Old shop to reopen as estate base

Community Regeneration York (CRY) has applied for planning permission to convert a former supermarket, in Crichton Avenue, Clifton, into a base for community groups Community And Recreation Sport (CARS) and Clifton Community Services.

The building would provide a drop-in service for residents to get advice, training sessions, practical help, information and access to the new Clifton website.

The handyperson scheme offering low-cost odd jobs for the elderly and low income families would also run from the premises.

Simon Brereton, chief executive of CRY, said: "We're getting together local organisations that are trying to do things in Clifton.

"We're trying to help them through the process so that they can do a lot more."

Tees Valley Housing Group bought the shop and renovated it with the help of a £10,000 Single Regeneration Budget grant.

Mr Brereton added: "I hope it is going to be a really useful service, somewhere people can call in and get a whole lot of things done.

"We're hoping to run help sessions where people can drop in and get help or find out what's going on in the area, maybe look something up on the Internet or arrange to have a few odd jobs done." Mr Brereton said the plans would be finalised immediately if the council approved planning permission.

He said: "All the groups are ready and waiting to spring into action."

Tees Valley Housing Group has also renovated four houses and a flat in a bid to house homeless people.

Five properties in Clifton, Acomb and Tang Hall, the first of which will be ready next week, have been renovated in partnership between City of York Council and Tees Valley Housing Group.

Coun Ruth Potter, the council's executive member for housing, said: "The development is another example of the council working in partnership with housing associations and the local community to provide affordable housing and community facilities."

Updated: 08:56 Thursday, April 24, 2003