RESIDENTS of Bishop Auckland are being asked to help plan their town's future and confirm its role as one of County Durham's major commercial centres.

A week-long exhibition starting next Thursday, is open to the public to show plans and concepts on how Bishop Auckland might be transformed and to seek views about them.

The exhibition is part of Wear Valley District Council's vision to Put Bishop Auckland on the Map.

Town centre manager Derek Toon said: "This is the first time that we have appealed to the members of the community to help us develop their town.

"I am really looking forward to getting the views form the people who live in Bishop Auckland and the traders who work there.

"There are a few places in the town that need redevelopment and we want to give people a chance to have their say."

In May 2004, the council appointed a team of consultants led by Newcastle-based Red Box Design Group to produce a development plan for the town centre.

This new plan will update and build upon the previous town centre strategy, produced four years ago, and will be used as a basis for a funding bid.

So far the council has consulted retailers, landowners, Durham County Council and the Bishop Auckland Town Centre manager on its proposals. A public meeting was held in August last year where residents raised several issues of concern.

They said that the role of Fore Bondgate, car parking in the centre, the future of the Market Square, the redevelopment of North Bondgate and the Newgate Centre's integration with the rest of the town centre needed attention.

A spokesman for Durham County Council said: "Bishop Auckland is one of County Durham's most vibrant centres and the views, ideas and comments of local people on how best to revitalise the town will be an important part of plans to keep it that way."

The exhibition is launched at 1pm and runs until April 21.