PLANS to develop the heart of Bishop Auckland are to go before the public next week.

The regeneration scheme aims to breathe new life into the town's commercial district, and will be detailed in a week-long exhibition, starting next Thursday.

Town centre manager Derek Toon said: "This is the first time that we have appealed to 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 plan updates the previous town centre strategy - produced four years ago - and will be used to try to attract money to pay for developments.

So far, the council has consulted retailers, landowners, Durham County Council and Mr Toon on its proposals.

A public meeting was held in August last year, at which residents raised several issues -about the role of Forebondgate, 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.

The director for regeneration at Wear Valley District Council, Bob Hope, said: "We commissioned Red Box so there could be a much more independent and visionary approach to the future development of Bishop Auckland.

"What we want to know from this consultation is whether the public have the same view.

"We are looking for something that seeks to make a distinctive statement about Bishop Auckland.''

The exhibition will be in the town hall during normal opening hours.