Testament to a 'vibrant' village (From Stroud News and Journal)

Testament to a 'vibrant' village

RODBOROUGH leaders have forced Government officials in to an embarrassing U-turn, after their parish was branded 'barely active'.

The village has now been upgraded to 'vibrant' after Rodborough Parish Council complained to the Countryside Agency about its standing in the tables.

As the News & Journal reported two weeks ago, the tables were never intended for publication but many village leaders have been upset by what they saw as a crude test of their village vitality.

"I think a lot of parish councils were unhappy because they were not asked what goes on in their parishes," said Cllr Bob Tiley, Rodborough Parish Council chairman.

"There are lots of things going on here."

A questionnaire was sent to every parish council in the country but the Countryside Agency said some councils did not fill theirs in, which led to some parishes being bracketed as 'sleepy' or 'barely active'.

Mr Tiley told the Countryside Agency that Rodborough has a community hall from which nine youth football teams are run as well as clubs for twins, bridge, model engineers, photography, rambling and embroidery enthusiasts.

It also has a day nursery, football pitch and basketball court. It holds village fetes, has four pubs, a large hotel, two primary schools and more than 20 organisations which meet in the parish. Elections for the parish council have been held in the past.

Julia Bailey, Countryside Agency spokesman said that since Rodborough PC had complained, it had re-classified it from the third category to the top.