QUESTIONNAIRES will be sent out to homes throughout the Ribble Valley this week to gauge public opinion on how the area could be developed over the next century.

The letter drop, one of the biggest public consultation exercises ever to be carried out in the district, is part of the Government's Market Town Initiative programme.

Small businesses and retailers will also be asked for their views on issues including staff training, recruitment, car parking and town centre pedestrianisation and visitors to Clitheroe will also have their say when volunteers take to the town's streets to discover their shopping habits.

Clitheroe has been chosen as one of the country's market towns in need of regeneration and has already secured funding to achieve this.

Home owners will be quizzed for their views on features of the town such as Clitheroe market and Clitheroe Castle, as well as on topics such as environment, health, crime and anti-social behaviour, housing transport, shopping, sport and leisure and the town itself.

The group carrying out the action plan for the town is Clitheroe the Future, which was formed in April last year and recently appointed Andrew Swarbrick to co-ordinate the regeneration plans.

Anyone who has received a questionnaire is asked to return it to the Trinity Centre, Wesleyan Row, Clitheroe, BB7 2JY.