VILLAGERS are being asked for their views about a planned road scheme aimed at helping revive a former coalfield community.

Plans for the 3.16-mile Murton bypass, have gone on show in the County Durham village and in neighbouring South Hetton.

First drawn up in the mid-1990s as part of the East Durham Task Force Programme for Action, it has since been included in Durham County Council's Local Transport Plan, covering the years 2001 to 2006.

A bid for funding approval was made in July 2001 as part of a Coalfield Regeneration Route, promoted by the Durham county, Easington district and Sunderland city councils.

Requests for financial support have so far been unsuccessful, and the county council is reviving the project in partnership with Easington district to put a stronger case for Government funding.

The first step is a public consultation exercise about the bypass, which would join the A19 at Cold Hesledon, east of Murton, and link with the A182 and the B1285, west of the village.

Access would be improved to the A690 Sunderland/Durham road, and to the A1(M), while it would extend the first coalfield regeneration road, which runs east of the A19 to Seaham.

It would also run past the 64-acre former Hawthorn Cokeworks redevelopment site.

Plans have gone on display in both Murton's Glebe Centre and in South Hetton Community Centre, remaining on view until next Friday.

People are asked to submit their views about the scheme before the councils lodge their latest funding application.