More cash for best villages (From Gazette Series)

More cash for best villages

THIS year's Village of the Year competition, organised for sponsors Calor Gas by Gloucestershire Rural Community Council is to receive additional backing.

It will mean cash prizes for all six category winners, the four district winners and the overall winner. All will be trying to emulate last year's winner, Coaley, which won the county and South-West final to gain a place in the national finals.

Coaley caught the judges' eye for its work with young people. There are five other categories - working with the elderly, the environment, business, information technology and community life.

Community council director Stephen Wright pointed out that these schemes do not need to be brand-new.

"We will be looking for ways in which village communities have built on what they've achieved in the past," he explained.

"Community spirit can be expressed in many ways - through the parish council or simply by participating in village life to achieve improvement in housing, transport or a new roof for the village hall".

Fresh funding means that each category winner will earn £100, each district winner £250 and a further £250 for the overall winner.

The closing date for entries is July 9 and further information is available from Gloucestershire Rural Community Council, Community House, College Green, Gloucester (tel 01452 528491).

The winner will be announced at the annual meeting on September 13 when the guest speaker will be Lord Haskins, author of a major report into arrangements for delivering rural policies. His recommendations included investing further in the nationwide network of rural community councils.