RESIDENTS are being encouraged to help shape the future of a Teesdale parish.

Residents of Toft Hill and Etherley are being urged to fill in a questionnaire to formulate a parish plan.

The plan aims to provide a blueprint for the future of Etherley parish, documenting the thoughts and aspirations of local people.

Parish councillor Paul Ryman, the chairman of the parish plan steering group, said: "Once we have it ready, we can use it as a way of backing up requests for funding.

"It can provide a strong argument for grant requests."

Mark Robson from the Countryside Agency helped Etherley Parish Council obtain funding for the plan and in order to accurately reflect the views of residents, every house in the parish has been sent a copy of the questionnaire.

Mr Ryman anticipates the lack of a bypass in the village and the provision of play areas are likely to be popular subjects.

He said: "Obviously the bypass is outside of the parish council's remit but this plan will give us an idea of what people really think. For example, there might be businesses who don't want a bypass.

"But it's not just big things like that, it's everything, such as what people feel about the emergency services, access to health facilities, transport, all sorts of things.

"One of the problems we have is the parish is so spread out, but if something is not relevant, people only need fill in what they feel is pertinent. They don't have to fill in the whole kit and caboodle."

The deadline for completion of the plan has been extended from September 14 until September 30, to allow people more time to complete it.

A competition to design a logo was held earlier in the summer and Anna Lee Coverdale from Toft Hill school won £25 for coming up with the winning design.

As an added incentive there is a £100 prize draw for people who return their completed questionnaires to the designated collection points.

Questionnaires can be returned to the village shop at Toft Hill, Toft Hill Post Office, High Etherley Post Office and High Side filling station on Bildershaw Bank.

Questionnaires can also be collected on request. For further information, please call (01388) 832182, (01388) 835712 or (01388) 833293.