Residents are being urged to play a bigger part in a multi-million pound regeneration scheme to ensure the good work on three Bradford estates continues when Government funding comes to an end.

The call for greater involvement in community activities and redevelopment schemes on Royds follows criticism from a group of Delph Hill residents that the project to refurbish their homes has left them with a repairs headache.

As reported in the Telegraph & Argus, a small group of residents claim the standard of work carried out by housing contractors during phase two of the Royds regeneration is not up to scratch.

Their complaints include peeling wallpaper, sloping work surfaces and inward-opening gates on driveways which make it impossible to park cars.

But fellow Delph Hill resident and chair of the Royds physical working party, Carol Dickinson, says the apathy of a small number of tenants can make it difficult to iron out the defects.

She said: "Every refurbished house is checked and double checked, but we cannot arrange to have defects made good unless the tenant makes contact with Royds or the Council's housing office.

"This was the case with two of the complaints. Inspection officers called to the houses on several occasions and letters were left. Unless people tell us when something is wrong the inspectors assume everything is okay.

"During phase one we had a tenants steering group. It was yet another contact point to make sure any problems were sorted out.

"But there is no steering group for phase two because no-one volunteered. Some tenants are willing to complain, but they won't take on any responsibility themselves."

She added that when the Single Regeneration Budget funding ends in March 2002 the new community schemes and organisations set up by Royds will need the backing of tenants.

"That's what Royds is about - helping people to help themselves."

l Royds residents are reminded that the Royds Community Association HQ at Sunnybank House, Huddersfield Road, will close over the Christmas period and re-open on January 4.

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