AN OXFORD community has revealed what it treasures and wants to transform about Barton in a survey as part of efforts to form a new group to improve the area.

Cleaner streets and public spaces, a need for activities for teenagers, tackling anti-social behaviour and crime issues were all highlighted as things residents want to change.

Good public transport connections, 'beautiful' green spaces and access to the countryside, meanwhile, were revealed to be the things they love.

The survey, which was responded to by 276 residents, is part of steps towards setting up the Barton Community Partnership, which is due to launch next month and will aim to coordinate residents' efforts to improve the area.

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Working with Oxford City Council’s localities officer, community representatives have been encouraging residents to look again at the place where they live and decide what they want to treasure or transform about the area.

People have also taken part in a ‘community mapping’ exercise, with small teams walking around the area photographing and fact finding about the things they liked or wanted to change, building up a map of what Barton is like as an area to live, work or visit.

The next event is a ‘world café’ event, which will look at some of the key findings from the survey and the community mapping event.

Councillor Marie Tidball, cabinet member for supporting local communities, said: “It’s great to see the community coming together to make the most of the area where they live.

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"The survey and community mapping showed that people in Barton really like where they live, as well as wanting to tackle local issues. "

She added: "We’re looking for new ways to work with local people and empower them to shape their local services.

"Projects like this show much energy and expertise there is in communities themselves, and I look forward to working with them to make Barton an even better place to live.”

Barton Community Partnership member Katy Cockram said: “I know as a resident that there are lots of good things about Barton, but it’s lovely to hear it from so many other people too."

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She added: "I think there’s a real willingness to get involved in improving Barton, we’ve seen it with the community mural at the neighbourhood centre, and I hope the community partnership will be a way of keeping that kind of energy going and giving us a focus for the long term.

"We need support from the council, but it’s good to have a say ourselves as well.”

Anyone wanting to get involved can either email bartoncommunitypartnership@outlook.com or call 01865 529308.