WEST Somerset and Taunton Deane councils have jointly commissioned work which will feed into local plans for the authorities.
Part of the information gathering will include a retail study by Peter Brett Associates which will involve asking residents about their shopping and leisure preferences.
A telephone survey, involving around 1,000 residents across the two areas, will be conducted by NEMS Market Research.
The information provided will help give the councils a better understanding of how and where people like to shop and spend their leisure time.
The survey should take some 71/2 minutes to complete, and most approaches will be made outside normal working hours so that working households can take part.
The results of the survey will help to provide evidence for an Employment, Retail and Leisure Study which will form part of the wider planning policy evidence base for future retail needs in the area.
“The telephone survey will include a question about household spending in relation to income,” said a spokesman for the councils.
“Residents can be assured that all information gained from this question will remain confidential.
“We would welcome people taking part in the survey and greatly appreciate all responses. Anyone who may be contacted is under no obligation to take part.”