Make your views known before it's too late, was the urgent plea being put out to Essex businesses.

The local structure plan that will determine the county's future development for the next 20 years or more is in its final stages of consultation - and not enough has been heard from business voices.

The Essex Chamber of Commerce has joined forces with the East of England Business Group to urge businesses to present their point of view, before the March 16 cutoff point.

Roger Humber, chairman of the East of England Business Group, said: "Essex business people should not underestimate the importance of the East of England plan, as it can set a framework for economic expansion and business growth for the next twenty years.

"Far more businesses need to take the time to express their comments and opinions. They ignore the structure plan at their peril."

John Clayton, chief executive of the Essex Chamber of Commerce, also urged as many businesses as possible to make representations.

The plan aims, amongst other objectives, to create 421,000 jobs in the region over the next two decades. Although the planners are not making public statements at this stage, privately they are understood to be concerned at the lack of input from the business community.

The summary produced by EEBG can be accessed on www.sqw.co.uk, under Publications. The outline structure plan can be viewed at www.eera.gov.uk

Published Monday February 21, 2005