BUSINESSES on Oxford’s Barton estate have been invited to sign up to a new Yellow Pages-style guide to the estate.

It is hoped the booklet will help new families to the area and boost business for local tradesmen.

Sue Holden, secretary of the Barton Community Association (BCA) said time was ticking away for people who wanted to grab themselves a free listing in the magazine.

She said: “What we want to do is produce a booklet so every local resident has access to all services provided within the community, right from statutory authorities, to doctors’ surgeries and local tradespeople, right across the board.

“There is one around but this was made in 2007 and it’s now grossly out of date.

“What we want to do is be able to hand this guide to people when they move to the area so they’ve got something at their fingertips which lets them know exactly what is going on the estate.”

Funding for the guide, which will cost £2,000 to produce and distribute, has come from Oxford City Council , Oxford Citizens Housing Association and Barton Community Association.

Mrs Holden added: “There are lots of things going on in the area and probably lots of people that have skills and have a trade who don’t know about this guide.

“It will cost them nothing to be part of and is guaranteed to go through to every door within Barton. It will be Barton’s very own ‘Yellow Pages’.”

Youth worker Jem Todd, of Fettiplace Road, has backed the guide, and will be entering the charity he works for, Thrive, into the youth services section.

Thrive is run by Christian group Innovista and helps young people by working with them through sport, outdoor activities and mentoring.

He said: “It’s really helpful for people coming into a community to let them know what is going on and what services are available. If you don’t know what there is out there – you can’t access it.”

If you would like to be part of Barton’s very own guide you have to be a trader, group or organisation based on the estate.

Email or call Sue Holden with questions or if you would like to be involved at susanholden @hotmail.com or call 07866 460446.