Aberdeen residents are being invited to give the City Council their views on a new Open Space Strategy.

The draft document sets out a vision for new and better open spaces in Aberdeen and aims to improve the environment, health and the economy.

The council has already undertaken an audit of open spaces, looking at the amount of each type of open space in the city as well as their quality and how accessible they are to the communities around them.

The views and opinions of everyone who uses or would like to use Aberdeen's open spaces were sought as part of the audit and used to help develop the new strategy for their management, enhancement and development.

Public events were held during 2010 to get the input of individuals, communities, partner organisations and other interested parties in the development of the Open Space Strategy, which covers parks, gardens, playing fields, woodland, river corridors, play areas, allotments and civic space.

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Evidence shows that high-quality, accessible open space delivers a wide range of social, environmental and economic benefits, which are priorities for communities, the council and the government. Research also highlights the negative impacts of poor quality and degraded local environments on people's quality of life.

The draft strategy has now been launched and is out for public consultation until 15 July.

Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure convener Councillor Kate Dean said: "Aberdeen is blessed with some of the best green space in Scotland, which makes for a beautiful city environment and contributes to the health and wellbeing of everyone. The quality of a city's green space is also hugely important economically and can make all the difference when businesses are weighing up where to establish a new venture.

"Our draft strategy shows our commitment to maintaining the excellence of our environment and to making it even better for the benefit of everyone who lives, works and studies in Aberdeen and for the generations to come."

Also out for public consultation is Supplementary Planning Guidance on Open Space. This document will be used by the City Council, developers, communities and others to help deliver the Open Space Strategy. River Dee.

(GK)