Linton (South) Parish Council
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting
On Monday 9 March 2026
At Gorsley Village Hall
Present: Cllr A Newton (Chair); Cllr M Bertenshaw (Vice-Chair); Cllr E Clark; Cllr J Hoyle; Cllr S Jurkiewicz; Cllr R Williams.
In attendance: One member of the public; Parish Clerk Rich Hunt (remotely).
1) Apologies for absence: Cllrs C Cresswell, J Gough.
2) Declarations of Interest: None.
3) There are two Vacancies for co-option on the parish council (PC). 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 9 February as a true and accurate record.
5) Clerk’s report: Buses4Us are processing the PC’s request to extend the route of the Daffodil Line between Upton Bishop and Gorsley to take in a stop at Linton. Herefordshire Council (HCC) have advised that the left turning slip road into Revells Lane is the best location for a bus stop. A report of the HCC Parish Council Summit on 2 March will be available soon. The HALC Conference and Annual General Meeting is on 21 March in Hampton Bishop Village Hall. The timetable to complete the Herefordshire Local Plan is slowing as HCC are still waiting for government regulations, without which they cannot proceed. HCC’s Charter is now in operation, but they are falling short in some instances on their commitment to provide sufficient notice of road closures. Herefordshire may not now be merged with other counties to create a larger administrative authority as intended by the government. HCC are aware of a landslide in Linton that forced a temporary evacuation of property owners, and the remains of a tree that came down on the Line are yet to be removed.
6) Public Submissions:
a) The Ward Councillor and PCSO were not in attendance.
b) Parish Matters: Nothing to report.
7) Planning
a) Current Applications:
(i) 253540 – Land adjacent to 2 Field View, Gorsley: Change of use of agricultural land to residential curtilage, to facilitate siting of a replacement sewage treatment micro station. It was RESOLVED unanimously to raise no comment and no objection to this application.
(ii) 260293 – Land at Lynders Nurseries, Upton Bishop: Variation of planning permission to allow holiday cabin to be also used for ancillary residential accommodation. It was RESOLVED unanimously to raise no comment and no objection to this application.
(iii) 260342 – Land at Baldwins Wood, Sargeants Lane, Kilcot: Erection of self-build dwelling in lieu of approval for the conversion of an existing agricultural building. 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) Cllr Newton is looking for another parish councillor to join him on a reformed Climate Change Working Group, with a remit to identify initiatives for the PC to consider taking forward.
9) Locality Steward and highways matters:
a) Weekly reports were noted. The remaining potholes on Linton Ridge are scheduled to be fixed in the next two weeks. The B4221 between Hilltop and Upton Bishop needs resurfacing.
b) Bromsash speeding issues. The Speed Indicator Device (SID) will be moved to the centre of the village, facing the crossroads. HCC Traffic Management have provided road lining plans for Bromsash following surface dressing, which is imminent. There will be large buff-coloured surfacing showing “30” on entry and “SLOW” either side of the crossroads, and no centre line. The Clerk will obtain quotes for village gateways beneath the 30mph signs at each end of the village.
c) Curbing speed of traffic through Gorsley on the B4221. The key metrics from the latest SID report are average speeds of incoming 36mph and outgoing vehicles 33mph with maximum recorded speeds of 94mph incoming and 83mph outgoing. The number of vehicles was 103,801 incoming and 108,893 outgoing, with 86% of the former and 92% of the latter travelling at 40mph or below. Cllr Clark will ask HCC why the road has not been added to the list of scheduled Traffic Regulation Orders.
d) Shutton Crossroads. The PC agreed that Cllr Bertenshaw should pursue the HCC recommendation of erecting a shin fence around the triangle to prevent parking there, but with a gap for a bus stop where a bench could be placed with flower tubs on either side. It was not felt necessary to install pedestrian warning signs at the location.
10) Public Rights of Way: The vacancy for a Linton Public Footpath Officer remains open.
11) Lengthsman:
a) Grass Lengthsman – nothing to report; no further rounds planned this fiscal year.
b) The Roads Lengthsman has two further routine maintenance days and PROW Grant work to complete by 31 March. The PC will consider a quote to renovate road signs at the next meeting once installation costs are known.
c) Grant Scheme: HCC are reimbursing expenditure on the drainage works at Revells Road and Fording Lane and on routine maintenance rounds. Claims for PROW works and remaining maintenance rounds will be made as soon as these are invoiced. HCC will accept a partial claim for materials purchased and allow a re-application for a grant in 2026-27 to cover further costs finishing projects, but PROW Grant applications are capped at £5,000. The Clerk will obtain an update from the Lengthsman and an undertaking not to commit expenditure that will not be eligible for grant reimbursement.
12) Allotments: Most of the tenancy contracts for April – September have been agreed and fees paid. The hedge at the entrance to the allotments has been cut. Cllr Williams and the Clerk are co-ordinating revised plot allocations and new tenancies.
13) The inaugural PC Community Litter Pick on 18 April will include collection hubs at Gorsley Village Hall, Castrees Nursery in Bromsash and Wrens Nest in Linton (by the village hall road junction). The collection hubs will be manned by stewards from 10:00am to 12 noon. Cllr Newton will collect the high viz jackets, litter pickers, plastic bags, and gloves from HCC on loan. Teas, coffees, and home-made cakes will be available with special rewards for children accompanied by an adult. The PC has taken health and safety advice and advertised the event in the Chimes magazine and other media.
14) The PC will consider opportunities to participate in the Herefordshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy once this has been finalised.
15) The PC agreed to send a letter to the House of Lords and to the local MP expressing concern that the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill does not adequately protect the role of parish councils in planning matters.
16) Financial Matters:
a) Cllr Hoyle signed the PC-approved Receipts & payments report and reconciled bank statement for 28 February 2026. There was a bank balance of £19,733.37 with a cash balance after outstanding payments and unpresented receipts of £14,645.35.
b) The latest 2025-26 Budget report and expenditure plans for 2026-27 were approved.
c) It was RESOLVED to pay: Richard Hunt, Clerk fee & expenses £454.90; Terry Griffiths Contracts, drainage works and village signs £3,480.00; HALC, annual subscription £1,153.12. Cllrs Hoyle and Jurkiewicz signed the invoices.
17) Chairman’s & Councillors’ Submissions & Comments: None.
18) Date of next meeting: Monday 13 April 2026 in Linton Village Hall.
The meeting closed at 8:50pm.