petition to Stockton Borough Council.

He said: "There is a general feeling in the town that it feels that it has not got any voice anymore.

"A lot of people feel, rightly or wrongly, that money is being spent elsewhere and the town is going downhill. It is not the community it used to be."

Mr Pollard, who has lived in the town for 30 years, said although money was being spent on the town centre, residents were upset that they were losing the Stockton and Billingham College and the Forum leisure complex.

He said: "Money needs to be spent on the whole of the town, not just the centre. The impending loss of the college and the closure and move of the Forum are seen as a pattern of deterioration.

"Residents are also concerned we may lose the Forum Theatre."

Shirley Southwood, who has lived in Billingham for more than 40 years, said she had seen what was a town centre ahead of its time steadily decline to one of shabbiness and neglect.

She said: "Stockton takes our council tax off us and nothing comes back to Billingham. It is a brilliant idea to form a town council and I would like to see it happen."

David Bond, director of legal and administration services at Stockton Borough Council, said: "The government and the council would always welcome the opportunity for the local community to participate in the democratic process, providing there is a will from the community for such a town council to be established."

Anyone interested in joining the pressure group is asked to contact Mr Pollard, on (01642) 531647.