A COUNCIL is hoping to encourage more community engagement on a troubled estate, identified as the “most deprived in the area”.

The Droitwich West Project (DWP) is halfway through its three-year run and has targeted the Westlands as an area most in need of improvement.

David Manning, WDC community programmes manager, said the council is hoping to set up a resident’s association of sorts with a “core group of interested residents”.

He said the DWP – which covers the estate and nearby Berry Hill – is hoping to improve outcomes for children on free school meals, many of whom live in that area.

Lack of social mobility is an issue in all of Wychavon, according to Mr Manning, with the Westlands pinpointed as a hotspot in recent figures.

He said the council is now looking to “shift its focus” in a bid to improve prospects for children on the estate.

“We now have an open Facebook site for residents [Westlands Community] with about 130 members and we are starting to get an uplift in resident engagement,” he continued.

“The aim is to gradually build a core group of interested residents who can start taking the lead of some community projects.”

He said: “The process for improvement at the moment is still actually quite top down. I want the community saying, ‘this is what we want to do.’

“Without the community engagement there, we are always struggling,” he added.

Residents were able to show interest in taking an active role in the scheme at the Christmas Fair and now added to the Facebook group, Mr Manning said there’s around 15 people on board.

“After a few attempts we are gradually making progress here,” he said.

The project is also looking to work alongside local schools and businesses.

Mr Manning said he uses the term “deprived” – in regards to the estate – “quite loosely” – “the Westlands is not a bad place. There are some clear areas of need”.

“We want to improve outcomes for young people. There is no reason they should be being deprived, it’s just circumstances. We are finding the Westlands has become an isolated area. It’s cut off from the rest of Droitwich.”