THE challenges facing York over the next 20 years were outlined to a packed conference in the city.

Potential partners from more than 100 organisations attended the conference to plan the formation of Without Walls - a project aimed at mapping out a vision for York's future.

Key themes such as transport, housing, poverty, health and culture were discussed by delegates.

They also pinpointed what York's short-term and long-term priorities should be.

The emphasis of Without Walls is to create a vision based on what the community wants.

There will be wide-ranging consultation in the New Year.

Conference delegates heard a presentation on poverty in York given by Gary Craig, Professor of Social Injustice at the University of Hull.

His study found that one in six York people were still living in "absolute poverty", ie without enough money to have an adequate diet, pay housing costs, have proper sanitation and get basic health. The findings were similar to those in Seebohm Rowntree's poverty study in 1936, said Professor Craig.

Phil Wood, director of Comedia, gave a presentation on York's cultural life and possibilities for the future.

He said York was for many people "the shop window of Yorkshire's culture", but he warned about "assuming" what this role entailed.

Mr Wood said the city needed an "internationally-recognised" festival and suggested that its creative economy could be improved at grass roots level.

City of York Council leader Dave Merrett, chairman of the board which set up Without Walls, told the conference: "We want to look at what York will be like in 20 and even 30 years' time. This is our big opportunity to address that.

"We may need to think the unthinkable and see how we're going to solve York's traffic problems."

Residents wanting to contribute ideas straight away, or to register interest in attending the future public meeting, can write to: Without Walls, c/o The Guildhall, York, YO1 9QN, or e-mail info@yorkwow.org.uk

Updated: 12:09 Wednesday, November 27, 2002