PEOPLE living in North Yorkshire are to be given their say in the long-term development of the county.

A consultation exercise is being launched at the end of this month for the county structure plan, which will be the blueprint for planning issues up to the year 2016.

The county and city of York authorities are carrying out the consultation jointly with the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales national parks. The plan will provide the framework for detailed local proposals and decisions about conservation and future development.

It is building on the response the authorities received to the last round of consultations, in March 2000.

People will have until March 28 to comment on the plan, copies of which can be found at libraries, council offices or on the website www.nystructureplan.org