THE North West Development Association starts a series of high-profile public panel hearings on Friday. This important new organisation, which comes into operation on April 1, will have a big say in the allocation of considerable cash resources throughout the region - including £200 million directly from the NWDA. It will operate through a framework formed by a Regional Economic Strategy currently being decided.

It will be published for consultation in June with a view to the final version being agreed - as required by the government - in the autumn.

Lord Thomas of Macclesfield, the NWDA chairman, has been encouraging an "open doors" consultation policy not pursued by other regions.

The former Managing Director of the Co-operative Bank said: "We are going to have an open door, consultative style policy for our new Regional Economic Strategy.

Panel

"The North-west is well ahead of other regions in preparing its strategy and we have to ensure that every sector, every industry - every good idea - is taken on board as we craft our region's future."

Sustainable development will be the subject when the first of a series of panel hearings is held on Friday at 9.45am at the Village Hotel, Centre Park, Warrington.

It will be chaired by Lord Thomas and involve members of the Board - none of them from the Bolton and Bury area.

It is open to interested parties wishing to attend in an observational capacity - tel: Alan Scott on 01925 644743

Presentations will include regional sustainability (Walter Menzies, Sustainability North West), climate change (Prof John Handley, University of Manchester), transport and mobility (Heather Crocker, Freight Transport Association), regional heritage (Richard Tullock, English Heritage), social exclusion and voluntary sector involvement in environmental improvement (Phil Barton, Groundwork North West) and the environment as a business opportunity (Eric Bichard, National Centre for Business and Ecology).

Future panel hearings will include social inclusion and TUC matters at Burnley on Tursday, April 8 and Greater Manchester and Mersyside matters at Warrington on April 22.

CBI North West is preparing its own submission to the NWDA.

An open meeting to discuss the regional economic strategy is planned for Monday, April 19 at Manchester United Football Ground.

It is open to all businesses in the North-west, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises.

Anyone wishing to attend should contact Geoffrey Piper or Katie Bray on 01744 755440.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.