THE fourth and final part of a major plan to rejuvenate a York estate is almost under way.

The North Clifton Regeneration Partnership was formed in 1998 with a four-year brief to improve the lives of estate residents.

Project manager Tanya Lyon said: "This is an exciting but crucial year for us. We will be concentrating on existing strategies to make sure the work we have done is sustainable."

The NCRP's original aims included enhancing the education, skills and employment prospects of residents, promoting sustainable regeneration, supporting the growth of local business and improving community safety.

Successful NCRP projects in the past year include playing a leading role in the redevelopment of the old Imperial Hotel site, relandscaping the Kingsway North regeneration area and setting up home zones in Wilberforce Avenue and Jacobi Close.

The aim of home zone streets is to "reclaim" them for the pedestrian from the motorist.

Plans for the coming year include implementing a drug reduction scheme to tackle the area's drug misuse problems, completing a neighbourhood agreement and finishing the refurbishment of the Crombie Avenue play area.

New CCTV cameras are also due to be installed on the Kingsway North roundabout and in Ashton Park.

It is hoped the cameras will help combat the fear of crime, as well as protect work to revitalise shops in Crichton Avenue, and the Imperial site.

Tanya Lyon added: "The key element of the final report is giving the residents the training and support they need to take on more responsibility for services in their area.

"We want them to run things themselves through a community company that is planned."

City of York Council's executive member for housing, Coun Viv Kind, its director of community services, Jim Crook, and service spokesman David Horton, are due to meet and discuss the report on Tuesday.

Updated: 13:16 Saturday, April 06, 2002