PARISH COUNCIL - At their annual meeting in May councillors were given a presentation by Barrie Sheldon, the peputy police and crime commissioner for West Mercia, on the work being done by the commissioner and his staff.

It was unfortunate that, despite the poor weather, no members of the public attended. Mr Sheldon explained that, in place of the previous police authority, the local force is now overseen by the commissioner who can hold the chief constable to account, set the annual budget and make farreaching decisions about police premises, police staffing levels and general policing practice.

In other business Zoe Dickinson, the new licensee of the Green Dragon, applied to fill one of the parish council vacancies. She was warmly welcomed and looks forward to taking an active part in the council’s activities.

Robert Partridge took over the post as chairman for the next two years and will be supported by outgoing chairman John Pudge.

Potholes remain a source of much concern and many have been reported to Herefordshire Council. It is filling and repairing them when it can, and many of the holes in the parish have now been fixed. There are, however, financial restraints which look as though they are only going to get worse.

Dog waste bins have been installed in the village centre car park and near the pavilion. There have been reports that thoughtless dog owners are cleaning up after their animals but are then putting the faeces in the waste bin by the children’s playground or – even worse – simply throwing the bags into nearby hedges. This is unhealthy and unsightly and all dog-owners are asked to use the proper bins.