IMAGINE it's the year 2021.  Does your town or village have enough affordable homes?  Is there employment for everyone?  Can you catch a bus into town?  Can you enjoy your leisure time locally?

 

If you want the answer to be yes to any of these questions and others that you may have in mind, then Harrogate Council wants to hear from you.

 

Over the past five months, a series of workshops has been held around the district as planners work on the district's Local Development Framework (LDF).  The LDF is the blueprint for how our area will develop in coming years.

 

The council wants residents to help plan the future by commenting on:

 

The growth of the district's towns and villages

The expansion of Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon.

How to build homes for local people at prices which they can afford.

How best to ensure businesses and town centres prosper.

How we can do more to protect and enhance the environment.

Ways we can improve local residents' quality of life.

 

Councillor Richard Cooper, Cabinet Member for Planning, is issuing an invitation to everyone in the district to attend evening workshops to discuss these issues.

 

He said:  "The future of our district does not belong to the local council but to local people.  We want all sections of the community to step forward and plan that future with us. 

 

"Government rules on what we can and can't do are restrictive but where we have room to manoeuvre we should exploit it.  If you have a vision for how Harrogate District should develop come and help make that vision a reality.  Our district has a special character that we fight day-in day-out to preserve.  Acting now will mean that special character will still be with us in 2021."

 

 

The workshops will start at 7.00 pm and finish by 9.00 pm.  All workshops in Harrogate will be at the Council Offices, Crescent Gardens and those workshops in Ripon will be at Hugh Ripley Hall, Skellbank.  

 

They will be held on:

 

Date:                                                   Topic                                                  Venue

 

Thurs 22 September 2005               Homes for Local People                  Harrogate

                                                            Growth options for Villages

 

Wed 28 September 2005               Homes for Local People

                                                            Growth options for Villages                     Ripon

 

 

Wed 5 October 2005                                    The Environment                     Harrogate

                                                            Residents and Communities

 

Tues 11 October 2005                        Travel                                             Harrogate                                                     Growth options for Harrogate

                                                            and Knaresborough                               

 

Wed 19 October 2005                                    Travel                                                 Ripon                                                             Growth options for Ripon,

                                                            Boroughbridge, Masham and

                                                            Pateley Bridge

 

Wed 26 October 2005                                    Jobs and Business                   Harrogate

                                                            Growth options for Harrogate

                                                            and Knaresborough

 

 

Anyone wishing to know more about the consultation process or ask questions should contact Julia Lamb on 01423 556586 or email ldf@harrogate.gov.uk Information is also available within the "Towards a Core Strategy" document and associated sustainability appraisal available on the council's website at www.harrogate.gov.uk/planning.

 

FURTHER INFORMATION:  Councillor Richard Cooper is available for comment on 07957 844380 or via Lynne Mee, Communications and Media Manager on 01423 556022.  Further technical details are available from Mr David Sykes, Planning Policy Manager on 01423 556581.