Hundreds of key players are to be asked about plans to merge Bradford Chamber of Commerce with the district's Training & Enterprise Council.

More than a thousand companies and civic and community leaders are to be consulted on the proposal which has been given the go-ahead by the board of the TEC and the council of the Chamber.

The new organisation, which should be up and running by September, will be shaped by the views of the people who take part in the joint consultation exercise.

Chamber director Sandy Needham said today that the British Chambers of Commerce and the TEC National Council would also have to be consulted on the proposal.

She added: "We will be writing to people and holding meetings to work out how the merger should take place. We expect to be creating an organisation which does what we are doing now - and more - so that the benefits which member companies have continue."

A document outlining the way ahead for the proposed Bradford Chamber of Commerce, Training and Enterprise is expected to be drawn up by the end of March and submitted to the regional Government Office.

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