A CORNER of Ryedale is bidding for a slice of European funding to boost the economy and regenerate surrounding villages.

Pickering Area Partnership was set up to look at the future prosperity of the town and neighbouring parishes.

The group is the first to complete a Community Investment Prospectus (CIP), detailing the way forward for future investment.

Parishes in the area were encouraged to work together to produce an investment plan.

They set out to show why investors should choose the Pickering area, and what benefits it would provide them with.

The aim of the CIP is to address the needs of the area, and to assist in its social, economic and environmental development.

Bob Clement, chairman of the Pickering Area Partnership, said the CIP had been designed with the idea of helping the area to flourish.

He said: "The prospectus is the first phase of the process. It forms the basis of specifying not only the whole infrastructure of Pickering and the surrounding parishes, but it also defines what needs to be done and that is the important bit.

"One of the most vital parts within the CIP is economic development, with the aim of creating jobs."

Mr Clement said a focus would be made on obtaining European funding recently made available for rural areas.

He said: "The total figure we are talking about is £54m across North Yorkshire, available over a six-year period through objective two funding from the European Union.

"But we have got to have the right projects before we can draw down the funds to bring this about.

"It is not going to be easy, but it's a start."

Pickering parish clerk Andrew Husband, also a member of Pickering Area Partnership, said: "The key role of the CIP is to establish projects which will secure investment and strengthen the area's economy. The real importance of this document is that it provides the evidence that could be used to do that."

Town Councillor Natalie Warriner said Pickering had been quick off the mark to produce their prospectus.

She said: "I think we are the first in Ryedale to get our prospectus printed, and we are actively working on projects that are detailed in there.

"In real terms this is about selling our partnership area to prospective investors and employers, people who are going to bring business into the area."

Updated: 09:03 Friday, March 22, 2002