Cornwall

PORTLOE WINS TITLE FOR CORNWALL'S BEST KEPT VILLAGE COMPETITION 2008

Portloe has built on its success as the winner of the prestigious competition in 2005 by scooping the title once again on being voted Cornwall's Best Kept Village for 2008.

The competition is sponsored and organised by the Cornwall Branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, and judged by a panel drawn from the Cornwall Federation of Women's Institutes. Judging took place during June and July, each of the three judges independently visiting the villages over the two month period. The ladies had to brave the worst of Cornwall's ‘summer' weather in visiting some of the villages but noted that the very high standard of the entrants had been maintained.

Focusing on the general appearance, management and condition of local spaces, communal buildings, residential property, shops, garages, and cemeteries in terms of how each village presents its environment, the competition recognises the effort communities take in making the most of what they have for residents and visitors alike.

Other awards were:             2^nd       St. Tudy 

                                              3^rd       Altarnun   

                                              4^th        St. Neot

Highly Commended:              St. Mawgan-in-Pydar  

                                              Boscastle  

                                              Lanreath      

All the entrant villages are congratulated for their support of the competition and the pride shown in their local communities.

A presentation ceremony was staged in Portloe on Saturday afternoon, 11^th October. In opening the event, Courtenay Smale, Executive Secretary of the CPRE gave a brief commentary on the history of the competition, which has been running for over 50 years. It was formerly titled the Cornwall Tidy Village Competition until the early 1980s. He presented a framed winners certificate to Philip Tregunna, Chairman of Veryan Parish Council. Mrs Avril Evens, Vice President of CPRE, presented a cheque for £500 to Mrs Kay Williams to be put towards a project for the benefit of the whole village community. Tony Hilton, Chairman of CPRE's Cornwall Branch, presented an engraved slate plaque to Mrs Jeanne Hitchings by way of marking Portloe's success and commented that he was delighted to see the excellent turnout of villagers for the occasion. He went on to say that it was encouraging to see the community spirit in Portloe in the present-day situation where rural communities' services and lifestyles are constantly under threat. Philip Tregunna responded by saying that Portloe takes considerable pride in the village environment and that he was delighted to receive the award again on its behalf.  

St. Tudy and Altarnun each received a certificate and £300 and £200 respectively, presented at the Cornwall Federation of Women's Institutes Annual Council Meeting at the Hall for Cornwall, Truro on 7^th October.

Courtenay V Smale

13^th October 2008