The Parish Council heard from Councillor Rees Mills about Herefordshire’s long-term aims, which would provide rural areas with doorstep recycling. In the meantime, which might be for around 2 years, there have been suggestions that we should have a recycling centre in the parish. We shall be discussing this more fully next month. If you have some views either for or against including the issue of location and management, please let us know.

There was a general mood of frustration on a range of issues concerning roads and drainage. We have had responses from Herefordshire but no dates for action, so our Clerk has been asked to write in stronger terms to the various departments. Recent heavy rains have brought localised flooding in the usual places. It is clear that the need for sandbags is not just a winter issue. Again we feel that the service here is less than satisfactory. We continue to do battle on these matters.

We are pleased to say that the hedge on the Chapel Lane playing field has been cut and that mowing of the grass is just about keeping up with the current high growth rate. The Playing Fields Committee will be meeting on 21 September in the Chapel Room to schedule maintenance works. We will no doubt be noting that no one has taken up the offer made at the Parish Meeting by Jim Lambert of Herefordshire Football Association of grants for those setting up or running village football teams!

Herefordshire Council has still not provided our Lengthsman with his safety training. It is the Parish Council’s view that he cannot start work for us until this has taken place. A concern was raised, sparked by a recent newspaper article referring to Bromyard’s stance, that Herefordshire Council would only pay for the Lengthsman scheme for a few years. Our Chairman, David Creed- Newton agreed with Mrs Hurle at Public Question Time that the Parish Council should ensure that it is not financially embarrassed either with the Council or the Lengthsman should our contract with Herefordshire cease at any time in the future.

We have received notice that the Pension Service is holding a numbers of "face to face" information surgeries. They have scheduled two surgeries for Cradley, on Wednesday 8 September and Thursday 14 October from 1.30pm to 2.30pm at the British Legion on Bosbury Road.

The Agenda for Parish Council meetings is displayed at Finchers Corner, the Butchers, the Post Office and on the notice board at Storridge Village Hall at least 3 clear days before each meeting. Copies of the minutes for the last 2 years are held at Cradley Post Office.

The next Parish Council Meeting is on Tuesday 14 September at Cradley Village Hall. Please note the change of venue.

Mrs M Barnett, Clerk to the Council can be contacted on 01531 635 103.

Sally Ramsden