Press Archive

Salford Priors
Business Award for Salford Priors in 2005 Calor Village of the Year^® for England Competition

The Warwickshire village of Salford Priors has been awarded the top business award in this year’s Calor Village of the Year^® for England competition.

The village’s success was revealed by guest of honour, celebrity author and broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh, at an awards ceremony held on Tuesday 6th December in London. Salford Priors was competing against a total of 40 other villages throughout England which were nominated to represent their respective counties in this prestigious event.

Salford Priors initially carried off a regional category prize for Business before being announced as the overall Calor in association with BITC (Business in the Community) winner, receiving prize money totalling £1,500. It beat off competition from four other winning villages in the Business category to secure the award: Wingates, Northumberland; Earls Colne, Essex; Yarcombe, Devon; and Grayshott, Hampshire.

The Calor Village of the Year^® for England competition is organised and funded by Calor, the UK’s leading supplier of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). It assesses communities on six aspects of village life with categories in building community life, business, young people, older people, the environment and, judged separately, information communication technology (ICT).

Alan Titchmarsh was joined by Calor’s managing director, Howard Kerr, to present representatives of Salford Priors with their prizes. Alan commented: “Rural communities are an essential part of the fabric of our country - they are the backbone of British life. It is for this reason that the Calor Village of the Year^® for England competition, which aims to support and promote village life, is such a positive event and something which I am happy to support. The competition highlights the very best of village life, encouraging villagers to work together to the benefit of all residents. More importantly, it provides a forum for communities to share best practice and encourages them to address any problems or opportunities that become apparent following their involvement in the competition.”

The competition judges look for well-balanced, pro-active, caring communities which, irrespective of size, have made the best of local opportunities to maintain and enhance the quality of life for all residents. The Calor in association with BITC Award is judged by Business in the Community and was launched in recognition of the importance of rural businesses. In Salford Priors, which was nominated to take part in the competition by Warwickshire Rural Community Council, the business community is dynamic and forward looking, with a large number of varied businesses employing local people and supporting the village in its endeavors. There is excellent communication and co-operation between local business and residents. For example, it has been agreed that heavy vehicles will avoid the main roads through the village and tree coverage has been provided in certain areas. In the future the parish council will be hosting business meetings in order to enable members of the local business community to get together and meet up with members of various local and regional development agencies.

The BITC judges commented: “Salford Priors really does integrate business into almost all aspects of community life. They understand and value the important role that business can play and the community leaders really appreciate how important it is to work together for a collective good and actively engage business in their causes. Salford Priors is a fine example of the community and businesses understanding each other’s needs in order to ensure the sustainable future of the village for all who live there.”

Calor’s managing director, Howard Kerr, commented: “Feedback from villages over the years confirms how those entering the Calor Village of the Year^® competition are amazed at the richness of community life that is revealed as they go forward. The 2005 competition has once again highlighted some extraordinary communities across England as well as some great examples of how villages are working to achieve a better quality of life for residents. I would like to take this opportunity to thank every village that has taken part this year and congratulate them on their achievements, whether they have won a prize or not.

“The Calor Village of the Year^® competition has been supporting rural communities for nine years and many villages have benefited from taking part – either at county or national level. As the competition reaches its 10th anniversary, we are confident that villages will continue to benefit in the future. Thanks must also go to Alan for his continued support, which is sure to raise the profile of the competition and spread the message to even more communities.”

For more information on the Calor Village of the Year^® for England competition visit the website (www.calorvillageoftheyear.org) or call Calor on 01962 629768.

Further press information from: Emma Flinn, Flent PR Ltd
tel: 01223 845781 (direct) / 0161 817 4200 (main office)
email: e.flinn@amaze.com