Category Winners

Earls Colne - Eastern England

The village of Earls Colne in Essex is a large community with about 4,000 inhabitants which is situated to the northeast of Braintree. Two recent developments within the village and its surrounding area have firmly brought this historical village into the 21st century – industrial and leisure developments on an old airfield just south of the village, and the regeneration of an area near the centre of the village which has brought about the creation of over 100 new homes along with a number of new business units.

Earls Colne is a vibrant community which supports over 1,400 jobs. There has been a recent influx of several hundred new residents in the village and the parish council works hard to help foster a sense of community which integrates all villagers, both old and new. Welcome packs are personally delivered to new residents and there is also a great deal of information on local organisations and events available in the library, on the village noticeboard and via the website (www.colnevalley.com). The village’s excellent facilities – a village hall, a recreation club, playgrounds and leisure centres to name a few, ensure that local residents can enjoy the community and easily get involved in village life, rather than looking elsewhere for services and entertainment. The large number of organisations and associations in Earls Colne, which contribute a great deal to the wider community, are kept alive by hard working volunteers.

Earls Colne is fortunate to have a large number of businesses and employment opportunities within the parish boundaries. There is a high degree of collaboration between businesses and the general community, with a business group communicating between residents and the businesses located in the centre of the village. Many businesses support local charities and initiatives and the business group, in conjunction with the parish council and the village’s churches, put on a village carol service, Christmas open evening and reception at the village hall.