RESIDENTS now have the chance to tell Surrey County Council what they think about the future housing needs of the county from the comfort of their own homes.

By browsing the website, www.surreycc.gov.uk/talk, people living and working in Spelthorne can access information on the Let's Talk About Surrey site and send their views at the touch of a button.

The initiative is part of groundbreaking initiative for the council and its partners to gather residents views on a variety topics.

Website users will access news, details about forthcoming events, opportunities to register for e-mail updates, as well as information about future Let's talk about Surrey topics.

The first debate will be centred around how the government is forcing Surrey to find places to put 13,000 more homes than the county thinks can be fitted into existing urban areas.

Catriona Riddell, strategic planning manager, said: "We want to get the people of Surrey talking to each other and to us. You can even take part in the middle of the night via our brand new website: www.surreycc.gov.uk/talk.

"It won't take long but it will be important in shaping the things that we can do for you and your family."