This is the report as presented to Pyons Group Parish Council on 9th July.
Section 106 funding for traffic calming
As hinted at last month, I have been successful in getting the council to change their approach to delivery of the outstanding traffic calming schemes, funded by section 106 moneys. In essence the works will be done as and when possible, rather than waiting for everything to achievable and done in one lot – this addresses the issue with road surfaces not being suitable (unless repaired) for the paint within the scheme, and so the scheme being held up waiting for the roadworks to be funded. As part of ensuring that Canon Pyon (along with Weobley) was top of the list to be done, I arranged a site visit with the officer in charge, to which the parish chairman was invited and attended, able to bring his helpful wisdom.
It is my understanding that the bulk of the works will now take place in September – we are still finalising what road repairs need to be done (especially around the Nags Head) before the paint work there can be deployed.
The parish council will operate the speed indicator devices, and I’m assured will be briefed and supported accordingly.
I’ve been alert to the s106 money being subsumed into road repairs, which I’ve pushed back against, and can reiterate my previous advice that there is no risk of it being handed back to the developer.
Derndale Road works
Were undertaken last week. The surface dressing will be next month. I visited a few times, and was able to ensure that the signage originally deployed was adjusted to reduce inconvenience, and improve safety by limiting the amount of traffic diverted via Bush Bank, rather than towards Canon Pyon School.
Kinford Cross Drainage
As a consequence of the Derndale Road works, there has been increased concern about the drainage down from Kinford Cross to the brook. A team has been out to dig the ditches, and investigate the pipe failure. I am awaiting feedback on that work, but – and this has been an active concern for a number of months – I’m expecting the Council/Highways to acknowledge the drain system is theirs to make good.
Section 19 Report for Canon Pyon
This report has now been published.
Westhope Hill Drainage
I am – again – in conversations with the council officers responsible for resolving this. They continue to assure me that it will be done and satisfactorily – both the bottom of the hill proper where the drains installed earlier this year were not sufficient, and the installation of a spring trap at the Spout.. We will wait (albeit with a lot of chivvying) and see.
Leominster Post Office
Following the closure of the Banks in Leominster the Post Office in the newsagents is also under threat. Herefordshire Council has offered space in the former Barclays bank building at Buttercross as a potential temporary home initially rent free; Ultimately we need a permanent solution and for it to sit alongside the banking hub the Council has established there. While we have all been encouraged to use online banking having a live service is important to our rural communities.
Oil Grant Scheme
For info, this has now been closed, as prices are close to pre crisis levels. I believe this ward to have had one of the highest up-takes of the grant, which is welcome.