THE people of a Teesside community have a chance to comment on the creation of a new town square.

There are plans to create a town square in Hartlepool's Headland area and a two-day public exhibition will be held next week.

Four designs from different property development firms will be on show and the public can pick their favourite.

The exhibition is in the Croft Room of the Borough Hall on the Headland. On Wednesday, it will run between noon and 7.30pm, and on Thursday, it runs between 10am and 7.30pm.

The four design firms have each produced a proposal for redesigning the area in front of the Borough Buildings between Middlegate, the promenade, St Hilda's Church and Northgate.

The town square project is spearheaded by the North Hartlepool Partnership and Hartlepool Borough Council.

The North Hartlepool Partnership is using money from regional development agency One NorthEast's single regeneration budget to revitalise the area.

The four design firms were chosen from a shortlist of ten by members of the town square project steering group, which includes the North Hartlepool Partnership, the Headland Parish Council, Hartlepool Council and One NorthEast.

Councillor John Marshall, chairman of the North Hartlepool Partnership, said: "Please come along to the consultation days and put your views in writing so that we can see what you have said.

"The future of the town square area - an area we can all be proud of - can be secured by your participation."

A final decision on the winning design will be made after the consultation with residents by a steering group including representatives of the North Hartlepool Partnership, and Hartlepool Council's portfolio holders.

A council spokesperson said that resident's opinions would be a key part of making that decision.

Work to create the new town square will start early in the New Year.