A Meeting of Dorstone Parish Council was held in the OLD SCHOOL Hall Dorstone on Wednesday February 12th 2025 at 7-30pm
Present; Councillor A Phillips, Chairman, Councillor D Edmiston, Councillor S Goodwin, Councillor J Morgan, Councillor D Lonsdale, Councillor D Phillips & Mr C Hendy Clerk.
Also present; Ward Councillor P Price (from 08.00pm), two parishioners
Apologies; Councillor B James, Work commitment, 3 parishioners, Golden Valley Police, Ward Councillor P Price, who would be attending another PC meeting and would be late
Declaration of Interest
None
Representation from the Public
Parishioner who was going to attend to raise concern about the delay on drainage work Scar Lane. This Enquiry was raised on the 3.6.2024. Clerk had checked with Balfour Beatty, most recent update was on the 14.1.2025 which said that a jetting team was previously sent out, but the culvert had collapsed so they couldn’t jet it.
Because of this, it has been passed on to the Drainage Team to see if they can remedy this
Parishioner has raised concern regarding changes to service bus, timetable, route etc but was unable to attend.
Two parishioners in attendance raised concern about the proposed changes to the public service contract.
Minutes, for January 8th 2025, had been circulated and were agreed
Reports
a) Golden Valley Police,
b) Ward Councillor, January report circulated. Ward Councillor gave an update from Herefordshire Council, hoped to achieve a balanced budget, Council Tax to increase 4.9%, it had been hoped for a lower tax, Rural Payment Grant had been withdrawn.
Planning
APPLICATION NO & SITE ADDRESS: Planning Consultation - 250200 - Barnfields, Dorstone, Hereford, Herefordshire HR3 6AW
APPLICATION TYPE: (Part 3) Class Q - Prior Approval DESCRIPTION: Proposed change of use of an agricultural building to a single dwellinghouse (Use Class C3) and for associated operational development GRID REFERENCE: OS 332283, 241169
This application is for a prior approval determination for a change of use and as such the new legislation does not require parish council to respond to this communication.
Councillors noted third application, previous two work had not commenced within specified time, agreed not to make representation
APPLICATION NO & SITE ADDRESS: Planning Consultation - 250404 - Belle View House, Dorstone, Hereford, Herefordshire HR3 6AN
APPLICATION TYPE: Works to Trees in a Conservation Area DESCRIPTION: Western Red Cedar - Single tree, located just inside roadside boundary of Bell View House Dorstone, adjacent to telecommunications pole on inside of boundary. Lowering the crown of this tree to just below the height of the adjacent telegraph pole. The tree is breaching the telegraph pole holding the BT cables.
No letters of support or objection, councillors resolved to support the application
Planning decision
SITE: Golden View, Dorstone, Herefordshire, HR3 6AY DESCRIPTION: Proposed replacement dwelling.
Approved with conditions.
Changes to bus services/route
The clerk had been informed of a consultation seeking views of proposed changes, by Powys Council, to the public transport service serving Dorstone, currently provided by Stagecoach. He had raised with the Ward Councillor who had forwarded the information to Herefordshire Council
It was proposed there would be no bus service through the village, no dedicated college bus & timetable changes. Herefordshire Council had replied they had not been consulted.
The clerk had arranged for information on the consultation to be circulated in the
awaiting meeting with contractor/land owner
d) Flooding Brooklands to Bell Farm concern raised by parishioner
Water from the field gateway adjacent to Bell View causing road flooding/blocking drains.
Agreed to seek a meeting with the landowner & Balfour Beatty
e) Balfour Beatty Annual Plan 2025-2026, circulated, no work scheduled for Dorstone
f) Verge Cutting 2025 twice as contracted; first verge cut is currently scheduled to take place around the last May Bank Holiday and the second cut towards the end of the growing season will take place towards the end of August. This can be reduced to one cut if there was a wish to encourage greater biodiversity in the verge.
Councillors discussed the offer, due to the narrow roads in the parish and the growth of vegetation suitable sites could not be identified.
Councillor Goodwin reported a meeting was to be held with Gas Pipeline Authority to discuss flooding close to road flooding Gattimer Lane. He requested Locality Steward was notified of meeting & invited to attend. Councillors agreed, Clerk to inform locality steward
B4348 Dore View Speed
Speed survey, results from West Mercia Police that speeds are unfortunately too high for Community Speed Watch to operate in the area. Calculated by what’s called the 85th percentile for the speeds measured and it’s come back as being 36 mph, which is too high for the scheme.
Over a week 7500 vehicle speeds were monitored, approx. 7233 normal vehicles with the rest larger vehicles. Normally under these circumstances we would ask for the Road Safety Enforcement van to visit the location but due to traffic volume being low, rarely exceeding 100 vehicles per hour, it doesn’t meet the criteria for them either.
a) Update from Herefordshire Council regarding the installation of a Speed Indicator Device (SID), “the team can identify a suitable location. A single base in the wide verge just south of the Dore View junction would be the most effective position, allowing the SID to be rotated to target both directions of travel and eliminating the need for two bases. Engineer recently attended the location, and provided some ideas - which involve road markings. There appears to be some planned surfacing works in the area, so we are working with Highways colleagues on a wider plan. It might be these proposed works are varied to ensure our works will be drawn on good surfaces.”
Information had been sent to Dore Management committee.
Councillors welcomed the information, clerk to obtain cost installing a base and cost of SID.
Defibrillator The Bage
To receive update on providing a defibrillator at The Bage, Councillor Morgan had spoken to the parishioner, initially no charge for electric, this could be reviewed at a later date. Councillors requested Councillor Morgan thank the parishioner.
Agreed for the clerk to obtain quotations for defibrillators
Herefordshire Council
a) Partnership information
b) Talk Community
Next Meeting March 12th at 7-30pm
No further business the Chairman thanked councillors for their attendance & closed the meeting at 09.25pm
Signed……………………………. Councillor A Phillips
March 12th 2025 parish.
Councillors discussed the consultation & resolved to make the following comment;
The parish council have become aware recently of a consultation by Powys County Council of the T14, now renumbered x44 Merthyr Tydfil to Hereford service bus which travels through Dorstone providing a public transport service for the parishioners.
In the time available for consultation request Dorstone Parish Council make the following observations;
a) The consultation was only available electronically, not all users of the public service have internet access
b) Consultation only advertised on Powys Council website, no advertisement made in England on the buses or at bus stops.
c) Route proposal is to bypass Dorstone, a proposed time saving of 1 minute, .3mile. The proposal is the addition of additional stops, clarification of the exact stops and pin point the locations that are deemed safe for catching the service and departing is required
d) There appears no suitable area for people to wait on the Hereford/east bound leg of the journey. On the westbound leg, leading to Hay, the two junctions on this map could be used. If the proposal is adopted to bypass Dorstone a suggestion is to use the entrance of the playing field, subject to discussion with the committee, east bound , nearly opposite the entrance is a path to the village centre for westbound passengers.
e) The proposed route along the B4348 was recently surveyed for traffic speed & density, 7500 vehicles were recorded using the road over a 7day period, speed recorded was above the level where it was intended to introduce a Community Speed Watch Scheme. The B4348 between the Playing Field & Bridge Cottage is narrow & twisty, only one passing place, large vehicles, (route used by timber carrying vehicles who usually travel in convoy 2/3 vehicles, vehicles drawing trailers (cars +caravan, vehicle + stock trailers etc) also in rural area tractors/trailers hauling agriculture produce. Vehicles have to reverse to pass, unsure if buses can reverse with passengers. It is recommended a site visit of the road is made and it can be observed the quickest safest route is through the village
f) Clarification on bus fares required, e.g will students or concessionary bus holders be required to purchase travel pass or bus rover?
g) Clarification on Sunday Service, is this to be provided by Stagecoach & subsidised by Powys or existing contractor?
h) Sunday service has a later bus in winter than summer, tourists visiting the area would benefit from later bus in summer.
i) On non schooldays the bus will return to the B4348, is this English schooldays or Welsh ones as they often differ?
Speed limit/road markings at The Bage
Following internal discussions, in Herefordshire Council traffic Management, they have agreed to proceed with the installation of new edge-of-carriageway markings and the removal of the centreline. Ordinarily, these measures would only be considered as part of a resurfacing programme. However, given that the current road surface is in good condition, they can proceed with removing the existing markings and installing the new ones as per the attached proposal. This should aid in traffic calming and help address residents’ concerns.
Clerk had sent the information to Mrs Hughes, Bage resident for circulation, she had replied; “With respect to the road marking plans, whatever the speed limit is, the proposal to mark this on the road at 3 sites is excellent as is the removal of the central line and addition of white solid lines at the sides of the road. Anything that slows traffic and encourages caution is welcomed.
I would like to request 2 additions that I don't think are included; can the SLOW marking on the road coming into The Bage from Dorstone be repainted and can a sign be added as is the case in Dorstone which highlights the presence of pedestrians and no footpath for 400 yards (at both ends of the section of road)?”
Councillors discussed the proposal & residents reply, agreed to support the road markings & ask if the two additions could be considered.
The clerk had asked if a site meeting could be arranged to discuss parishioners concerns with Traffic Management, they were agreeable & suggested dates in February/March, the dates were not suitable, alternative dates requested.
Finance
a) To pay clerks salary for December £187.77
b) To pay HALC invoice for 2024-2025 £593.24
c) To pay Lengthsmen account £160
Payments authorised
Highways
a) Flood Warden Scheme, from Herefordshire Council “a map/drawing confirming exactly where the flood boards and barriers would be/are located. This need to be discussed to confirm the viability of the proposed closure points before we can arrange the ordering of equipment and organisation of the training.”
Councillors agreed to request closure at Oaklands & adjacent to Gattimer Lane
b) Update on Autumn Cleaning of parish drains nearly completed, Spring clean to be requested with completion by next meeting
c) Flood alleviation on Scar Lane, Councillor J Morgan reported