People are today urged to play a vital role in shaping the future of Norwich, by helping leaders to forge a vision for what the city will be like by 2040.

Norwich Evening News: Norwich Vision.Norwich Vision. (Image: Archant)

A project to create a vision for the city for the next two decades has been launched, but Norwich City Council needs to hear from the public about what they think should be priorities.

The Evening News today backs City Hall's call for people to get involved. We are asking our readers to answer two questions:

What are the top three things that you think make Norwich a good place to live now?

What are the top three challenges you think need to be tackled to make Norwich a great place in 2040?

Norwich Evening News: Aerial view of Norwich. Picture: Mike PageAerial view of Norwich. Picture: Mike Page (Image: Copypright Mike Page, All Rights ReservedBefore any use is made of this picture, including dispaly, publication, broadcast, syn)

This Thursday, around 150 delegates, from city organisations, businesses, charities and councils will attend a conference at Norwich City Football Club's Carrow Road stadium to help forge a collective vision for the future.

The idea is that, with councils increasingly unable to do everything they did in the past given dwindling resources, responsibility for keeping Norwich a fine city will become a collective responsibility.

Council bosses say, although the city has a thriving economy and cultural scene, with highly-rated shopping and top universities, it is a tale of two cities.

They say there remains poor educational attainment, health inequalities, pockets of deprivation and an increase in rough sleeping on Norwich's streets. And they say only by coming up with a long-term plan, where all organisations work closely together, will those challenges be overcome.

Norwich Evening News: You can have your say in what Norwich will be like by 2040. Picture Archant.You can have your say in what Norwich will be like by 2040. Picture Archant. (Image: Archant)

Alan Waters, Labour leader of Norwich City Council, said: 'It's difficult to predict what might happen in the future - there are always surprising twists and turns. But what I do know is that a city that works together and shares a common purpose is a city that is able to grasp opportunities and weather even the most difficult storms'.

The city council has already commissioned research to help forge the vision. That has included speaking to shoppers, telephone interviews and focus groups.

• You can send the form to us at Evening News city survey, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich, NR1 1RE.