The last occasion, upon which I wrote for this column, we were on the verge of holding an “Away Day” for members and local residents to update them on our progress after 18 months in formal existence. It was a good turnout with more than 40 people joining the team at the Crown Hotel to be updated on some of our existing projects and initiatives and hear about some of the plans for 2008 and beyond. We welcomed some potential new members and they have given us some good comments and feedback on our plans- so much so, we are working it into our plans and aim to be back in touch with all of them shortly to get them more involved. My thanks to Val Holland of MBED who facilitated much of the morning and to Rebecca Micallef of HBC, who pulled a lot of the arrangements together.

As we approach Christmas, I’ve been reflecting on successes and looking forward to what Santa Claus might bring Yore Vision. It’s been a very successful year for 2 of our projects -–the Walks Group have raised £20k to implement noticeboards and other information to promote a series of walks in the Lower Ure Valley- from Roecliffe to Aldwark. This work should be in place for just after Easter, when the weather should be warmer. Our aim remains to complete the circle across the Aldwark Bridge and up the east bank of the Ure – but that will be a challenge for 2008. All the parishes and group members are to be congratulated on their involvement, financial commitment and teamwork to achieve a project that lies at the heart of what Yore Vision is all about- improving the quality of life for all residents.

The second project that is starting to come to fruition is the St James’s Square and Town Centre improvements in Boroughbridge. We have submitted a Business Plan to Yorkshire Forward and negotiations are underway over future management arrangements for the Square. The property grants scheme- available to businesses in Boroughbridge looking to improve their “shop frontages” – will be formally launched next month but Stephen Craggs and colleagues at the Boroughbridge Chamber of Trade have been working assiduously to promote the scheme to their fellow traders in the town – my thanks for all of the hard work Stephen and others have put in so far. Linked to this project will be Welcome Host training – again available to all businesses in Boroughbridge- that are looking to invest in training and upskill their staff. So both of these projects are well on the way to being the first fully completed objectives of our Business Plan.

The one big present that I hope Santa Claus will give Boroughbridge and the Lower Ure Valley this Christmas is new facilities for our young people to use in 2008. It will be more than a youth club as we traditionally know these ventures; rather we aim to provide a drop-in centre, facilities for those who have mental health challenges, an advice and guidance facility and at the end of it all, an improved provision for all of the community, particularly young people and their families. It would be really the icing on the cake if we could also improve the leisure and sporting offer but that’s the big challenge for 2008. At the moment, we have been and are continuing to sit round the table with HBC, NYCC and the local High School to identify ways we can make this happen. It is also our aim to leverage in the local town and parish councils to support the Aldborough Gate Project and work with Doug Grubb and colleagues at Boroughbridge Community Association to see if we can all work to deliver the vision of community sport and leisure facilities that are on a par with those in other rural communities in North Yorkshire. After all, if Ripon is on the verge of getting a new cinema and Knaresborough are having a new park, why shouldn’t Santa make it a hat-trick and give Boroughbridge their dream present?

Keith Ramsay
Chair