Bishopstone

PARISH COUNCIL – On Thursday, May 7, the group parish council met and P Redshaw (Byford) and J Macklin (Bishopstone) were re-elected for the next year as chairman and vicechairman respectively. All other council officers agreed to continue for another year, acting as planning committee members or footpath officers or noticeboard key holders. Mrs Redshaw read her annual report, which highlighted the achievements of the group parish council during the past year. The full report can be viewed on the website bishopstonegroup parish.co.uk and will appear in the next newsletter. A parish council meeting followed.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING – K Parry, of Community First, gave a talk to the parish council about affordable housing for local people. His talk generated a discussion about government planning controls not allowing villages to expand to suit local needs, about why schools are not fully attended and why shops and post offices have disappeared. The group parish council agreed to allow a parish housing needs survey to be taken to establish if a housing need exists within the group parish area.

PARISH FREIGHTER – After the group parish council wrote to Herefordshire Council about the massive increase in cost that it would not pay, the meeting was told by the clerk that the charges were being held for another 12 months.

It was agreed to book another two visits for later this year.

SPEED LIMIT – The long wait for a 30mph speed limit through Bishopstone village continues. The clerk told the meeting that Bishopstone was number 15 on the priority list that Herefordshire Council is working with and that Bishopstone was not a priority.

OFFICIALLY, ITS “A” – All 15 households with Bridge Sollars addresses were written to and asked to give their preference on the spelling of Sollers or Sollars. The majority chose the spelling with an ‘a’. New road signs will be erected with the new spelling on the A438 later this year.

ROAD TOO NARROW – A letter of complaint was discussed by the group parish council about the use of the B-road through Mansell Gamage. The photographs accompanying the letter showed two lorries locked side by side causing a total blockage of the road during the morning work/school time.

MADLEY/BRIDGE SOLLARS ROAD – The meeting was told that Herefordshire Council had agreed to monitor traffic and erect new road signs on this road in an effort to control the increasing usage by cars and larger and heavier vehicles.

EMERGENCY CO-ORDINATOR – The meeting was asked for a volunteer to become the group parish emergency coordinator.

This person would be the key focal point for planning and responding to an emergency for the community, the emergency services and Herefordshire Council. This vital role requires a volunteer. For more information, contact Barry Megson on 590691.