This site was produced by: LOCAL AUTHORITY PUBLISHING
Publishers for local authorities throughout Great Britain. View more Official Guides at www.officialguides.co.uk

The Richmond Swale Valley Community Initiative (RSVCI), formed in 2003, is a community group working with the public and private sector to improve the long-term prosperity of Richmond and its hinterland. Under its auspices, Richmond became a beacon town in the Autumn of 2003 and joined Yorkshire Forward`s Renaissance Market Towns Programme. The RSVCI has been the starting point for many new plans to realise the potential of Richmond`s heritage assets. The heritage trail itself, with its information plaques dotted around Richmond, is one example of this, as is the Richmond Walking Festival. In addition there are several more ideas in the pipe-line.

Three ambitious projects all show how local people will work to protect and preserve their surroundings when they are threatened.

One such enterprise is now complete: in 1999 local people were shocked to hear that the popular riverside footpath to Easby had been closed because constant erosion of the riverbank had resulted in the footpath and fence falling into the river for the fifth time. Easby Riverside Restoration Project was set up in order to remedy the situation. Much hard work, often daunting, went into the fundraising, aided by a substantial grant from Yorventure in January 2005 which meant that the restorative work could then go ahead. The path was reopened in June 2006 by William Hague, our Member of Parliament, securing a much-loved local feature for future generations.

Similarly ROSA, Richmond Open Spaces Appeal, has been created by the residents of Richmond and beyond to buy and preserve five key open spaces around Richmond. Once the land has been purchased the trust aims to conserve the unique character of the landscape, improve access and link footpaths with existing rights of way, as well as encouraging biodiversity. The trust holds frequent fundraising activities, such as Easter Egg hunts on Westfield, as well as pop and folk concerts and ceilidhs and is well on its way to achieving its goals.

Perhaps the most ambitious scheme is a regeneration project which aims to convert the architecturally important Victorian railway station into a centre which will benefit all sections of our community. When it is opened towards the end of 2007, the attractive building will house two multi performance or cinema spaces, three offices, six flexible work spaces and a restaurant, in addition to meeting rooms, a heritage centre and commercial units to reflect local crafts. Its location beside the swimming pool and thriving health club will help to create a vibrant health and leisure quarter on a beautiful site beside the River Swale. Much planning, energy and sheer hard work has gone into this project. The Richmond Station Regeneration Project group has organised book fairs, Italian musical evenings, dinners with interesting guest speakers and for the children ice skating and a planetarium weekend. Its most ambitious event was a kite festival in Summer 2006, which brought people from all over the North East and further afield. This event was held on the racecourse above the town and provided a wonderful spectacle for visitors and townsfolk alike, thankfully blessed with beautiful weather.

The fundraising activities of the three groups mentioned all help to create a real focus for the social life of the town. Quite often the three groups share lively fund raising activities and together they provide a variety of interesting things to do all the year round.