A MAJOR survey is being undertaken to find out what traders think could be done to make Durham city centre a better place to visit and shop in.

Durham City Forum, which was set up to improve the city's quality of life and prosperity, is asking around 500 firms in and around the centre for their views on plans for the future.

The forum, which is made up of traders and the city and county councils, is urging companies to have their say so that it can work out its priorities and urge the councils to take action.

The survey, the first of its kind, covers topics such as parking and transport, access for the disabled, litter, visitor attractions and facilities, crime, how trade is going and communications between business and with the two councils.

Barry Turnbull, the former city centre manager who helped organise the survey, said: "There's not much point in doing things that people don't think need doing.

"This survey is about providing a hit list of things that people consider to be the most important things to be tackled.

"The forum will use the information to influence whoever needs influencing, the city council or the county council. The councils are very receptive.

"It is likely that parking will be an issue. Anecdotally, everyone talks to me about parking. It is an issue that does need to be resolved.

"I know that the city council is looking at alternative parking provision and the county is looking at park and ride schemes.''

Forum chairman Colin Wilkes said: "This is a first for the forum. I am not aware of a survey on this scale before.

"It is as comprehensive as we can make it and it is designed to be easy for people to express their opinions through.

"Durham needs to look at where it is now and where it wants to go.

"Hopefully we'll be able to develop a strategy that will give us a way forward so that when the Millennium City development opens Durham will be the complete place to come to, shop in and enjoy.