Today we are announcing the launch of ‘Ask Stanley 2016’, a comprehensive consultation exercise with Stanley Residents. We want to know what you like about your area, what you don’t, and what you think should be done to improve both the good and bad things. We have put together a short questionnaire and will be trying to get as many people as possible to participate over the next six weeks. The more people take part and the more feedback we get, the better chance we have of identifying the real priorities of Stanley people.

We will use the results to identify issues and options for a more detailed questionnaire to be sent out later in the year and we will use all this evidence to build an action plan for the next five years.

To reach as wide an audience as possible, we are sending a hard copy of the questionnaire to every address in Stanley. The questionnaire will be in the centre pages of the ‘Stanley Life’ magazine, which will be distributed across the parish in the week commencing 18th January. We will also be going out into the community and have arranged sessions to discuss the consultation at:

Catchgate Primary School – 08.30am to 12.30pm Tuesday 9th February

Craghead Village Hall – 09.30am to 11.30am Wednesday 10th February

South Moor Methodist Church – 6pm to 8pm Tuesday 16th February

Tanfield Lea Community Centre – 6pm to 8pm Monday 22nd February

Asda – still to confirm date

Market day – Thursday 21st January 0900am to 1200pm

We will also be speaking to the schools because we want to capture the views of our young people – every person currently aged 13 or over will reach the age of majority during the lifetime of this plan so we need their opinions – any positive changes we can make will have the greatest impact on them.

The Consultation questionnaire can be found on our website at the following address: https://www.stanley-tc.gov.uk/ask2016

Please take the time to complete the questionnaire. Your views are important to us.