Michaelchurch Escley, Newton, St. Margaret’s, Turnastone & Vowchurch.
Our parishes lie in the Golden Valley and in the foothills of the Black Mountains in Herefordshire. The Escley Brook and the River Dore run through our parishes to the west and east respectively.
The land to the west rises in a series of ridges and valleys towards the Black Mountains, whilst in the east the land is flatter before rising again on the east side of the Golden Valley. The whole is characterised by great natural beauty.
The population of the parishes is approximately 600 within an area that measures very roughly 5 miles east to west and 4 miles north to south.
The city of Hereford lies about 10 miles due east, whilst the Welsh border town of Hay-on-Wye lies a similar distance to the north-west.
Our parishes are served by the Vowchurch & District Group Parish Council.
A note from Herefordshire Council for those affected by flooding
Herefordshire Council is calling for people whose properties have flooded recently to get in touch.
Over the past week, many communities across the county have been affected by flooding. The council is asking those who have suffered property flooding to report it and share any images or videos on our website. This is part of our ongoing effort to understand the full impact of such weather events and to ensure we can respond and support those affected within our communities.
For the latest updates, please keep checking the Herefordshire Council website and follow @HfdsCouncil on Facebook and Twitter. Find out more about the support and guidance available on our website.
News:
Vowchurch & District Group Parish Council Newsletter
Most salt bins in the parish should now have been filled ready for the winter. The Parish Council does hold an additional supply locally which is available to collect. If you have an area near your property that needs an urgent supply please contact Evan Williams, tel. 01873 860205 to arrange a mutual time for collection.
The Parish Council has received some funding to improve Public Rights of Way, but did you know that Landowners can apply for stiles etc. for free from Herefordshire Council? If you would like further information on how you can request this equipment, please contact the PROW team on PROW@herefordshire.gov.uk.
The Parish Council does have a section on their website where you can advertise your local business, please email the Clerk with a link to your website if you would like to be included in this page.
Please continue to report any defects via the Herefordshire Council website at https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/roads-1/report-problems-road. Reporting issues this way will ensure everything is properly logged, assessed, and allocated to the right teams as quickly as possible. You can check progress of a defect, or see if it has already been logged via the progress map on the council website https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/roads-1/pothole-road-defect-progress-map.
Linda Cowles
Parish Clerk
Tel. 01544 321906
Email. clerk@vowchurchgroup-pc.gov.uk
Website. http://www.vowchurchgpc.org.uk/
Follow us on Facebook: vowchurch group parish council.
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PARISH COUNCIL LENGTHSMAN 2025-2026
Vowchurch & District Group Parish Council is inviting tenders for the Lengthsman contract from
April 2025 to March 2026
Lengthsman Job Description
It is Vowchurch and District Group Parish Council’s objective to:
• Keep the Parish at a high standard
• Maintain accessibility on U & C roads
• Respond to the needs of Parishioners
The Lengthsman will be expected to work 1 day per calender month from April – September and 2 days per calender month from October to March plus any additional days as instructed by the Parish Council.
The main activities are:
WINTER MONTHS
Clear grids & clean out road gullys
Jet connecting pipes
Clear road culvert headwalls
Jet culverts clear
Check inspection pits
Clear headwalls
Clear grips & reform leads
Clear minor obstructions from roadside ditches & reform leads
Clean off road signs
Clear storm debris off the roads
Collect rubbish from areas worked
Note & report major defects to Parish Council for forwarding to Locality Steward
Refill salt bins
SUMMER MONTHS
AS ABOVE & TO INCLUDE
Strim round grit boxes & cut back overgrowth
Strim round road signs and cut back overgrowth
Strim verges and cut back hedgerows on bends & junctions
The Parish Council may request the Lengthsman carry out additional ‘nominated’ tasks. Each nominate task will be specified, and the price agreed in writing between the Parish Council and the Lengthsman before any work is carried out.
Highways covered will be all C and U roads within the Parish along with works on the Public Rights of Way network to install finger posts, stiles/and or gates etc.
• The Contractor will be wholly responsible for employed staff for the purpose of delivering the contract.
• The Contractor shall comply with all relevant statutory requirements (including health and safety at work legislation) at all times in carrying out the highway maintenance.
• The Contractor shall maintain an insurance policy with a reputable insurance company to a minimum level cover of £5,000,000.
• The Contractor must supply their own vehicles and equipment.
Expressions of interest should be submitted to the Parish Clerk via email:
Linda Cowles
clerk@vowchurchgroup-pc.gov.uk
B4348 & C1206 Speed limit – Latest update – September 2024
After a thorough review in accordance with the Department for Transport (DfT) Circular 01/13 on setting local speed limits, the decision has been made not to reduce the speed limit from the national speed limit along the B4348 from Potson Mill to the C1222 junction. This decision is based on several key considerations:
Road Environment and Geometry: The overall environment along the B4348 is characterised by relatively sparse development, with isolated hazards such as junctions appropriately managed through signage and road markings in line with the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD). The road’s geometry and surrounding environment do not meet the criteria for a 40 mph limit, as indicated by DfT Circular 01/13, which requires speed limits to reflect the character of the road and surrounding conditions. It’s a common and understandable thought that lowering a speed limit can only be a move for the better but speed limits that are set at inappropriate levels and / or over inappropriate lengths do have drawbacks such as increased incidents of overtaking, tailgating etc.
Collision History: When conducting a speed limit review, one of the primary criteria is the evaluation of recorded collision history for the section of highway under consideration. This analysis is crucial as collision data often reveals the locations and causes of accidents, enabling the determination of whether these incidents can be mitigated through the implementation of speed limits and/or engineering interventions. This review is limited to the use of evidence from the Herefordshire Council accident database to ensure consistency in assessments conducted across the County. A review of the collision history for this stretch of road shows three recorded collisions in the past five years which resulted in personal injury. While I understand the concern, the causative factors behind these accidents are not attributed to excessive vehicle speeds. Furthermore, these incidents are unlikely to have been prevented by the implementation of a lower speed limit suggesting that the existing national speed limit does not present a significant safety concern requiring intervention. This data indicates that the current speed limit and associated traffic management measures are sufficient for maintaining road safety.
Consideration of a 50 mph Limit: A 50 mph limit was also evaluated for this section of the B4348; however, the recorded 85th percentile speeds range from approximately 45 to 48 mph, indicating that drivers are already traveling at speeds they deem safe within the national speed limit. Introducing a 50 mph limit could inadvertently suggest it is safe to travel faster than what motorists currently assessing without a speed restriction, potentially increasing the risk of accidents. As a result, a 50 mph limit has been ruled out to avoid negatively impacting the current safety record. Speed limits tend not to influence the behaviour of those that wilfully drive at inappropriate speeds, often the effects of putting a speed limit in place can be disappointing insofar as the actions of the irresponsible motorists are often still evident.
Assessment of C1206 for a 30 mph Limit: The C1206 was also considered for a reduction to a 30 mph limit. While this location meets the criteria for a ‘village environment’ as defined by DfT Circular 01/13 on two stretches throughout the extent, and existing speed data suggests good compliance with a 30 mph limit due to the road’s geometry and environment, the collision history does not indicate a need for intervention. The recorded speed data from July 2024 further suggests that implementing a 30 mph restriction would not significantly alter motorist behaviour. Given the limited budgets and resources available, Herefordshire Council must prioritise interventions where significant safety improvements can be achieved. The evidence does not support a change to the speed limits along these roads, as there is no indication of a substantial safety benefit.
Future Engineering Measures: While a speed limit is not currently supported for the C1206 through Turnastone, several engineering measures can be implemented to address concerns regarding specific features, such as the bridge and blind bends. These measures would enhance the safety of these particular hazards and are likely to offer greater benefits than the introduction of a blanket speed limit. Indeed, this approach aligns with the Department for Transport’s recommendations for managing isolated hazards.
The following engineering measures are provisionally proposed:
- ‘SLOW’ markings at existing warning sign locations
- Edge of carriageway markings through the two blind bends
- Vegetation removal on the visibility fence adjacent to the bridge (see attached image)
A review of possible engineering solutions will be conducted in the near future, with design drawings to be submitted to the Parish Council for approval. The implementation of these measures will provide a quicker and more effective solution to influencing driver behaviour than the introduction of a speed limit.
In conclusion, the decision to maintain the national speed limit along the B4348 from Potson Mill to the C1222 junction and not reduce the speed limit on the C1206 is supported by the road environment, collision history, and speed data. Maintaining the existing speed limits aligns with DfT Circular 01/13 and ensures that resources are focused on locations where they can provide the most significant safety improvements.
