CONCERNED Lancaster people plan to be taken seriously as stakeholders' in the future of the city.

They want a say in all major projects which change the face of the area.

And they will kick off the new It's Our City' campaign with a public meeting tonight (Wednesday) in the Gregson Centre on Moor Lane.

They say the first target is to set up meaningful dialogue' with the city council and development company Centros Miller over the scheme for the city's controversial canal corridor site.

The campaigners say everyone recognises the need to develop the area, which is bleak indeed'. But they want to be consulted over the future of organisations including Lancaster Music Co-op, a dance school and others.

Spokesman Cal Giles told the Citizen: "This site was to be the cultural quarter of Lancaster but suddenly we were faced with a retail-led development. This is not what residents want at all."

It's Our City campaigners are demanding that representatives are invited to masterplan' meetings to be held by the council and Centros Miller in the first week of December.

"It is vital that we, as stakeholders in the city, are included in any future planning," says Cal.

"Many planning mistakes have been made in Lancaster in the past but now we want a positive outcome to any redevelopment. By using our collective voices we can, we are sure, make this city more vibrant and enhance the lives of its inhabitants, businesses, and visitors."

The It's Our City public meeting at the Gregson Centre will start at 8pm this evening. Anyone can go along to make their views known.