A blueprint for life in historic Saltaire over the next decade will be delivered to hundreds of villagers from today.

The Saltaire Draft Management Plan has been drawn up in support of the village's bid to become a World Heritage Site and a summary is being sent to all who live and work locally.

By this time next year a decision is expected on whether the village and neighbouring Roberts Park is to get the international recogniition heritage site status would bring.

Whichever way that decision goes, people who live and work in Saltaire today are now being asked to help shape the way it is managed and developed.

The plan was prepared on behalf of the Saltaire Project Team by Bradford Council and a team of heritage consultants at Sheffield Hallam University following public consultation and workshops.

A copy has been sent to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) - whose Spanish inspector Eusebi Casanelles visited Saltaire last month - in support of the village's bid.

A decision to grant the status would rank Saltaire alongside the Egyptian Pyramids and Stonehenge as a site of historic siigniiiificance. A ruling is expected from Paris-based UNESCO members in December 2001.

The plan is supported by Shipley MP Chris Leslie, Bradford Council, the village society and Saltaire Traders' Association, as well as the Saltaire Project Team.

A second round of consultation - including another set of workshops - is to be held early next year to let people comment on the strategic plan. The aim for a final version to be completed by the end of next year and updated annually.

Steve Bateman, the council's heritage manager said the plan was not binding but it was designed to provide a framework for co-ordinated management of Saltaire, through partnerships with the community, site owners and groups such as Shipley College, the Environment Agency and Railtrack.

Its aims included preserving Saltaire's special qualities for future generations.

He said: "It's a massive opportunity and I think the benefits of having this plan will be a big shot in the arm for the area. It identifies what issues are facing Saltaire and how we propose to tackle them.

"The plan would stand for ten years when, if we do get World Heritage status, there would be another inspection to make sure the village is being properly looked after.''

MP Mr Leslie, who lives in a former mill workers' cottage in the village, said: "The management plan is a very useful document because it brings together the village's history and shows how the whole community can get involved in running and managing Saltaire and have a stake in how it develops.

"The ultimate objective is to show off the history and heritage of a place we are immensely proud of to the wider world but the management plan will ensure we maintain and keep Saltaire in a condition which will benefit not just visitors but the people who live there as well.

"All the partners involved have done a terrific job. They are extremely professional documents which show off the very best of the village.

"The more people involved in the consultation the better and what we need is a healthy dialogue on what's needed to improve the quality of life for residents as well as visitors.

Village society chairman Clive Woods said: "The plan finally pulls together a whole stream of thoughts that have been floating around for about 12 years in a single document, which is the way forward.

"It will help our bid for World Heritage status and even if the bid failed we would still have the management plan in place.''

Anne Heald, boss of Saltaire Tourist Information Centre and secretary of the traders' association, said: "The plan seems to aim to tackle both the positive and negative sides of the village and World Heritage status.

"There are a lot of very positive things in it which will make Saltaire a better place for everyone who lives and works in the village as well as those who visit."

Councillor David Herdson (Con, Shipley West), chairman of Bradford Council's Shipley area panel and the Saltaire Project Team, said: "Delivering the summary to the people of Saltaire completes the first round of public consultation about World Heritage status for the village. A further series of consultation workshops will be held in the new year ."