MINUTES OF ORLETON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING (EXTRAORDINARY) HELD AT THE VILLAGE HALL AT 7.30PM ON MONDAY 16 DECEMBER 2019
PRESENT B Gandy – Chairman, P Smith – Vice Chairman, J Humber and J Page.
IN ATTENDANCE Ward Cllr. S Bowen (Bircher Ward); and R Hewitt, Clerk. Five (5) members of the public were present.
1. Apologies for absence – J Hobson, E Clanzy-Hodge and M Morrison.
2. Declarations of interest and written dispensations on agenda items – None.
3. Invitation to members of the public to address the council (limited to 15) – Members of the public asked for the parish council’s support to close Millbrook Way at times of heavy rainfall to prevent the wake from vehicles causing potential damage to nearby property, and to make sandbags available either side of the bridge. A proposal was made for three ‘Flood – Road Closed’ signs.
Two members of the public asked that surface water flooding on Tunnel Lane and Kings Road is taken into account as well. A solution needs to consider the village as a whole.
Ward Cllr. Bowen said Balfour Beatty had been asked to attend the meeting this evening. Closing a road can only be done by the appropriate authority and is a legal power.
4. Proposal to commission Balfour Beatty to assess options available to manage traffic at times of surface water flooding, including request for a gate and road closed signs – The parish council is committed to having sandbags available either side of the bridge on Millbrook Way, and has purchased 100 sandbags to date this autumn. Ward Cllr. Bowen suggested the parish council consider holding lightweight single use sandbags as well.
In response to the request to close the road, it was noted that road closures are a matter for the highway authority. The highway authority/ Balfour Beatty have said that options to mitigate damage caused by vehicles driving through surface water flooding can be provided under ‘community commissioning’.
The meeting noted an update on flood risk measures in Orleton from the River Wye and Lugg Natural Flood Management Project.
The parish council resolved to request advice from Balfour Beatty under community commissioning and for the advice to include consideration of a gate and prominent signs that state ‘Flood – Road Closed’.
It was agreed to purchase three temporary triangular flood signs to be deployed only by volunteers who have been trained appropriately by Balfour Beatty. The agent of the highway authority will be asked to provide this training.
(The vote to purchase three temporary triangular flood signs was carried 3:1 with Cllr. Humber opposing the resolution, and Cllrs. Gandy, Smith and Page in support. Cllr. Humber requested that voting on the resolution is recorded in the minutes.)
5. Payments – The following payments were agreed: Herefordshire Council, detailed design of traffic calming scheme (£2,258.29); Clerk, administrative expenses/ office, April-Nov. 2019 (£409.74); and D C Gardening Services, lengthsman/ P3 footpaths (£432.00).
The meeting closed at 8.47pm.