LANCASTER residents have been invited to comment on how best to develop the city over the next 20 years.

Planners at the town hall have drawn up ambitious proposals to turn the city centre into a continental-style haven for shoppers and tourists including public art, landscaping and outdoor markets.

The Draft Strategy proposals have looked at how best to develop Lancaster to improve the environment, revitalise run-down areas and increase the city's attractiveness for residents, businesses and visitors.

Key features include creating a special cultural quarter centred on Church Street, New Street and Sun Street with pavement seating, artist's markets and book fairs plus special themed art works.

The much maligned Market Square fountain could go with the area being transformed into a possible performance space or market venue and the canal corridor redeveloped to create a mix of residential, commercial and cultural areas with plenty of open space. The ideas have been exhibited at St Nicholas Arcades and can still be viewed at Palatine Hall in Dalton Square.

A planning spokesman said: "We hope that as many local people as possible will visit the exhibition and comment on the proposals (comments forms are available at the exhibition). It will be amended in the light of comments received before it is finally adopted and, whilst it will not be possible to satisfy everyone, we will try to ensure that the strategy reflects the views of as many people and organisations as possible."

As part of the consultation exercise draft Development Briefs have been produced for the Canal Corridor North (between Moor Lane and St Leonardgate), the Canal Corridor South (between Quarry Road and the Auction Mart Car Park). And a revised Development Brief has also been produced for the Kingsway Baths site.

People can look at the documents on the council's website (www.lancaster.gov.uk) and see the exhibition at Palatine Hall until the end of May.