People across the district are being urged to give their views on the future of Bradford city centre.

The invitation is sent out today from regeneration chief Simon Cooke as steps are taken to bring in an outside consultant to set out a plan on how the city should develop over the next 19 years.

Proposals to bring the experts in will go on the agenda of the first meeting of a new public/private partnership company which will manage the city centre.

The board and its chairman will be elected at the first meeting on February 6 which will then get down to business. Council officers are already working on an interim brief which will go to the meeting and be considered before the company tenders the contract.

But Coun Cooke, executive member for the economy, said today they also wanted the views of the public, businesses and organisations about the ethos of the city up to the year 2020.

It is hoped the city's first major blueprint will end the existing system of piecemeal development, amid criticism that buildings do not fit into the city's appearance and heritage.

Coun Cooke says it will show potential investors where the city is going.

He said today: "It will go to the first board meeting on its very first agenda.

"A planning brief will be prepared before the board considers bringing in the consultants."

Councillors from all political parties on Bradford Council have welcomed the proposal.

But leader of the Labour Group Council-lor Ian Greenwood said: "Action is what is needed. The city has had many plans in the past."

The move follows a highly controversial planning decision, opposed by the Telegraph & Argus to allow a bar and restaurant development on the prime Provincial House site. There are now fears that if the police move out of their dilapidated Tyrls headquarters developers may press for an unsuitable building on the site.

Anyone interested in giving a positive view on the future of the city is being invited to write to Councillor Cooke at City Hall, Bradford, BD1 1HY.