A LONG-TERM vision for York is to be drawn up by the protectors of the city's heritage.

York Civic Trust has joined forces with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation in an effort to produce a detailed study of how the city should develop.

It has arranged a meeting with City of York Council's chief executive, David Atkinson, in an attempt to get the local planning authority on board.

Trust chairman Darrell Buttery said: "All the members of the trust agree that we love living in York, and we could all say why we loved it. But we felt that no one had really put this in writing, nobody had said these are the features that make York so attractive, and what do we need to do to preserve them, protect them and enhance them?"

The vision would invite experts including geographers, sociologists and town planners, to look at the city and write a report on how they see it developing, and what needs to be done to prevent damage.

"At the moment, York is growing very fast economically, but it seems nobody's quite sure what we're heading to," said Mr Buttery.

"We need to ask where the city's going, and what, as a city, we want to be. It is a question of vital importance, but we haven't asked it yet."

The Civic Trust and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation came up with the idea after considering major developments proposed in Coppergate and on land behind York railway station. The trust, which is a voluntary body, and the foundation, would fund the study.

"We are obviously not decision-makers," said Mr Buttery.

"We are opinion-formers at best, and when we meet with the council this month we will be saying to them: 'can we help you make your decisions? Can we pay for this study to be done, and let you have the information to consider when you are making decisions?'"

The meeting with Mr Atkinson has been arranged for later this month.

Updated: 11:09 Tuesday, March 05, 2002