Bishopstone

BALLOON RACE FINAL RESULT -- At our summer fayre last month we released 640 balloons simultaneously and now one month later we have the final result. The winner is Joshua Macklin who wins £40 with balloon number 323. His balloon travelled 164.6 miles and was returned from Northallerton in North Yorkshire. The second prize with balloon number 94 goes to Winnie Neate. She wins £20. Her balloon was returned from Gilstead in West Yorkshire a distance of 129.1 miles. Finally the third prize of £10 goes to Adam Kelly. His balloon number 288 travelled 127.6 miles and was returned from Keighley in West Yorkshire. The total number of balloons returned was exactly 40. The organisers wish to thank all those persons who generously supported this event.

WHACKY WALKERS CLUB -- The next walk will take place on August 25, Bank Holiday Monday, and will be over the "Cat's Back" on the Black Mountains. It will be a strenuous walk covering about six miles. We will be having a picnic halfway so please bring a packed lunch. As the journey to the starting point is not easy to follow, and somewhat longer than usual, we will meet in Bishopstone at 10.30am at "Greenwalls" so that we take the minimum number of vehicles. We are advised that we shall see some outstanding views over the Herefordshire countryside. We hope you can join us.

PARISH COUNCIL -- The group parish council comprising Kenchester, Bishopstone, Bridge Sollars, Byford and Mansell Gammage are presently involved in producing a village plan. This plan will contain the ideas, thoughts, hopes and wishes that have been contributed by all those villagers who have attended the public meetings held during this year. The last of these meetings took place on Wednesday, August 13 in the Lord Nelson Inn starting at 7.30pm and covered the subjects of roads, rights of way, speeding and transport. Stephen Oates, the head of engineering and transport for Herefordshire Council, brought two members of his team Rob Henblade (rights of way) and Andrew Lee-Jones (new signs, bus shelters, footpaths, cycleways, road crossings and traffic calming schemes) and together they gave us an interesting evening. Each in turn gave a general description of their responsibilities and then answered a myriad of questions in a very informative way. After question time, visitors and guests were invited to partake of free refreshments provided by the parish council and produced by Mr and Mrs Eden, the proprietors of the Lord Nelson Inn. The parish council will process all the information they have gathered at the four public meetings and produce a "Ten Year Plan". Herefordshire Council will be presented with this plan and, should it be accepted, then the parish council will have the opportunity to work towards making many of your hopes and dreams become reality.