A partnership between Craven District Council and the people of Skipton's biggest estate has finally come to fruition.

The Greatwood and Horse Close Estate Agreement has been drawn up in a bid to offer tenants a greater say over the way their services are provided.

A special committee of tenant and community representatives will regularly get together with councillors and Council officials to oversee issues such as housing and the local environment.

And three new jobs will be created on site, including an estate manager, caretaker and clerical officer, ensuring that support for housing problems as well as more practical matters are covered.

The new staff will be based at a permanent office being set up at the local community centre on North Parade.

The manager will run the housing service while the caretaker will be responsible for minor repairs to houses and keeping the estate tidy, and will be expected to "pick up hypodermic needles on the estate."

Community services committee chairman Coun Beth Graham said: "The Estate Agreement is a major step in involving local people in the decisions which affect their daily lives."

Frances Burrows, chairman of the Greatwood and Horse Close Community Association, said: "Many residents have put in a lot of commitment into developing these proposals.''

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.