What do you think needs to be done to improve Bristol’s central area? That’s the question that is being put to people living and working here as the council launches a new round of consultation over the future development of the city.

Bristol City Council is already consulting on two key documents which contain options for future land use in the wider city. Now attention is focusing on the central area of the city, which will be covered by a separate set of options.

People have until October 22, 2010 to submit their ideas or comment on other people’s, which they can do by visiting www.ideasforbristol.co.uk

The council has already completed the first round of consultation which asked people which parts of the centre they liked and which they wanted to change. The results of this can be found by following links to the Bristol Central Area Action Plan pages on the Council’s website, at www.bristol.gov.uk/bdf

The main themes that emerged from that very successful consultation were explored at an event in July, at the Watershed, where around 50 stakeholders began to develop options to address the issues and challenges facing the central area. The ‘Ideas for Bristol’ website is your chance to add to that debate and to contribute to a plan for the central area for the next 15 years.

In all, the consultation exercise, which featured a cherish and change interactive map via the council website, attracted a total of 925 comments.

The Bristol Central Area Action Plan will set out a detailed vision to reinforce the unique character of the central area and will also cover the delivery of new homes as well as commercial, creative and leisure space.

Councillor Anthony Negus, Cabinet Member for Strategic Housing and Regeneration, said: “Everyone living and working in Bristol has a vested interest in sharing their ideas or having their say on ideas which have already been put forward. We’re looking for realistic and deliverable suggestions.

“I know many people feel as passionately as I do about conserving what’s special here and ensuring we provide the best for the future. Bristol has built a deserved reputation as a creative city. Here’s a chance to play your part.”

Ideas which have been put forward so far range from relatively small changes, such as building a cyle path and pedestrian way along Nelson Street, or turning The Bear Pit into a flower, produce or craft market, to major ones, such as closing or removing major roads and reopening covered waterways.

The Bristol Central Area Action Plan is being developed as part of the Bristol Development Framework (more information about this is available at www.bristol.gov.uk/bdf. Anyone wishing to be kept up to date with the progress of the Development Framework can e-mail bdf@bristol.gov.uk to request that they be added to the council’s contacts database.