Best Kept Village

The Community Council of Staffordshire runs, amongst other things, the Best Kept Village Competition and says that it judges the competition with the following guidelines:-

  • IT IS NOT about "pretty villages"
  • IT IS about the community spirit of the village.
  • IT SEEKS the involvement of the whole village community, all age groups and all organisations.
  • ITS AIM is to stimulate a feeling of pride in a village, its appearance, its amenities and its general environment.
  • Any village within the county, irrespective of size, can enter. It simply needs the will and the initiative of the community to make theirs THE BEST KEPT VILLAGE.
We are aiming at winning the Best Kept Village Award for 2008 but need everybody's help . Please come and join in a Litter Pick - March 22, May 31, July 26, Sept 27th. Starting at the Village Hall at 10 a.m. come for as long as you can help. Pickers etc provided. If you can't come - please put any rubbish you see in the nearest bin . Please keep the pavement outside your property litter and weed free. It would make such a difference . If you are not able for any good reason to do it yourself phone 01538 703273 and willing hands may be able to help you. COMPETITION FLOWER TUB/HANGING BASKET/WINDOW BOX Prizes of £100, £50 and £30 plus trophy for a year with your name inscribed. Entry forms from Sandra Venables, The Malthouse, Malthouse Road, Alton. Judging during August. Entry is £3 per category - enter all three if you wish. Wanted (Dead or Alive) all 'dirty dog' owners. Despite politely asking pet owners to clean up after their animals Alton is still being spoilt by some Dog Owners We are asking everybody to be vigilant and to report lazy/irresponsible owners to the Dog Warden - just telephone 01538 483519. Dog faeces are dirty, and a serious health hazard - especially to children. Please help us to overcome this serious problem. Don't just think it is somebody else's responsibility - YOU CAN DO SOMETHING POSTIVE TO HELP.


Dimmingsdale		 We in Alton have a growing sense of community involvement but there is still a long way to go to get everyone aware of all that is being done and motivated to make Alton an even better place to live in. We have a very "pretty village" set in the most beautiful countryside, and taking part in 'The Best Kept Village Competition' is one way to show that we take pride in our Village, not only making it clean and "pretty" and groomed, but making it a place where people are kept in touch, feel included, and get involved.

We hope that people will regularly visit our Web site as well as visiting the other pages. Please keep an eye on this page to find out what is being proposed and do be encouraged to make suggestions via the Bulletin Board. We hope particularly that we can include young people in this idea since they will have no difficulty in finding out how to 'post' their ideas and suggestions on the board. If you, however, feel a sort of anxiety or even guilt when the word computer is mentioned and would like to put your ideas forward but are timid to try, then just ask your children or grandchildren to show you how you do it and you will soon be away!

Any ideas and suggestions will be processed by the co-ordinating committe for Alton and they are listed below, together with some notes about what is happening at present. Watch this space for more information from them - and hopefully from YOU.

Co-ordinating Group for the Best Kept Village Competition 

Members:- Mrs. Gillian Morrison - S.R.B., Mrs. Sandra Venables - B. and B. , Mr.John Newport - Village Hall Committee ,Parish Council - Cllr Eddie Bailey ; Cllr Ivan Cope ; Cllr Edwin Brindley; Cllr Arthur Forrester

This Group is open to further members should anyone be interested. The Group meets as required, usually in the village hall approximately 4 times a year. Discussions cover environmental improvements to the village, e.g. litter picks, supplying, planting and general maintenance of the flower tubs etc. 

The Group is always open to any suggestions or offers of help. St. Peter's School pupils produce yearly "Keep Alton Tidy" posters which we display at appropriate times. This encourages the children to be aware of the necessity of putting litter in the appropriate bins.