Villages targeted for beauty grants (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Villages targeted for beauty grants

VILLAGES in the Chipping Norton area may benefit from a new grant scheme to help protect the distinct features of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The Cotswold Conservation board has named two target areas for grants of up to £10,000 at a time - Tetbury and west of Witney.

The latter area includes villages such as Chadlington, Charlbury, Churchill, Fifield, Idbury, Kingham, Shipton, Sarsden, Milton and Ascott-under-Wychwood.

Research carried out last year highlighted features such as village springs, stone roofing slates and sheep washes, which were often in a poor state of repair.

Conservation board spokesman John Tabor said the built environment - as well as the landscape - was important. "This obviously includes distinctive Cotswold stone towns, villages and walls, but also smaller, local elements such as old signs, railings and memorials. Many of these smaller distinctive features are fragile and if they're not looked after are in danger of being lost forever.

"But we're not only looking for restoration projects, the grant funding can help introduce new features of appropriate, high-quality design."

Individuals, local organisations and parish councils in the target areas can apply for funding.

The grants can fund up to half the costs, towards a maximum total project cost of £20,000. Money is also available for the restoration of dry stone walls and for the conservation of limestone grassland.

The Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is the largest of 41 in Britain, covering 2,038 square kilometres and taking in parts of Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire.

For information about the grants, which are part of the Caring for the Cotswolds project, call 01451 862000.