A FOUR-year programme aimed at rejuvenating a once-troubled York estate is nearing completion.

City of York councillors are now putting together plans to continue successful community projects once the North Clifton Regeneration Partnership (NCRP) ends in March.

The partnership was formed in 1998 and won Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) funding the following year.

Since then it has been involved in a number of groundbreaking Clifton projects, ploughing £1.6 million into the community.

Clifton councillor Alan Jones said the council was anxious to ensure work done by the NCRP was continued and maintained.

He said: "The atmosphere has changed in Clifton.

"People feel more positive and secure and obviously we want that to continue."

NCRP successes include setting up a pedestrian-friendly home zone in Wilberforce Avenue and playing a leading role in the ongoing development of the former Imperial Hotel site. It is also working with local drugs charities to provide an outreach service to Clifton's drug users and has helped set up the popular local "handyperson" service.

The council's plans for Clifton after NCRP ends include maintaining local housing surgeries and putting a comprehensive neighbourhood agreement in place.

The Foxwood and Bell Farm areas of York already have neighbourhood agreements, which guarantee residents certain levels of service from the council.

Coun Jones also said the NCRP's offices, in Burton Green, could be kept open under a future council initiative.

He said: "That is one for the future, but there have been ideas of extending the life of those offices.

"They are really popular with residents and mean whenever they had an issue to raise they don't have to trail all the way into town. There is a place they can go that is right on their doorsteps.

"It is difficult to start when trying to talk about the good the SRB has done, because it has been absolutely fantastic for Clifton.

"It has enabled local groups to come together and achieve the objectives they are working for.

"At first I think some residents were disappointed the changes were not bricks and mortar, as they were in Bell Farm, but as well as bricks and mortar development in Clifton there has been investment in people."

Councillors were to debate the proposals for Clifton's future from 6.30pm today, at York Guildhall.

Updated: 09:33 Monday, November 04, 2002