Liberal Democrat Council Removing Barriers to Social Inclusion

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sun 26th Jun 2005

A Council initiative to remove barriers to social inclusion in the City gets underway with the selection of two localities as pilots for regeneration and work to extend social inclusion.

At its recent meeting, the Liberal Democrat cabinet gave the thumbs up to a Social Inclusion and Health Inequalities programme to transform the most disadvantaged places in Milton Keynes and help support people currently in most need.

Using a number of social, economic and environmental indicators, the estates most likely to need support are Beanhill, Netherfield, Coffee Hall, Granby and Fishermead. Beanhill emerges as the top priority for intervention and the programme will initially be focused there.

Existing work in Coffee Hall will continue and the programme will later be rolled on to other identified localities in Milton Keynes.

Working with Woughton Parish Council, the Primary Care Trust, the Police and other partners, consultation will take place with residents. This will enable solutions to be developed that meet the specific needs of individual communities.

Councillor Isobel Wilson, Liberal Democrat Leader of the Council said: "The great majority of people in Milton Keynes enjoy a very good quality of life, but some areas have been left behind as the City's success goes from strength to strength. It is important to the Council and its partners that all our residents can share in the City's success. This programme will address the inequality in opportunity and experience between different parts of the Borough."