AN EXHIBITION highlighting plans to improve a former colliery village goes on show next week.

Works to improve Esh Winning, near Durham City, are scheduled to start in the spring and residents are now being given the chance to outline their priorities.

Durham County Council, Durham City Council and Esh Winning Parish Council are involved in the environmental improvement works for the village centre.

Proposals include resurfacing the Market Place, new paving to complement the work already carried out in Durham Road, Newhouse Road and Station Avenue, replacing damaged kerbs, new street furniture and improvements to bus stops and parking areas.

The exhibition outlining the proposals and the type of materials to be used will be on show in Woodland Road Communal Hall between 2pm and 4pm on Wednesday, October 19. The following day, from noon to 7pm, the exhibition will move to the Community Centre in The Wynds, where it will remain on display for two weeks, ahead of the closing date for comments on November 4.

Visitors will be able to talk to county council staff about the scheme.

Councillor Jean Chaplow, who represents the area on Durham County Council, said: "So far, we've set aside £140,000 for the improvements from our urban and rural renaissance budget and we're also trying to identify further funding from the Local Transport Plan budget.

"It's also hoped that the City of Durham Council, and other organisations, can also attract further funding.

"The amount of work that can be done depends on the funding available, so at the moment it's rather like a wish list of improvements.

"We're asking people to set out their priorities so that we know where to concentrate our efforts."