RESIDENTS and businesses are to be given a say in sweeping improvements aimed at breathing life into a market town.

The initiative is the work of a partnership between Durham County and Chester-le-Street District councils, to regenerate the town centre.

The scheme aims to build on the successful traffic management measures limiting access to Front Street.

It is hoped that making the area more attractive will make it safer, help to revitalise the centre, and attract new investment.

The £2m enhancement will include several phases of work, and is planned to start in September on the eastern side, at the northern end of Front Street.

Phase one, which will involve £120,000 of expenditure this year, includes changing the bus circulation routes by moving bus stops from South Burns to Front Street.

It will also involve widening and resurfacing pavements on the eastern side of Front Street, and planting trees.

New street furniture will be provided and traffic signs repositioned, to direct vehicles away from Front Street.

District council leader Councillor Malcolm Pratt said last night: "Initiatives such as this are very important to the character of the town centre.

"In partnership with the county council, we aim to make Chester-le-Street a vibrant place to live, work and visit."

County council environmental director Chris Tunstall said: "The partnership between the two councils follows a regeneration study by the Civic Trust, which identified areas of the town centre where substantial improvements can be made

"That study forms a blueprint for the work we have planned, but it is important that we undergo an extensive public consultation process before each phase of the programme is implemented."

The preliminary work for the regeneration project began in February 1998, when a traffic management scheme was introduced, banning all vehicles, except buses, from Front Street.

It succeeded in removing 10,000 vehicles a day from the road.

Anyone wishing to comment on the proposals should contact Tom Watson, planning manager, Chester-le-Street District Council, Civic Centre, Newcastle Road, Chester-le-Street, DH3 3UT.

Or they can contact Nick Jones, environment and technical services department, Durham County Council, County Hall, Durham.