PEOPLE living in North Yorkshire are to be given their say on whether they want to loosen their links with London and replace them with regional rule.

Debate is currently taking place in several parts of the UK about the need for regional assemblies, which would take over responsibility for a range of local duties from central government bodies.

Before a regional assembly is set up the region's residents are to get the chance to vote on it in a referendum. Before a referendum is called the level of interest in a regional assembly has to be assessed by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

This is being done through a "soundings" exercise, currently being considered by senior members of North Yorkshire County Council.

Official response forms have been drawn up by Mr Prescott's office, but letters and petitions from members of the public and other organisations will be considered.

Opinion polls will also be taken into account, but it has been stressed the polls must relate only to the level of interest in a referendum and not the level of interest in a regional assembly.

Telephone polls are to take place, while the districts within North Yorkshire are set to carry out their own consultations.

These include consultations with citizens' panels in the Selby and Ryedale districts.

Murray Naylor, the county council's deputy leader, agreed the consultation period - the deadline is March 3, 2003 - was short.

He said: "We have got to try and get it completed as well as possible. There is a fair degree of ignorance on the part of the public as to what is involved and I do not decry them for that. If people do not know how the present structure works how can they get their minds round a new one?

"Despite that a very wide consultation will take place and the more views and opinions that can be gathered the better."

Coun Naylor, who is also deputy leader of the council's Conservative group, said he has detected little support among North Yorkshire residents for a regional assembly.

And he said the Conservatives would be likely to campaign for a "no" vote in any referendum.

"We would not wish to change the present structure," he added.

The proposals are set to be debated at next Tuesday's meeting of the county council's executive. The meeting starts at 11am. Response forms can be found at www.regions.odpm.gov.uk/governance/prepbill/index.htm.

Updated: 12:11 Tuesday, December 31, 2002