News Release from Alex Burghart MP
Brentwood and Ongar MP, Alex Burghart, has called on the people of Brentwood and Ongar to make the constituency award winning, after discovering there were no nominations for rural businesses here last year in the Countryside Alliance Awards.
The Countryside Alliance Awards, nicknamed the ‘Rural Oscars’, were borne of a need to support and promote rural communities. They celebrate people going the extra mile to ensure that rural Britain’s food and farming industry, small businesses, traditional skills, forward-thinking enterprises and, most of all, its people, can flourish.
The Awards are now open for nominations, so Alex is urging his constituents to put Brentwood and Ongar on the award-winning map, saying:
“We are a largely rural constituency with a plethora of marvelous rural businesses, from Calcott Hall Farm and the Brentwood Brewing Company in Pilgrims Hatch, to Ashlyns Farm Shop in North Weald and too many excellent rural pubs to list. A number of farms have small and medium sized enterprises based in former barns, sheds and stables and they are thriving.
“Last year I’m told there were plenty of nominations for businesses in other Essex constituencies, but none from Brentwood and Ongar. This must change, and I urge you all to get involved and nominate today so we can make our area award-winning!”
The Awards run across the following categories:
- Local Food Award
- Village shop/ Post Office Award
- Rural Enterprise Award
- Butcher Award
- Rural Pub Award
Nominations are open online at www.countryside-alliance.org/caawards until mid-November. Judging will then take place and national winners will be announced at the House of Lords in Spring 2018. ENDS