Quite a short report for this month because I was on holiday (and at a festival) for quite a lot of the month.

Around the ward

I met our volunteer tree warden: Tim and another member of the tree warden network: Mo. They have some ideas about how the council could manage Churchill Gardens to be friendlier for wildlife while still being able to accomodate hundreds of visitors a day and saving money. They are discussing these proposals with council staff. I hope that we’ll be able to consult local people and park users if the council staff think the plans make sense.

We also watered some of the trees they have recently planted. Transporting enough water to make a difference to several trees is a serioues undertaking.

Though most people keep their hedges under control, I have had a few reports of hedges overgrowing pavements in different parts of the ward. You can report these directly on Herefordshire Council’s website or you can flag them up to me and I will report them and chase progress.

The council has been consulting on a proposal for a new cycle route on Aylestone Hill. I’m very disappointed that they have dropped a plan to extend it into the centre of town. Without that link I’m not sure what benefit it brings to anyone. I have asked that the council organise an in-person session so people can see the proposals and talk to engineers. They accepted the idea but no dates have been announced.

Please do give your views on Herefordshire Council’s online tool. I will also collate the comments of anyone who has contacted me directly and provide a summary to the cabinet member and the relevant employees before the end of the consultation.

I’ve also been helping indvidual residents with issues ranging from consumer complaints, to advice on council policies and an unusual question about access to the tip. Please do get in touch with me if you need help with any local issues.

Around the council

There were no council meetings in August but I have been involved in preparing for meetings of the Scrutiny Management Board and Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee in September.