A HEREFORDSHIRE council has agreed to discontinue a formal complaint against a decision made by Herefordshire Council planners.

Councillors in Stoke Lacy, near Bromyard, resolved in September to submit a formal complaint to the county council after enforcement action against a driveway installed without permission was dropped.

Previously published minutes said all members "strongly believe" that the use of the access onto the A465 at Stokes Hill presented a "real danger", with the driveway posing an "unacceptable risk" to its users and to other drivers.

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Planners had refused retrospective permission for the driveway in 2022, while a previous application to retain the driveway, which was built in 2018, was refused by planners and at appeal.

Draft minutes from the parish council's most recent meeting in November said the complaint was based on safety grounds, and that councillors had received a number of complaints and reports of near-misses relating to dangerous road conditions at this spot.

October's meeting heard that the parish clerk had not received a response to his request to Herefordshire Council's head of planning for a copy of the complaint procedure.

But, November's minutes said, a response has now been received from Herefordshire Council's head of planning and building control explaining the rationale to their decision to cease enforcement.

"Based on this response, members concluded that submitting a formal complaint will not change Herefordshire Council's decision to cease enforcement," the minutes said.

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Councillors were told that the property owner will only use the access for farm vehicles to mow the field next to the A465 and that the access will not be used for domestic vehicles.

The response also confirmed that the enforcement notice remains in perpetuity and that the case will be reviewed if evidence suggests it is necessary.

"Finally, Herefordshire Council's head of planning and building control informed members that dialogue remains ongoing with the local highway authority and this case is being monitored," the minutes said.

A Herefordshire Council spokesperson said: “This case has taken a significant length of time to review owing to the planning history of the site and subsequent planning appeal. We have been in contact with the parish council to explain the background and basis for all decisions that have been made thus far. The enforcement notice remains in perpetuity and the case is being monitored.”