A GROUP set up to promote Craven's future prosperity has announced its first seven major projects almost 18 months after being first formed.

The schemes cover a wide range of activities and will mean a brighter Skipton waterfront, happier school holidays, better buses, a boost for small businesses, trouble-free trips for the disabled and computer training for students.

The Craven Counts Regeneration Partnership was founded to bring together organisations with a stake in Craven to steer the social, economic and environmental development of the district into the 21st century.

It is funded by Craven District Council and North Yorkshire Training and Enterprise Council, both of which will contribute £50,000 over the next three years, and is attracting grants from other agencies.

"This is just the beginning," said Craven Counts chairman Peter Walbank. "By harnessing the skills and experience of more than 30 organisations we are creating a forum which will allow everyone to have a say in how we should build a better future for our communities."

The seven projects are:

* A £10,000 contribution to the work on the Skipton Canal corridor to ensure that all towpaths will be accessible to the disabled.

* A pilot holiday activities programme for two weeks of the summer holidays. Transport will be provided in remoter areas with concessionary rates for low income families. Craven Counts has granted almost £10,000 to fund this project.

* Contributing £6,000 over three years to part fund the post of a transport officer to fund rural transport, which research showed to be one of the biggest problems for remoter communities, and to attract Government funds.

* Prepare a guide for the disabled outlining access arrangements at public buildings, pubs, restaurants, etc. Craven Counts is contributing £3,650 towards the first issue.

* Organising a series of "networking" events to encourage small businesses to meet and build up a network of suppliers and consultants. The first two events will be held in April with Barclays Bank.

* Supporting Craven College's new IT centre in Settle, due to open in April, with a grant of £4,000.

* Students in Year 11 will be encouraged to attend a local conference allowing them to see how computers are used in the workplace. A grant of £1,500 has been made.

"The majority of grants are quite modest. They have, however, been targeted with great care to ensure that a little money goes a very long way," said Coun Walbank.

Since its formation 18 months ago Craven Counts has been working on a "needs analysis" looking at jobs, education and training, community facilities, public and community services and healthy lifestyles and these initial seven projects are the first results of that analysis.

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