RESIDENTS in North Somerset are being asked to get involved in helping shape the way the district may look in the next 20 years. By 2026 Government and Regional Assembly dictats on housing requirements may mean that North Somerset will need to grow by the

RESIDENTS in North Somerset are being asked to get involved in helping shape the way the district may look in the next 20 years.By 2026 Government and Regional Assembly dictats on housing requirements may mean that North Somerset will need to grow by the equivalent of two new communities, the size of Clevedon, at Weston-super-Mare and to the south west of Bristol.North Somerset Council has published the issues and options document of the North Somerset Core Strategy, in which it looks at ways the new communities could look and work, as well as how and where green belt protection against development could be extended in the Nailsea, Clevedon and Yatton areas.The document also looks at the future roles of villages and towns and how they may serve the surrounding areas and whether some modest growth could be beneficial.North Somerset Council deputy leader responsible for strategic planning, highways and economic development, Elfan Ap Rees, said: "We need to take the opportunity now to make sure that if these developments have to go ahead, we provide the right extra services, consider global warming, energy saving and other issues and make them distinctive and inviting places to live."For all those reasons we would like residents to get on board and the issues and options stage is an excellent opportunity for people to get involved at the very outset in shaping North Somerset's future."The North Somerset Core Strategy looks at the whole district and is currently in its early stages.It will be the first of a number of documents to take the place of the current North Somerset Replacement Local Plan.A series of exhibitions outlining the plan is being held across the district during October.From October 12-16 there will be a core strategy exhibition at Clevedon library from 9.30am-7pm and at Somerfield supermarket, Nailsea, from October 17-22 and then at Waitrose, Portishead, from October 23-26 from 9.30am-7pm.The documents will also be available on line from October 8 on the council's website at www.n-somerset.gov.uk or at any local library.People can also request a copy by contacting the planning policy team on 01275 884599 or emailing planning.policy@n-somerset.gov.uk