This summer has been wonderful, particularly after such a bad winter and spring but
for some particularly for those of our more elderly residents who find it difficult to
keep cool and for our farming community it must have been a particularly challenging
time.
Recently the 498 bus service to Hereford was under threat. This was as a result of
too few residents using the 498 and the subsidy required by Herefordshire Council
being quite high. I discussed this matter with all the parish councils whose residents
would be affected by the removal of the 498 and did gain an agreement from them
that if the service was to be lost then they would be prepared to provide some money
towards the subsidy for which I was very grateful. Fortunately as a result of a
retendering process by Herefordshire Council and my stressing the importance of
the service to the residents of Mortimer ward the 498 will continue without the need
for support from parish councils but I must stress that it is vital that this service is
used otherwise it may well be lost. I am hopeful that with some new housing IN
Mortimer Ward coming forward over the coming years that this may increase
patronage. You may feel at this time that this issue does not concern you, but who
knows what your situation may be in a few years time.
Another piece of good news is that Herefordshire Council has released a further
£2,800,000 from reserves as a result of the Amey ongoing appeal to invest in public
realm services. This will include £800k additional patching work on B & C roads,
£450k on drainage works and £250k on innovation in pothole repair systems. A
further £1,252,647 has been provided by the government to be used to repair
potholes and to protect local roads from severe weather. This includes an additional
£500k for pothole repairs on rural C &* U roads £252k on additional patching of B &
C roads and £500k on additional drainage works. I recognise that there is still a long
way to go but I am hoping we have turned the corner and that you will see
considerable improvements in the maintenance of our roads in Mortimer ward over
the coming months.
Border Group Neighbourhood Plan is progressing and a referendum should be
held shortly . I hope all of you who had comments to make on the Plan did so and
that you all read the plan and familiarise yourself with its content before the
referendum which I would urge you all to participate in.
I am continuing to highlight the importance of Leintwardine Library and during the
recent discussions at the County Council with regard to the potential outsourcing of
library services have expressed my views that any potential changes must not
impact adversely on the good work the library and its volunteers at Leintwardine are
doing. It is important that this community service is recognised as providing to local
residents, particularly our most vulnerable, much more than just the ability to borrow
books.