This has been the strangest few months I have ever experienced and I suspect that for
some you have found new interests and the opportunity to relax more and appreciate the
wonderful countryside we have around us. For me, although I am attending regular Zoom
meetings which I have found quite tiring at times, it has meant that as I have not had to
spend half my day travelling to and from Hereford and that I too have had more time to
appreciate this beautiful County. Barry and I have done numerous walks in North
Herefordshire whilst at the same time being able to report missing steps on stiles and in
some cases missing way markers.
For many of you involved in the community groups, village halls and churches this has
been a difficult time, you do what you do in order to provide a service and a social meeting
place for local residents and this has been taken away from you. Times ahead will be
challenging as you work your way through the reams of guidance which changes often in
order to be able to once again provide that service.
I must thank all those volunteers who have throughout the pandemic worked so hard in
getting shopping and prescriptions or just offering a listening ear, for those who have been
shielded, your work has been much appreciated. As someone who volunteered a lot in my
earlier life, I know how rewarding this can be and I do hope that some of you will continue
after the pandemic as there are always those who due to their frailty or other circumstances
need continuing support. I would also like to convey my thanks to those businesses in the
area who have adapted their way of working in order to support the more vulnerable in the
Border Group parish area. I know that this has in many cases been a costly exercise but it
is greatly appreciated. Your area attracts many tourists and it is good to see them coming
back and hopefully spending their money in our local businesses.
You will have read that there was a major outbreak of Covid-19 at a vegetable picking and
packing farm in Mathon. I am pleased to report that this appears to have now been cleared
up and it was contained within the farm. I do however suspect that over the coming months
we shall see similar outbreaks in other parts of Herefordshire. However, as a County we
have been very fortunate and so far, our numbers of confirmed cases has been lower as a
percentage than most other parts of the country.
There was a special Full Council Meeting on the 4th August which agreed to borrow about
£4.5 million to repair flood damaged road. This will hopefully deal with roads in Mortimer
Ward which were damaged by the floods earlier in the year and have still not been repaired,
in particular Buckton Lane. I do know that the Walford Flood Group have been hard at work
and my thanks to all the volunteers who are working so hard to alleviate flooding in the
future. The Border Group Parish Council has been successful in a grant bid from
Herefordshire Council for further flood alleviation work.
Working with HNT, Plant Life and Verging on Wild, Balfour Beatty have identified 36 verges
on C & U roads which due to their potential natural beauty have had a sign erected stating
DO NOT CUT YET and these will be cut just once when the wild flowers have seeded.
These areas are not in places where there would be issues of safety. This is a trial and is in
operation across the county. Balfour Beatty are looking at a Cut and Collect trial taking place which they know is
something parish council’s want to see. They do have to however to look at the cost of
providing extra equipment which would be required to collect the grass up, whilst
recognising the harm it can do, particularly to horses.
The SIDs is continuing to be deployed in 3 villages, Brampton Bryan, Walford and Lingen
and appears to be working well although speeding is still occurring. Ironically most of the
offenders seem to be quite local.
Please as ever, do not hesitate to contact me if you have a concern or just want a chat,
either via email carole.gandy@herefordshire.gov.uk or 015668 780583 07792882133