Villages Celebrate Competition Success

Six Welsh villages are celebrating after it has been revealed they have won prizes in the prestigious Calor Village of the Year® for Wales competition.

For judging purposes, the competition is split into two regions – North Wales and South Wales. In the North Wales, Wrexham village Overton on Dee (www.overton-on-dee.co.uk) has done particularly well in the competition, winning two category prizes for People and Business as well as the overall regional title. Another Wrexham village, Holt (www.holtonline.org.uk), has won the Communications category and, finally, Denbighshire village Llandegla has been revealed as the Environment winner.

In South Wales, Pembrokeshire village Lawrenny (www.lawrenny-village.co.uk) has won two category prizes for People and Communications as well as the overall regional title. The other South Wales villages celebrating are, Raglan (www.raglanvillage.co.uk), Monmouthshire which has won the Business category and, Cardiff village Lisvane (www.lisvanecommunity.org.uk) has been revealed as the Environment winner.

The competition was open to villages across the Principality with a population of 5,000 and under. Its aim is to celebrate the richness and diversity of Welsh villages whilst encouraging community participation. 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. Entries were also received in the North Wales region from villages in Anglesey, Flintshire, Gwynedd and Powys, and in South Wales from villages in Carmarthenshire, the Vale of Glamorgan and Swansea.

As the overall winners for North and South, Overton on Dee and Lawrenny are now competing against each other for the overall title of Calor Village of the Year® for Wales. The outcome of this will be revealed at an awards event being held later in the year on Tuesday 16th October.

Calor Village of the Year® manager, Suzanne Weir commented: “Our congratulations go to all six villages for winning awards in this year’s Calor Village of the Year® for Wales. They are all great examples of vibrant, flourishing and thriving village communities and are deserved winners.”

As the winners of a regional category prize, Holt, Llandegla, Raglan and Lisvane will each receive £500 prize money and a framed commemorative certificate. This will be presented at village based presentations to take place during August or September.

Overton on Dee and Lawrenny will each receive a total of £2,500 prize money, framed commemorative certificates and a cast iron plaque. Villagers will also be provided with funding from Calor to hold a village celebration during August or September when the whole community will be encouraged to join together and celebrate their success.

The village that goes on to win the overall title for Wales will be awarded a further £1,500 prize money. Suzanne Weir added: “We look forward to hearing whether Overton on Dee or Lawrenny will be crowned the 2007 Calor Village of the Year® for Wales. They are both great villages and either would be a worthy winner of the overall title.”