Community spirit

"MAKING our estate into a community" is the motto of Hawthorn Meadows Community Association.

And when you consider what this determined group of residents has achieved in such a short space of time, you realise those words are not an empty slogan, but a genuine mission statement.

The estate of about 170 homes was built off Water Lane, in Clifton, nearly two years ago. Most of the residents are tenants, mostly single parents with young children, but there are also a small number of retired people.

It has become the envy of many other estates in York because of the way its residents have united to focus on building a safe environment with a strong emphasis on community spirit.

Judy Anthoney, association secretary, said: "I used to live in an upstairs flat and I hardly ever knew my neighbours, so when I came here I was determined to get involved in the community."

Backed by the Home Housing Association, which runs the estate, and with help from the North Clifton Regeneration Project and other sources, much has been achieved.

It was here that private night-time security patrols, run by Selby-based Mayfair Security, were pioneered.

The service, which sees trained rangers patrolling the area with CCTV cameras on their marked vehicles, has helped to alleviate people's fear of crime and anti-social behaviour and has now been taken up in other areas.

Speed bumps were put up to deter car-snatchers, youngsters have grown flowers to brighten the estate's two play areas, a Neighbourhood Watch scheme operates, and residents can get involved in a range of events through the community association.

Now the association has opened of the estate's community house at 56 Brailsford Crescent.

After about eight months of hard work, the association has been able to lease the estate's former show house to use as a centre for its activities.

Vice-chairman Steve Etherington said: "We can only see things getting better at this point. We have come a long way in very short time with a lot of hard work by everyone. "The message to people is that we have got the community house now and the door is open. Tell us what you want and we will try our best to make it happen."

The three-bedroom end terrace will host a morning parent and toddler group and an after-school club alongside a packed programme of activities, which could include anything from karate to karaoke.

Guests speakers are to visit, independent advice service Future Prospects will be holding advice sessions on benefits and job training, adult educational opportunities are being looked at and computer facilities have been set up for people to learn computer skills or surf the Internet.

The area's community health worker will be using the house as her base and the community police officer will hold regular surgeries there.

The association's chairman Beth Dale, who also runs the estate's Neighbourhood Watch scheme, said: "The vision for the future of the house is that everybody on the estate will be using it."

The association would welcome offers of help from companies or other organisations and is also keen to hear from residents who want to join the committee. Anyone interested should call Beth Dale on 01904 692106.

Updated: 10:36 Saturday, August 18, 2001