THE people of Kirkheaton are taking control of their community.

Yetton Together, a residents’ action group, launched their Community Plan 2012 at a packed meeting.

The event, which was attended by Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman, the Deputy Mayor of Kirklees, Christine Iredale and the chairman of Kirkburton Parish Council, Sharon Dunford, finished with a firework display.

The plan, which has been formed by the results of a residents’ questionnaire last summer, features suggestions for activities, amenities, community safety, the environment, children and young people’s services and traffic calming. A community cafe, good neighbour scheme, neighbourhood watch and a community food growing scheme are among the proposals suggested in the 40-page document.

Yetton Together, which is funded by the Big Lottery and Kirkburton Parish Council, aims to get residents involved with forming policies for their communities rather than leaving the decision making to the council and political parties.

Copies of the plan are being distributed to all households in the Kirkheaton area including Upper Heaton, Bog Green, Lascelles Hall, Briggate, Gawthorpe and Houses Hill.

Chair of Yetton Together, the Rev Richard Steel, said: “We were very encouraged by the turnout. There was a fantastic amount of energy and goodwill shown. More people also signed up as volunteers for the working groups that have been set up to bring people’s hopes and dreams into reality.

“We look forward to many good things coming from the plan in the next few years. We are already well into planning our next community event, a big picnic to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee.”

The Community Plan 2012 and full results of the summer’s questionnaire are available on Yetton Together’s web site at: www.kirkheatonnetwork.co.uk