The Parish Council had very useful feedback on possible funding sources for new local bus services. We hope to have some input at the November meeting from the Sphere bus service, Martley. In similar vein we reviewed the paper being issued at the Post Office under the heading of "Ghost Town Britain". We have asked for the briefing document on the proposed parliamentary bill and set up a small working party to review what we can do locally to support our existing community shops. More next month!

At the time of writing there are still people in the Parish who have been without broadband facilities for over a month. These include people trying to run their businesses. The Parish Council was very dissatisfied with this state of affairs. In addition we have had no response to the letter we wrote last month to BT on this matter. We resolved to write again. It was pointed out, to all who could access the site, that the Cradley website has a full resume of the issues. A reminder to all those involved: Contact your service provider to ensure you are refunded for this period.

We agreed to take action to have the matting surfaces at the Chapel Lane Playing Field steam cleaned to remove the slippery algae. Dissatisfaction was expressed at the length of the grass at Chapel Lane and at the standard of the reinstated fence in the Buryfields Playing Field. Action is being taken on all these points.

We were very pleased to hear from Mr Johnson and the Rev Mosey that Herefordshire Council has carried out a preliminary survey and design for a new junction onto the A4103 at Tanhouse Lane. However, despite the fact that the land is being given free of charge there are no funds at present to carry out the works. Similarly Herefordshire Council acknowledges the need to improve the road surfaces at Grittlesend and it may be in next year’s programme of works!

The Parish Council was delighted to hear that Cradley had won 3^rd prize for "Village Pride" in the Herefordshire and Wye Valley in Bloom competition. We decided to donate the gardening vouchers to the School, the Butchers and the Post Office to assist with their floral displays.

The next Parish Council meeting is at Storridge Village Hall on Tuesday 8^th November at 7.30pm. 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 for at least 3 clear days before each meeting. Copies of the minutes for the last 2 years are held at Cradley Post Office.

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

Are you involved with some community activity in Cradley or Storridge? Now that the Parish Council is in receipt of the prize for the 2005 county level Village of the Year Competition, we have decided to make £100 grants available to four organisations within the Parish. If you want your organisation to be considered please write, briefly stating your case, to our Clerk, Mrs Mary Barnett, at 2 New Cottages, Clenchers Mill Lane, Eastnor, Ledbury, Herefordshire, HR8 1RR or email at mary@mbarnett65.wanadoo.co.uk. BEFORE END NOVEMBER 2005.