DALES residents were given a chance to shape the future of a town yesterday.

An exhibition in Stanhope town hall outlined proposals for boosting business in the town centre by improving shops and services to attract visitors and give residents more choice.

Consultants Miller Research unveiled a draft action plan containing ideas such as creating extra parking, promoting local produce, installing seating, improving direction signs, creating pavement cafes and using hanging signs to give shops a co-ordinated image.

Other ideas included creating arts and crafts trails and walking routes, branding local produce and starting an environmentally friendly runabout bus service.

The researchers are halfway through a three-month study for County Durham Economic Partnership. They have already sent mystery shoppers to test customer care, looked at shopfronts and windows and examined key issues.

Researchers collected views from visitors to the exhibition and met traders.

Their findings will be set out in a report.

Senior consultant Chris Jones said: "It is important to come up with something that will benefit both the dale's residents and visitors.

"The main aim is to strengthen the local retail offer. Stanhope is not a clone town, and there is a lot of potential for visitors.

"It is a beautiful area which has a lot to offer. It is the country's last undiscovered wilderness, and we do not want to spoil that. We need to get the right balance."

Greengrocer Joan Rutherford said: "We all want Stanhope to move forward and there are some interesting ideas which could help improve the place. They have not said whether there is any money to go towards improving the shops. I am sure people would appreciate that."

Resident Frank Burdis said: "I would like to see more variety of shops. There is nowhere to buy shoes or clothes or go out to eat at night.

"Some good points have been made. They need to sort the parking out and make more space for disabled cars.