What is going on at Orleton Parish Council?
A Happy New Year to all…
Highways and Road safety:
After a flurry of repainted road markings and overdue dropped kerbs in place, the PC activity regarding roads and traffic may well appear to have stopped. Rest assured, this is not the case! Funding is earmarked for the village from infrastructure funds provided by the developer of Captain’s Meadow and a new and far more comprehensive traffic calming project has been approved. It has taken some time and some considerable effort from the PC, greatly assisted by Cllr Dan Hurcomb, but we believe it was worth waiting for. The procurement process will take us into January 2025 to complete, but the flashing ‘wig-wags’ planned at the school location will be installed as a first phase. This is surely the most important aspect of the project and it is astounding that no road crossing safety feature has been in place previously.
Perhaps the pace of Orleton has quickened over the last few years – certainly the Kings Road is now a busy area, as is Kitchen Hill Road with notably more traffic than in previous years. This has been raised with us and we are liaising with the police and HC regarding speeding signs, particularly on the B4361 and in the Ashley Moor junction area.
An award from the Police & Crime Commissioner for West Mercia has benefitted us to the extent of two new SIDs, and these will be installed after consultation. “What about the potholes”, we hear you shout! Indeed, the only way to have a smooth drive around anywhere in this region is to go to Wales! However, we are assured that £5 million extra has already been allocated to resurfacing next year and when Herefordshire Council publish their capital budget for 25/26 even more is expected to be allocated to roads. As our project for traffic calming cannot be completed until the road surface is improved it is to be hoped that we are soon to benefit from this.
Footpaths:
Four new galvanised pedestrian gates have been installed on footpaths off Tunnel Lane as part of the Orleton public rights of way improvements, which are grant funded by Herefordshire Council. This means 6 out of the 22 public rights of way grant funded projects are now completed, with 16 grant works locations still to work on into the spring / summer of 2025 by Orleton Footpath Maintenance Volunteers.
Martin Bradford is also able to report that his grant application to Ramblers Worldwide Outdoor Trust has been successful and that this will be used to buy a professional Stihl brushcutter early in the new year. This is a very welcome addition to Martin’s resources.
Highway flooding:
We had some exceptional flooding in the village in November 2024, with 43.4mm of rain falling overnight on the 23/24, resulting in brook levels of 1.32m at 9am on 24th. Two properties were flooded internally and many others came within a whisker of doing so. Sadly, one farm vehicle took a route through the flood waters at their peak, despite Millbrook Way being closed to traffic and barriers being in place, but the police immediately became involved and, following an investigation supported by witness statements and footage, have taken appropriate action pointing out that the penalty for disregarding a road closure is 3-9 points and an unlimited fine – and in this case the potential loss of the driver’s livelihood. We shall await news of a scheme to mitigate this flooding. This is being led by Cllr Dan Hurcomb and developed by the Highway Authority. Details of these proposals are due to be announced by late February and further extensive survey work has already begun.
Sewer flooding:
I met with Ellie Chowns MP on 6th December, to discuss rural sewerage provision and secured her support for action to address Orleton’s sewer flooding problems. Ellie will also be writing to the Chief Executive of Severn Trent supporting our call for a meeting between the company, planners, the EA, parish and county councillors, to discuss flooding, environmental protection, development and other related issues.
Land Drainage Volunteers:
Volunteers Justin Leech, Mike Tipping, Mark Wetton, Brian Powell and David Lane attended a blocked culvert on the 13 December, which was flooding farmland just above Captain’s Meadow. As has been pointed out, there are many reasons for ending up in a ditch at Christmas, this was one of the more acceptable explinations. The water is now flowing freely.
David Lane – Chairman Orleton Parish Council
13 December 2024