This month’s is a short report; the main highlights of local news being the completion of the bridge works on the A4112, but also continued work on remediation about pavements around Burtonwood, finalising plans on the traffic calming including continuing to put pressure on for a zebra crossing up by Weobley School, and continued works on our ditches, drainage and flooding resources.
Regarding the A4112 bridge, I’m glad it was delivered early, even if only a day, and I’m now working with the council and Balfour Beatty to get the remedial work on the all the rat runs repaired. Most prominent of those is the area around the Homme where the road looks like something out of WW1, but actually there are a number of lanes – Gadbridge Road, Riddox Lane – where there is desperate need for repair. I’m not going to waste the opportunity, or the assurance given by the Leader and the Chief Operating Officer at the council, to get this work done.
I’m delighted to have received confirmation that works are now scheduled for drainage repair on Gadbridge Road opposite the Hopelands / by Garnstone drive; this should be done in the Spring, I believe.
We are already seeing enquiries from elsewhere in the county about trying to replicate the great works of the Weobley Footpath Team in delivering bridges at vastly reduced cost from the more recent approaches. In theory this could save the council up to £1m.
The news from Herefordshire council continues to be dominated by cost concerns, as Westminster focuses funding away from rural areas. This means that – again – despite us delivering savings in our operational activity, council tax will have to go up again this year. I am extremely disappointed by this – and continue to resist the default assumption that it will go up each year. However there are lots of bits of good news coming through – I am very optimistic that early next year we will have good news about Children’s Services, which is being absolutely transformed from the state it was in only a few years ago.
Please do get in touch if there’s anything I can help with, or even something you would just like to discuss. I continue to hold surgeries at the Green Bean and at the community centre at Burton Gardens, but can be contacted on 07884 268624 or [email protected] While I do urge you to follow me on Facebook for updates, please don’t message me via Facebook Messenger – there are clear examples of some of those not going through.