Chair’s Report 24-2025
This year has seen a full complement of Parish Councillors. They have taken the opportunities to attend meetings organised by Herefordshire County Councill and HALC (Herefordshire Association of Local Councils) to keep abreast of any changes affecting the parish. In addition our Ward Councillor, Matthew Engel reports on HCC matters regularly at our meetings.
Speed Limits on Roads in Vowchurch and Turnastone: this has been a long running issue and this year saw road strips placed across both the B road and the C road. On each occasion speeds of 85% of traffic was within the desired speed so there is no possibility of a speed limit. However a site visit by the Highways representatives and Parish Coucillors led to some traffic calming suggestions When put to the local residents many of these were refused as being inappropriate for the area, but there are to be Narrow Bridge signs and a reduction in hedge height on the approach to the bridge.
Planning: Cuncillors try to engage with affected residents, and to be familiar with the site before making reference to our NDP in our comments back to the planning committee.We also try to ensure there are no breaches of planning consent.
Drainage Grant: Our lengthsman has good knowledge of our roads and can give advice on priorities. The Grant is match funded and this year a helpful extension to the end of june gives more scope for work to be completed.
Public Rights of Way: Two volunteers walk our footpaths and bridleways. This year a new strategy was introduced for Councils who had a lengthsman contract whereby these Footpath Officers were asked to list all the ‘fabric’ (bridges, stiles,gates etc.) that needed replacing and submit a list with photos and what 3 words IDs for a grant .This only covers the cost of the items and not their installation. A better way is for landowners, whose responsibility it is to keep access open, to apply directly for the items which will be supplied for free and the landowner then installs. It should be noted that if defects are reported and the landowner does not address these then a fine will be imposed.
Verge Cutting:: As last year this has caused a lot of discussion with equal numbers of residents expressing strong views on whether there should be two cuts or one. The current Highways contractor, Balfour Beatty offers a cut from late May bank holiday and a second in early September, both times with a six week lag depending on availability. The Council@s overriding concern is for road safety for all users, and to this end have instructed two cuts. However in recognition of the opinions one road, a relatively straight road , the 74202 or middle road, which runs from the old chapel to the Tump to have a single cut, and to monitor the effect of this. There will be a new Highways contractor in 2026 so this may affect the offer.
NDP: the Council are aware that our Neighbourhood Development Plan will need revisiting as Herefordshire has been given a housing target of 26,000 new homes to be built from April 2025. We wait to hear the implication for us, but HCC have said that communications by road and rail will be a determinant, and they would not allow expansion in open countryside.
As ever we are fortunate in our Clerk, Mrs Cowles who is fully qualified and highly experienced. She knows and can advise on rules and regulations, she maintains a close watch on our financial planning, distributes all the information which comes in from HCC, and responds to correspondence. The precept necessarily had to rise this year to cover rising costs for the Lengthsman and other contracts. The amount of work for our Clerk has increased with the need for grant applications and follow up . We are very grateful for her expertise and guidance.