EXTRA parking, more facilities for youngsters and a new football pitch are improvements identified by people living in Willington.

A meeting was held with residents last week to come up with ideas to be included in a draft development plan for the area.

It was organised by Durham Rural Community Council, which is drawing up the plan in response to funds being released by The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Lindsay Nicholson, rural development officer for Durham Rural Community Council said: "The plan is in its very early stages.

"The main problems highlighted by residents were the lack of parking in the town centre, the need for more youth areas and a new football pitch in Oakenshaw.

"We hope to have a plan ready by Christmas, when we will have formed partnerships with Wear Valley District Council and various organisations who can help us achieve our aims in the area.

"For example, to increase the amount of parking spaces in Willington we will have to discuss the spatial strategy of the area with the council to see whether it is viable."

Other key issues discussed at the meeting included a lack of disability access to shops, run-down shop buildings, a lack of play areas, a lack of a bus timetable in Willington and a need for more bungalows for the elderly and disabled.

Carol Sears, 65, from Low Willington, said: "It's about time something was done about vandalism in the area. We need somewhere where youths can hang out where they won't get bored.

"It's great that residents' views are being used rather than the organisations just choosing what they want themselves."

Groundwork West Durham and Darlington are also hoping to allocate some of their £1m liveability funding to Willington.

Bill Oxborough, Wear Valley district programme co-ordinator said: "As part of our greener, cleaner, safer initiative, we are happy to help the community council fund projects in Willington that tie in with our strategy.

"We have until March to spend the funding."

If you have any suggestions for projects in Willington, call Lindsay Nicholson on 01207-529 621.