HUNDREDS of people are to be asked to pass judgment on a controversial pedestrianisation scheme.

About 500 people will be randomly selected for a survey, representing a cross-section of Middlesbrough town centre users.

A six-month traffic ban on part of Corporation and Newport Road has given shoppers the confidence to visit all areas of the town centre, while Arriva's response to buses being excluded has been to withdraw nine services from the bus station.

A series of meetings has been organised next month for retailers, residents and the public to give their views.

The Middlesbrough Town Centre Company and Middlesbrough Borough Council are keen to hear the views of as many people as possible on the project, which is the first in a regeneration scheme.

A spokesman for the Town Centre Company said that a vast amount of technical data has been collected throughout the experiment, and this and the findings of the public survey would be put before the council for a decision next month.

The spokesman said: "People have habits and some areas of the town centre are used by certain people, but now people are starting to wander around the centre, using different areas.

"They might have their coffee in one part and shop in others areas, but they are taking in all areas of the town centre."

The scheme stays in place until a decision is made.