RESIDENTS of a former mining town are being invited to play their part in improving their surroundings.

Durham County Council’s Community Action Team (CAT), made up of representatives from the local authority as well as partners such as police, the fire service and the NHS, are heading to Easington to work with residents and local businesses to enhance the local environment.

The ten-week programme begins on Monday and will see CAT tackling empty properties, fly-tipping and other environmental issues as well as improving health and wellbeing.

The team features representatives from the council, Durham Constabulary, County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust and environmental charity Groundwork.

The first two weeks of the project will be spent speaking to residents to establish priority areas of work.

This will involve an engagement meeting at Easington Social Welfare Centre on Seaside Lane, from 10am to 1pm on Tuesday.

The team will deliver improvements over six weeks, during which residents will be able to seek updates, identify new areas of concern and report any issues.

These will take place at the welfare centre on Tuesday February 14, from 3pm to 5pm and on Thursday March 9. from 11am to 1pm.

CAT will also be attending the Easington Police and Communities Together (Pact) meetings, again at the welfare centre, on Wednesday from 6pm and on Wednesday 8 March, both from 6pm.

The final two weeks of the project will see the scheme reviewed and future objectives set for the council and its partners.

The town is the fifth and final CAT destination of 2016/17 with the programme for 2017/18 to be released soon.

Joanne Waller, the council’s head of environment, health and consumer protection said: “Easington Colliery is the last project in the 2016-17 programme and we know that by listening to residents we can make it as successful as the others.

“The drop-in sessions and residents meeting allow local people to have their say on the priorities we should focus our work on and what is in most need of improvement. We’d encourage as many people as possible to come along.”

“We’d also welcome residents and businesses that would like to find out more about the Community Action Team and the programme in Easington Colliery.”

To find out more about CAT’s upcoming work in Easington Colliery, contact the team by phone 03000 261 016 or e-mail communityactionteam@durham.gov.uk