Linton Parish Council
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting
On Monday 9 February 2026
Present: Cllr A Newton (Chair); Cllr E Clark; Cllr C Cresswell; Cllr J Gough; Cllr R Williams.
In attendance: Three members of the public; Parish Clerk Rich Hunt (remotely).
1) Apologies for absence: Cllrs M Bertenshaw, J Hoyle, S Jurkiewicz.
2) Declarations of Interest: None.
3) There are two Vacancies on the parish council (PC) following Cllr Sheridan’s resignation. The Clerk has advertised these on the PC’s website, in the Chimes magazine and to newsletter subscribers.
4) It was RESOLVED to agree and for the Chair to sign the Minutes of the PC meeting on 12 January as a true and accurate record.
5) Clerk’s report: Buses4Us have agreed in principle to the PC’s request to extend the route of the Daffodil Line between Upton Bishop and Gorsley to include a stop at Linton. The PC will need to agree where to place a bus stop, and whether additional facilities (e.g. a shelter) are required. Herefordshire Council (HCC) will fund some of this, but a PC contribution will help to move matters along. Any infrastructure installed, other than the bus stop pole, will become the property and responsibility of the PC. Cllr Bertenshaw will discuss with HCC Traffic Management (TM) officers at the location on 11 February. Buses4Us are hoping to establish several community park and ride schemes by encouraging establishments that own big car parks on bus routes to allow people to park there while they use the bus. Ross-on-Wye Town Council will shortly be reviewing whether to continue its support of the Armed Forces Outreach in the Ross area. HCC will forward details of their next PC Summit on 2 March, and the BBLP Public Realm Annual Plan briefing session for PC Chairs is on 12 February. There are no obvious grant sources for funding a revision of the Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP), and the PC has included this requirement in its budget calculations. The PC has already agreed to follow HALC’s advice in rejecting HCC’s proposal that local councils create their own local resolution protocol to resolve code of conduct issues without recourse to the Monitoring Officer. The Clerk has submitted a three-yearly re-declaration of PC compliance with The Pensions Regulator under the Pensions Act 2008.
6) Public Submissions:
a) The Ward Councillor and PCSO were not in attendance. There have been several burglaries in the general area recently, with the investigation locally led by CID. The Clerk will inform parishioners that the police are offering tool marking and home security advice and holding surgeries, which are published monthly on the Ross-on-Wye and Golden Valley Police Facebook page.
b) Parish Matters: Nothing to report.
7) Planning
a) Current Applications:
(i) 251981 – Land to the north west of Cornflower Cottage, Bromsash: Construction of one detached, and a pair of semi-detached dwellings with access, car parking, landscaping, and associated works, accompanied by an area of rewilding along the eastern border of the land. The PC reiterated its objection to this modified application on the grounds of non-compliance with NDP BGL 1 Natural Environment and BGL5 Settlement Boundaries.
(ii) 253651 – Acorn Cottage, Linton Single storey extensions to buildings. It was RESOLVED unanimously to raise no comment and no objection to this application.
b) Decided Applications: The schedule of recently decided applications was noted.
8) Climate Change Working Group: Nothing to report.
9) Locality Steward and highways matters:
a) Weekly reports were noted. BBLP have filled and repaired or replaced salt and grit bins in the parish. The Clerk will inform the Locality Steward that the potholes on Linton Ridge have still not been fixed.
b) Bromsash speeding issues. Cllr Bertenshaw will discuss with HCC TM officers the options available to reduce the speed of traffic through Bromsash.
c) Curbing speed of traffic through Gorsley on B4221. The Roads Lengthsman has installed the two village gateways with welcome signs in front of the speed limit signs at the western entrance to Gorsley. Data from the Speed Indicator Device has been impacted by the presence of temporary traffic lights; a full report will be presented at the next PC meeting. HCC TM have confirmed that the Traffic Regulation Order to reduce the speed limit is scheduled for next fiscal year, after resurfacing work has been completed. The additional pedestrian crossing at the Lovers Walk development provides a further speed deterrent.
d) Bromsash flooding. The drainage scheme at Bromsash House has alleviated the flooding there. The PC expressed its thanks to Nick Jones for his removal of some of the debris in the ditch at the bottom of Fording Lane. BBLP have an outstanding job request to remove the remaining roadside spoil heaps that lead to flooding. The Roads Lengthsman has cleared the ditches and grips, but the under-road pipe still needs jetting on a routine maintenance round.
e) Shutton Crossroads. The Roads Lengthsman has installed two road narrows signs to complete the set designed to improve road safety. Cllr Bertenshaw is meeting HCC TM officials at the grass triangle to look at ways to prevent parking there.
10) Public Rights of Way: The Public Footpath Officers (PFO) have obtained most of the landowners’ permissions for the Roads Lengthsman to replace footpath stiles with gates under the HCC PROW Grant scheme. Cllr Gough will notify HCC where this is not the case. The Clerk will advertise the Linton Public Footpath Officer vacancy following the resignation of Cllr and Mrs Cresswell.
11) Lengthsman:
a) Nothing to report from the Grass Lengthsman.
b) The Roads Lengthsman has two further routine maintenance days plus PROW work to complete before the end of the fiscal year. Cllr Williams will provide the Clerk with details of local road signs that require Roads Lengthsman repair and/or cleaning.
c) The Clerk will submit the PC’s Drainage Grant claim following Roads Lengthsman completion of drainage works at Revells Lane and Fording Lane.
12) Allotments: The Clerk has issued tenancy contracts for April – September and an explanation of the new arrangements and fees to all plot holders. Some agreements and payments have been received. It was RESOLVED unanimously to accept GP Property’s quote of £1,096 for grass cutting and weed-killing maintenance in 2026-27.
13) Community Litter Picking: The Clerk has advertised the 18 April parish litter pick and reserved kits from HCC. The PC will agree a plan at the meeting in March, which will include collection locations, allocation of resources, safety arrangements, and refreshments. Gorsley Community Shop will provide sweet treats for participating children. Cllr Clark will liaise with the school, and the Clerk will check that the PC’s Public Liability Insurance covers the event. HCC are not supporting the installation of new litter bins. The PC agreed not to purchase and install one, as the responsibility for the collection and disposal of material deposited in it would be problematic.
14) It was RESOLVED unanimously to adopt an Information Technology Policy.
15) Financial Matters:
a) Cllr Cresswell signed the PC-approved Receipts & payments report and reconciled bank statement for 31 January 2026. There was a bank balance of £21,747.06 with a cash balance after outstanding payments and unpresented receipts of £19,623.62.
b) The latest 2025-26 Budget report was APPROVED unanimously.
c) It was RESOLVED to pay: Richard Hunt, Clerk fee & expenses £455.44; JACS Ltd, village gateways and welcome signs £1,668.00. Cllrs Clark and Williams signed the invoices.
16) Chairman’s & Councillors’ Submissions & Comments: Cllr Gough raised the inadequacy of the crash barrier at Gorsley School. HCC are aware but have determined it is a matter for the school, as it does not meet their criteria for action. Cllr Gough is also concerned that the traffic lights by the school do not allow enough time for pedestrians to cross. The Clerk will inform the Locality Steward of Cllr Cresswell’s belief that the remains of a tree that came down on The Line in Linton by Hillside Cottage represent a hazard.
17) Date of next meeting: Monday 9 March 2026 in Gorsley Village Hall.
The meeting closed at 8:34pm.