Paint the town all colours (From Penarth Times)

Paint the town all colours

LET'S brighten up Penarth this summer - by making this year's Penarth in Bloom competition the best ever.

Last year's event was a huge success, with more entries than ever before. But this year's looks set to be even better, with the Vale Council teaming up with the Penarth Times to spread the word.

We are printing entry forms to make it as easy as possible for everyone to enter and fill the town with colour.

The annual competition run by the Vale of Glamorgan Council is in its 13th successive year. Not only does it offer a chance for growers to impress neighbours with their blooming bushes and prized petunias, it will make the town a prettier place to live and work in.

In 2001, judges were pleased to see new faces winning prizes and were impressed with the continuing high standards of entries.

Householders, youngsters and owners of commercial properties are invited to highlight their horticultural expertise and at the same time help make their town a more colourful and inviting place to live and work.

The competition offers cash prizes, plaques or certificates in seven classes: front garden, hanging baskets display, window box display, disabled gardener, child gardener (under 16), residential home/sheltered accommodation and commercial property.

Judging takes place between July 22 and August 2.

Cash prizes will be awarded for non-commercial classes only (classes one to five). Winners in classes six and seven may nominate charities to which an equivalent prize may be awarded.

Prizes will be awarded for the first, second, third and fourth places entrants in each class. Plaques or certificates will be given to prize winners in all classes.

Cabinet member for Economic Development and Leisure, Cllr Michael Harvey said: "There has already been a great deal of interest in the competition and the council would like the whole town to benefit from residents' green fingered efforts. All we ask is that displays can be seen clearly from the road or path in front of their house or business premises."