AN eight-week campaign to clean up a village is set to start.

A first phase of a programme to improve the Shotton area in County Durham begins on Monday with residents and businesses being encouraged to influence the future of their community.

Durham County Council’s Community Action Team is targeting the area to tackle housing, environmental and health issues.

The first two weeks will involve talking to residents to identify problems and set out priorities.

It will then spend four weeks implementing the improvements or changes and putting ideas into action before dedicating the final two weeks to reviewing the scheme and setting future objectives.

Three drop-in sessions and a meeting will be held to allow residents to get updates on the progress of the team’s work as well as the opportunity to identify new areas of concern and report any issues.

The engagement meeting takes place at Shotton Community Centre on Wednesday, June 1 from 11am to 3pm.

Drop-in sessions are at the same venue on Wednesday, June 15 from 4pm to 6pm, Monday, June 20 from 10.30am to 12.30pm and Wednesday, June 29 June from 5pm to 7pm.

Joanne Waller, the council’s head of environment, health and consumer protection, said: “The CAT team are moving on to their third project this year and we want to invite residents in Shotton to help make it a success.

“It’s vital that local people and businesses use the meeting and drop in sessions to make their opinions heard, so we can focus our work on priority issues.

“We’d encourage all local residents to come along and give their views and learn more about the work the Community Action Team will be doing in Shotton.”

To find out more about the CAT’s upcoming work in Shotton, contact the team on 03000 261 016, or visit www.durham.gov.uk/CAT