Oakdale is celebrating a hat-trick of awards after the village was recognised at an annual ceremony.
Organised by the Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations (GAVO), the Gwent Best Kept Village awards were held at Chepstow Garden Centre for the ninth year
The awards aim to encourage pride and community involvement in villages across the region and stimulate local volunteering.
Oakdale won three categories: Best Kept Post-industrial Village, Best Kept War Memorial (population of 1001-4999), and Most Energy-efficient Village Hall or Community Centre.
The village’s entry was submitted by the Oakdale and Penmaen Community Partnership, which has initiated over 40 regeneration projects in its 14 years since inception.
The partnership’s chairman, Ray Bevan, said: “We were surprised and delighted to pick up three awards this year. The new award for Post-industrial Villages recognises that valley villages like ours can recover from the loss of a major industry, such as coal, and yet create attractive places for people to live.
“Oakdale has received nothing from government grant schemes such as Communities First or Rural Development Grants, but that hasn’t stopped us from seeking other funds to regenerate and sustain our community.
“I want to thank our residents for their contribution to making Oakdale such a desirable place to live and for the real community spirit which exists here.”
Treasurer of Oakdale Community Centre – which is based on Penrhiw Ave – and Partnership Secretary, Roger Evans, added: “We are very pleased our centre has been recognised as the most energy-efficient.
“The judges were particularly impressed with the fact that the centre is used daily from Monday to Friday, and this reflects on the dedication of the twenty-plus local organisations who support us.”
The Oakdale and Penmaen Community Partnership itself was recently presented with the Group Award at this year’s Caerphilly County Borough Voluntary Sector Achievement Awards.