Document celebrates London

(First Edition)

LONDONERS and commuters will get a chance to tell the Government about improvements they would like to see in the capital in what John Major trumpeted yesterday as the biggest consultation exercise ever in the city, writes Stephen Goodwin.

A quarter of a million copies of a 40-50 page document 'celebrating' London have been ordered by the Department of the Environment for distribution free of charge from next week. It will contain a questionnaire to be returned post-free to John Gummer, Secretary of State for the Environment, with appropriate suggestions.

The Prime Minister, in his speech to the Lord Mayor's Banquet, said that the document would emphasise the 'best aspects' of the capital. 'No other city has more to offer in terms of art, recreation, music, theatres, museums, parks and gardens - the list is endless,' he said.

A DoE spokeswoman said the 20 chapters would include ones on transport and shopping. The document will avoid arguments about how the capital is governed.