Local residents will be delighted to see the Best Kept (Small) Village Award has returned to the village of Cauldon Lowe.
Michelle Simpson, who works at Lafarge Cauldon which sponsored the award, presented the official Best Kept Village Signpost to Tony Wilson, President of the Cotton & Cauldon Lowe Community Group, at a special ceremony held at Cauldon Lowe crossroads recently. Here it will stand for the next 12 months.
“It has been fantastic to be involved with the Best Kept Village award again and really great to see the Signpost return to Cauldon Lowe!” said Michelle Simpson. “So much hard work has gone into making Cauldon Lowe look its best and it’s great that people in the local community have been recognised for their efforts.”
Cotton and Cauldon Lowe Community Group has worked tirelessly over the last six months to enhance its local environment. The group organises work parties to weed communal areas and carries out litter picking. They have also raised funds for the planting of tubs and painting play area equipment, fences and seating areas.
Tony Wilson, President of the Cotton & Cauldon Lowe Community Group, said: "We are delighted to win the Best Kept Village title - for a small community like ours, it really is an amazing achievement. I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time and trouble to help us make our village look its best!”
The judges take into account a number of different factors in their decision making, including the condition of the village noticeboards, how local information is displayed, the appearance of public houses, telephone boxes and bus shelters. It also covers things like how well kept are seats and benches, war memorials, open spaces and childrens’ play areas. Overall, judges award the prize based on general cleanliness and community effort.
Forty six villages entered the competition this year, which aims to encourage community spirit and bring together the whole community with the goal of becoming the ‘Best Kept Small Village’ in Staffordshire. The standard of competition and attention to detail across the county this year really impressed the judges. The Best Kept Village competition is not just about winners, but is a way of bringing people together as a community to really make the best of their local area.