 | Curdworth Parish Council |
| This page is part of the archive of community profiles and was written in September 2003.
 Set on the North West edge of North Warwickshire, Curdworth is a large village of around 1350 people. Just 8 miles from Birmingham, Curdworth is set between two large industrial areas - Severn Trent sewage works and Hams Hall International Rail Freight Terminal and Manufacturing and Distribution Park. The M42 motorway runs close by and the almost completed M6 Toll Road converges with it at Junction 9 on the M42, just half a mile from the village. |
|  Councillor Alan Vaughton, who has been Chair of the Parish Council for 10 years, said: 'Because of our geographic position and the local infrastructure, there is increasing development pressure from all sides. Curdworth, however, is still in the local Green Belt and has won the Warwickshire Rural Community Council Best Kept Village award 4 times since the competition began, most recently in Millennium year. We are keen to safeguard the identity of Curdworth as a village in Warwickshire.'
The Parish Council was established in 1895, but the village has been in existence far longer than that. Curdworth was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1087, at which time it was larger than neighbouring Birmingham! |
|  To highlight the rich and varied history of Curdworth, the Parish Council has recently designed a new badge of office. It comprises 3 main sections:
1) Creoda 585AD: Creoda was the first Saxon king of Mercia and founder of
Curdworth.
2) Bear and Ragged Staff: from the Coat of Arms of the Earl of Warwick, this symbolises Curdworth’s association with the County
2) Oak Tree: indicating that Curdworth was part of the ancient Forest of
Arden.
Curdworth has many of the amenities required for a sustainable village. These include the church and church hall, a junior school, a village stores/post office, the village hall and two pubs. There is also a small but thriving industrial estate.
Within the parish, a wide range of organisations flourish. These include groups who use the village hall such as the long established Curdworth Womens Institute and those who use St Nicholas Church Hall such as the mother and toddler group. The King George V Playing Fields are home to three football clubs and Curdworth Tennis Club. There is also a separate play area for younger children. |
|  Some of the main responsibilities of parish councils include being the eyes and ears of the community and working as a communication channel with higher tiers of local government. They respond to consultations and try to improve the quality of life and the environment for people in their parish. The Government’s Rural White Paper for England encourages parish councils in service delivery and to play a greater part in their communities. Curdworth Parish Council aims to achieve this by identifying what people most value about their community and then is to create a Parish Plan to fulfil those aspirations.
Through membership of the Warwickshire and West Midlands Association of Parish Councils (WALC) all parish councils in Warwickshire have the opportunity to receive training, advice (including legal advice) and information about changes that affect them. They are also able through WALC to feed into national issues via the National Association of Local Councils.
 In order to emphasise the history of Curdworth, its present day community activities and the work of the Parish Council there is a new website at warkcom.net/curdworthpc where you can find out more. Any local groups who would like a page or a mention on the site are asked to get in touch with the Clerk to the Council, Mrs Paulette Ross, through the e-mail address at curdworthpc@hotmail.com or via the website. |