WORK has started on implementing an environmental plan to improve Ferryhill Station.

The scheme was developed by Groundwork East Durham using money awarded from the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) last year.

The group gathered information and consulted widely with local people and interested parties to produce the plan.

The Ferryhill Station Masterplan identifies ten priority areas for environmental improvement and a possible further 25 smaller projects.

Additional SRB funding has been granted to carry out several projects and work is already under way. The priorities include environmental improvements and traffic calming at the Chilton Lane and Lough House Bank junction and improvement of the Old Pit Lane path.

Further developments are planned at the Surtees play area and improvements are lined up for the site of the proposed demolition of housing in Chapel Row, Trafalgar Street and Nelson Streets.

The first elements of the plan to be put into action are projects to improve the Neecol and Prismo industrial sites.

Small-scale improvements, including fence painting, are also being undertaken by trainees from Sedgefield Prospect Intermediate Labour Market, a partnership between Groundwork East Durham and Sedgefield Borough Council.

Stephen Armstrong of Goundwork said: "There has been an awful lot of consultation done in the Station, but they have never seen anything on the ground until now.

"Now we have come in and completed some of the projects and started some other work and we want to keep the momentum going."

A display on the work will be touring the community. Information will be displayed in Ferryhill Library and the Sure Start unit at Ferryhill Station Primary School from Monday, August 19, to Friday, September 6. Information sessions for young people will be held at primary and comprehensive schools.

Andy Coulthard, regeneration officer for Sedgefield council, said: "The report itself has involved the local people and they have identified the priorities, so it has been community-led right from the beginning to the end.

"Local people will continue to be getting involved in these programmes, and there will also be a lot of children taking part. That is what we try to emphasise in the regeneration programme.