RESIDENTS and business owners are being urged to help with plans to “move the city forward” and make sure they “fit the purpose” for Salisbury.

A consultation is currently taking place to gather views on the Salisbury Central Area Framework (CAF) which will set out plans to improve the city centre.

Wiltshire Council, with the support of Salisbury City Council as well as planning and urban designers Tibbalds, are developing the framework.

Tom Dobrasian, the programme director for economic recovery, gave an update on the framework and public consultation to Salisbury Area Board, on July 4.

Mr Dobrasian said: “We have proposed a number of objectives and we want to make sure those fit the purpose for Salisbury and move the city forward because those will help shape the framework project and policies going forward.

“We haven’t gone into the detail of the framework because we want to do this consultation properly and understand your views.”

The framework will focus on five themes including getting around (improving the area for walking and cycling); open space and landscape; creating vibrancy; bringing out the quality (improving public realm and quality/ maintenance of historic buildings); and character and distinctiveness.

Mr Dobrasian also said there are some broad proposals including character areas for the city ranging from the Cathedral Close area to the Chequers, adding: “We think with more planning policies, different types of developments and stronger, for example, design codes which would single out to developers what we be expected of them then the character of Salisbury can be improved. We are suggesting that as a proposal. If that has got agreement we will flesh those out.”

The framework is also looking at green areas and the rivers and “strengthening” and improving those linkages between them.

The consultation runs until 5pm on Friday, August 9, go to wiltshire.gov.uk/salisbury-future