A COUNCILLOR who has been working to rejuvenate Droit wich's Westlands estate is celebrating after securing £15,000 to enhance the community's shopping area.

Coun Roy Seabourne successfully convinced Wychavon District Council that the money would have a huge impact on the lives of people living on the estate.

And it has now agreed to give £5,000 each year for the next three years to enhance the shopping centre and community hall in Farmer's Way.

"This is tremendous news for the estate and reflects the growing belief that conditions in the Westlands area are improving rapidly," said Coun Seabourne.

"We intend to carry out a wide ranging consultation with users of the centre and those who work there in order to find out what are the priorities for the immediate future.

"We also hope to draw in extra funding by appealing to other agencies operating on the estate."

Satisfied

Coun Seabourne, who is a Wychavon district and Droitwich town councillor as well as chairman of the Westlands Community Forum, had asked the council for £30,000 but said he was satisfied with the £15,000 on offer.

The funding follows the injection of more than £2,500 into the estate to help fund a weekly youth club and outdoor activities for Westlands youngsters.

The Youth 4 Westlands, lead by Worcestershire Youth Service, has secured £1,555 to provide weekly youth night activities in the community centre on the estate - the first one of which began last week.

And Westlands First School has been given £1,000 to pay for a group of its pupils to visit the Upton Warren Outdoor Education Centre for a number of weeks.

During that time they will take part in extra curricular activities designed to increase their self-esteem, develop their social skills through teamwork and broaden their outlook beyond the Westlands area.