Skipton agreement sets out action plan (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Skipton agreement sets out action plan

3:24pm Thursday 2nd February 2012 in Skipton & The Dales

A neighbourhood agreement – approved by Skipton’s Greatwood and Horse Close Residents’ Association – sets out key actions for the estate over the next three years.

It is one of the first in Yorkshire to be led by a residents’ association and the actions will be implemented by the estate committee, which includes representatives from housing associations, Craven District and Skipton Town Councils and North Yorkshire Police.

Among issues to be tackled are dog fouling and inconsiderate dog owners, anti-social behaviour, the quality of green spaces, facilities and activities for young and older people.

Yorkshire Housing’s neighbourhood services manager Michael Hewson said: “We have undertaken extensive consultation with residents to make sure the priorities for action in the neighbourhood agreement reflect the real concerns of local people.

“We worked closely with the local primary school and held a competition for the school children to design the front cover of the agreement. We had some brilliant entries and chose Thomas Wood’s design as the winner.”

And Dan Barker, chairman of the residents’ association, said: “The association has done some great work over the years, most of which goes unnoticed to some degree, but the association on its own simply cannot resolve some of the key issues we face today as a community. This is where the neighbourhood agreement comes into its own.”

A copy of the agreement has been delivered to every home on the Greatwood and Horse Close estate and Shortbank Road.