I NOTED with interest the article about Poppleton’s Neighbourhood Plan (The Press, August 4).

As a new ward councillor in Micklegate it has been really interesting to learn more about the proposed establishment of a Micklegate Neighbourhood Forum (currently out for consultation, closing on August 21).

If established, the Forum would draw up a Neighbourhood Plan for Micklegate based on the input of residents and the community - a process that is expected to take around two years.

Although still very much at the early stages I can see that with the right mix of people involved, having a Neighbourhood Plan for Micklegate could be of real benefit going forward.

It will give us a framework through which planning decisions could be assessed but more importantly it would allow residents to be more proactive about the way in which we would like to see our community develop.

The very fact that the community would be having these longer-term discussions is a positive thing and I urge all Micklegate ward residents to take an interest and get involved.

Cllr Jonny Crawshaw (Lab), Wentworth Road, York