Local residents are being invited to have their say on the future shape of the city at a series of City of York Council workshops starting this week (Wednesday, January 22, 2003).

Proposals set out in the city's Local Development Plan (LDP) include the city's first ever long term Green Belt boundary and new site specific allocations for housing, employment and open space for the next ten years.

The council proposed a number of revisions to the LDP in November. These included changes in provision for affordable housing, employment sites and the re-use of brownfield land. Other proposals included strengthening policies on sustainability and the need to protect the Minster's domination of York's skyline. Residents and businesses in the city will be able to offer their views on the proposals at a number of city-wide workshops and exhibitions, or by completing consultation forms, which will be available from Monday 3 February: 9 St Leonard's Place The Guildhall All York libraries The council's website (www.york.gov.uk/environment) Councillor Dave Merrett, leader of City of York Council, said: "The consultation period offers an opportunity for all residents to have their say on how they would like to see York evolve. The plan is absolutely key to this - it sets both the overall framework and the specific policies against which individual planning applications will be judged in the future so it's critical to get it right. "The exhibitions and workshops have been organised for local people and organisations and are intended to help you to understand the Local Plan, and how you can have an effective input into the process" All comments received through the consultation process will be collated and analysed. The cut off date for receiving comments is 5pm on Monday, March 17, 2003. Residents' views will be reported to the council in the summer (2003) for a final decision before the proposals go to a public inquiry, chaired by an independent government inspector.