The Annual Parish meeting of Wellington Heath Parish Council was held on Monday 22nd April 2024 in the Memorial Hall commencing at 7.30pm.
On display at the meeting were visual displays on road safety and the local plan which were available for parishioners to look at before and after the meeting.
Councillors in attendance – the Chairman Heloise Tierney, Jennifer Jones (Vice Chairman), Gordon Kirk and Stephen Loveridge. Also attending were County Councillor Liz Harvey and the Parish Clerk.
An apology for inability to attend was received and approved from Cllr. Roy Barnes.
There were approximately 30 local residents attending.
Agenda item 1 – The Chairman introduced Councillors and gave her annual report to residents advising of the activities of the Parish Council over the last year, including
(1) Road improvements in terms of road surfaces and potholes.
(2) New drainage gully in place at the top of The Common which has reduced water flowing down from Church Road.
(3) The ash tree at the top of Oakey’s Lane has been felled by Hereford Council following our concerns about the safety of the tree.
(4) Lot of work done by volunteers in Pool Piece and the Little Pleck.
The Chairman thanked all who contribute either in groups or individually in helping to look after the village.
The Chairman signed some cheques presented by the Clerk for payment.
Agenda item 2 – Cllr. Stephen Loveridge, Chairman of the Road Safety Group, reported on the activities of the Group which had been formed during the year to look into many concerns over road safety, the condition of the roads, speeding traffic and the need for some increased signage on the roads.
A lengthy question and answer session took place, and Parishioners were encouraged to let the Chairman of the road safety group known of their wishes to improve the safety in the parish. Some parishioners were concerned that the review of road safety seemed to exclude Ledbury Road which they thought should be included as it has bus stops and is used by schoolchildren.
Signs saying “twenty is plenty” were suggested and these would not need a TRO.
The number of HGVs in the village could be reduced if parishioners ordering goods asked for them to be delivered in smaller lorries.
Herefordshire Council will support a TRO 20mph limit application because people generally drive at that speed anyway on Horse Road and Floyds Lane. However, they estimate it will cost about £8,000 and will be a lengthy process. Herefordshire Council will not contribute anything to funding a TRO. Several parishioners noted that they did not support spending £8,000 on a TRO when most people drive at that speed anyway. It has been noted that drivers appear to slow down for the bends but are inclined to accelerate on the more open aspects of the roads.
Other local suggestions put forward included village gates which do not need a TRO if erected on private land and speed guns which can be used to record speeds and can be used to support prosecution of drivers.
Agenda item 3 – County Cllr Liz Harvey reported on the two consultations which commenced on 25th March including the draft Local Plan consultation and Local Transport early plan engagement for the period to 2021 to 2041 which is looking at county wide policies including where developments can happen in the County. She urged residents to take an interest in this consultation because according to the proposed developments in the Plan it does state that Wellington Heath looks like a village which can support more development as there is a Memorial Hall, on a local bus route, has a public house and is within reasonable walking distance to Ledbury. Cllr Harvey has concerns about this proposal and hoped that local residents would take up the opportunity of commenting on the proposals included in the draft plan.
There being no further matters for discussion, the Chairman thanked the many residents and Parish Councillors who had attended the Parish Meeting which was closed at 9pm.
H.Tierney 20th May 2024.
Signed……………………………………………………………………… Dated……………………………………
Chairman.