RESIDENTS from the Rinkfield area of Kendal have joined forces with local authorities to sign a community agreement.

Community agreements are partnerships between residents and providers of local services that aim to improve quality of life encouraging people to become involved in their local community.

Sherralyn Clement of the Rinkfield Residents Association was very pleased with the agreement which she believes will get a lot more people involved.

"It's great to have everybody aware of what will be happening," she said.

"If people know there is somewhere they can go and put their points of view forward and somewhere things can be held from it will get a lot more people involved. If we have got concerns such as children not having things to do and causing problems then this agreement will help the community relationship with the police."

This is the second such community agreement in Kendal; this one involves the residents of Rinkfield, Burland Grove, Levens Close, Natland Road and South Lakes Housing, South Lakeland District Council, Cumbria Police and Cumbria County Council.

The agreements include short and long-term goals such as providing a community centre, which could take a number of years or addressing dog fouling on the streets, which could be tackled straight away.

Chief executive of South Lakes Housing Peter Thomas said: "This agreement represents a significant achievement for all those involved and will enable us to work together even more effectively to tackle the issues that most concern local people."

For further information on The Rink District Community Agreement or if you are interested in developing a comm-unity agreement in your area contact South Lakes Housing on 01539-717717.