MORE than 4,000 people have responded to Salisbury Cathedral’s draft master plan consultation.

The six month consultation, which closed on December 31, will produce master plan designed to provide a framework and vision for future plans.

The Cathedral and Chapter is now sifting through the feedback and will continue to consult with stakeholders and partners in order to produce an interim report.

This report will feed into future revisions of the plan and be submitted to Wiltshire Council.

As part of the consultation, a range of representatives were consulted whilst five open days were hosted by the Cathedral.

Meanwhile, an online survey on the Cathedral’s website attracted more than 1,000 responses.

Jackie Molnar, the Cathedral’s Executive Director and Chapter Clerk said: “This is a tremendous response and we would like to thank everyone who took part.

“Cathedrals need to plan ahead in decades rather than in weeks or months and our draft plans look forward some fifty years.

“We set out to give as many people as possible an opportunity to contribute and it’s hugely gratifying that so many chose to share their views.

“It’s also a great reflection of the affection and esteem that people have for the Cathedral both within Salisbury and further afield.”

Ideas mentioned as part of the draft master plan include the development of the Cathedral’s Works Yard and the potential opening up of the south side of the Cathedral to visitors for the first time.

Jackie said: “We will now consider all of the extensive feedback we’ve received and expect to be able to share key themes arising from the responses received in the first part of 2016.

“In due course a final version of the master plan will be provided to Wiltshire Council for its agreement in principle.

“However, it’s important to remember that the progression of any of the individual ideas within the overall master plan will require detailed proposals that will be subject to the usual planning procedures including further opportunities for people to comment.”