PARISH COUNCIL -- Brilley Parish Council is making early preparations for the return of a lengthsman, who used to do all the maintenance work on the minor highways before the local authority took it over some years ago. An announcement to this effect appears in the current issue of the Offa Tree News, the magazine published by David and Ethel Joyce from their home at Winforton, which covers the Eardisley group of parishes. In a less frenetic age, the lengthsman performed a very useful service and, although he used to be the butt of some unkind jokes, that service has been very much missed. Now, says the Offa Tree News announcement, Herefordshire Council is considering making this work the responsibility of the parish councils, and Brilley Parish Council is applying to operate a pilot scheme. If successful, it would receive a grant each year, and the provision of the service would entail the appointment of not only the lengthsman but also his administrator.The announcement lists the various duties of both of these individuals, in some detail, and invites anyone interested in filling either position to contact one of five named Brilley parish councillors.