Looking to the future in Ryedale (From Gazette & Herald)

Looking to the future in Ryedale

BETTER facilities for young people and more affordable rural housing are top of the agenda for the future, say Ryedale residents.

Since last September groups of local people across the area have been working with the district council to help set up local action plans.

The plans, known as Community Investment Prospectuses (CIPs), are being put together as part of a ten-year project to improve residents' quality of life.

Concerns raised included poor public transport services in the Wolds area, the need to revamp or rebuild a number of village halls and better child care facilities.

But Jo Reilly, from Ryedale District Council, said housing and facilities for young people was high on everyone's list.

Yorkshire Rural Community Council has gathered essential information to link in with the CIPs, she said.

Helmsley had carried out extensive community consultation, she said, and Sheriff Hutton was in the final stages of a village appraisal.

The Pickering area partnership, which published its prospectus a year ago, is now taking forward some of the projects in its plan under its new chairman, former district councillor Debbie Aubrook.

"The CIPs are produced by people working together to gather information about what is already going on in their area, what facilities are available, and where there are gaps which can been filled," added Ms Reilly.

Updated: 11:51 Thursday, May 29, 2003