Best Kept Village 2007
Harlaston scoops best village title.
Harlaston is revelling in its own beauty after winning yet another Best Kept Village award.
Hard work and community spirit has paid off once more with the picturesque setting again clinching the title of best small village in Lichfield and Cannock Chase District of the Staffordshire Best Kept Village Competition. The category is sponsored by the Tamworth Herald and the Lichfield Mercury and the Herald's editor Gary Phelps went to see the village for himself and to present the certificate and trophy.
And there was double success for Harlaston as it went on to also clinch best kept small village for the whole of Staffordshire.
Delighted parish council chairman Eric Tiso said: "We feel elated really. We are only a small village and the people here work very hard in the effort they put in to maintaining this standard.
Community spirit is very good and everyone pulls together. We have won the district award around ten times now and it is the second time we have won the county-wide title."
Taken from the Parish Magazine 2007
Congratulations, Everyone
All the work mowing, strimming, planting of boxes, litter picking etc has paid off - we won again! Not only the small village trophy, but the COUNTY CERTIFICATE as well. The first time we have won this - so many, many thanks to everyone who has helped in anyway at all. We will let everyone know as soon as possible when the trophy will be installed and we hope to have a celebration in the Village Hall. Congratulations to Haunton who came third and Edingale and Elford who were Highly Commended. We think this proves what a good place the Mease Valley is to live in.
Best Kept Village
Thank you for everyone's help and support at the presentation evening - sorry there has been no report in the local press.
The judges comments are below:
BKV publicity and children's posters were very good, but one poster was pinned to a wooden telegraph/ electricity pole, which lost a mark. The notice board was in very good condition with plenty of local information. Re-cycling awareness was very good but there could have been more awareness of dog-fouling.
The churchyard was excellent and a real credit to the village. The surrounds to the Village Hall, the White Lion and the small public car park were all very well kept, although there were a few weeds around the Village Hall. The telephone box had a little litter inside it but the surrounds were very clean and tidy. The seats and benches in the play area needed some attention but those in the churchyard were very good. The green areas along Manor Lane were all well kept and the area in Churchside was lovely. The footpath between the Village Hall and the Main Road was also in very good condition but with some dog fowling in July. Private gardens were good and the village was clean and tidy with virtually no litter.
The children's play equipment was in excellent condition and there is a very good notice on the entrance gate. The safety surfaces were in very good condition with the exception of a few weeds. The map was easy to follow, except that the numbering of the key does not correspond with the entry form and the coloured dots and road names are rather too small for easy reading.
It was a pleasure to visit Harlaston. The village demonstrates a strong community spirit and care for its environment. It well deserved to be adjudged the Best Kept Village in the Lichfield/Cannock Chase District and is to be warmly congratulated not only on being awarded the Lichfield Mercury and Tamworth Herald Trophy but also adjudged the Best Kept Small Village in the County for the first time since 1975. Very Well done.