What is going on at Orleton Parish Council
Public Rights of Way
Further work has been undertaken to renew stiles, with Alex Green, Barbara Gittings, Paul Stringer, Mike Tipping, Tony Davies and Mark Wetton all volunteering to help Martin Bradford install a wooden stile and dog gate in field above Ashley Moor Hall on Thurs 27th February and a galvanised gate on the 1st March. Thank you also to Ron Gittings, Dave Robbins, Sheila Bradford and Alex Green for their continued work refurbishing and painting the road signs in the village – excellent and much valued work.
Kings Road resurfacing
Cllr Hurcomb has confirmed that funding has now been allocated for resurfacing of the Kings Road/Kitchen Hill Road – which means that it is merely a question of ‘when’ and not ‘if’ this work will be carried out – but certainly within the next 12 months. Our thanks for the dedication and drive Cllr Bishop has shown in pursuing this matter and to Cllr Hurcomb for his unfailing support in pressing this case at county level.
Sewer flooding
Our meeting on 12th March with the Environment Agency, Severn Trent, senior planning officers and Cllrs Swinglehurst and Hurcomb exceeded expectations, securing confirmation from the EA that they have opened an investigation following 6 reported incidents of sewage spills into Brimfield Brook in the last 12 months. They have now agreed to place remedial investigations by Severn Trent under review. Agreement was also secured that no further connection to the sewer system will be permitted until hydraulic capacity in the sewer system has been increased. Accordingly, the 40 houses allocated for Orleton under the Local Plan can now only be built if they can include their own treatment works, independent of the mains network. Severn Trent will be installing flow monitors throughout the sewer network over the next month to identify the primary sources of surface water entering the network and will then pursue further investigations.
Highway Drainage Scheme
Following a meeting with the head of the Highway Authority, Land Drainage Authority and senior design staff from Balfour Beatty on 13th March, Cllr Hurcomb and the parish council have secured agreement to review the capacity and design of the culvert towards the Asley Moor turn and to proceed with design work for the drainage network to be installed at the Maidenhead junction. This work will include the development of surface water retention measures above the B4361 in the Ashley Moor catchment in collaboration with landowners and the Severn Rivers Trust. We anticipate being able to provide a further update on the progress of this scheme in the next edition.
Lane Drainage Volunteers
Thank you to Adrian Beaumont, Mark Wetton, and Glyn Davidson who joined me on the 22 February to clear a significant build-up of silt a debris from the Millbrook Way bridge culverts. This is essential maintenance, which improves flood resilience during heavy rainfall and keeps Millbrook Way open to traffic.
David Lane – Chairman
20 March 2025