Minutes of the Group Parish Council Meeting held on MONDAY 3 MARCH 2025 in the Village Hall , Staunton on Wye.
The meeting commenced at 7.30pm Present – A Andrews, B Arthur, L Boddington, M Jones, E Pearson-Gregory, J Price, N Sellar , W Shepherd, R Skyrme and S Williams. There were two members of the public present in attendance plus County Councillor Mr Robert Highfield
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – There were no apologies for absence.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – None were received.
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING OF THE 2 DECEMBER 2024 – The Minutes were agreed as a true and accurate record of that meeting.
MATTERS ARISING – There were no matters arising that were not covered by items on the agenda.
REPORT FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR ROBERT HIGHFIELD – Cllr Highfield reported following a number of Council meetings that he had attended recently. Many of the items discussed affected Parish Councils directly those being extra money for Rights of Way, the Lengthsman Scheme and drainage. Two and a half million pounds was being spent on the repair of potholes. Five million pounds was being spent on top of the normal budget for roads. A number of concerns had been expressed at a recent meeting in respect of the slow development of the Rights of Way issues. All Parish Councils were recommended strongly to nominate a local Rights of Way Officer. Guidance will be made available through Steve Organ regarding the establishment of the scheme and training will be made available to any volunteer who comes forward to take on such post. There was discussion regarding the Local Development Plan . It was acknowledged that the Planning Office regularly refer to the Development Plan in their response to planning applications. Cllr Highfield informed the meeting that the Government was not looking at any Plan over five years old. The Council has borrowed thirty million pounds for the construction of the local link road / by-pass.
LENGTHSMAN SCHEME – Concerns regarding the communication with the current Lengthsman. It was agreed that the Clerk should pursue the possibility of the employment of a further Lengthsman as of the 31st March. Concern was also expressed at the state of the road close by the road running to Peter Pantall’s home. It was agreed that this should be brought to the attention of Balfour Beatty.
PLANNING MATTERS – The Clerk reported that after circulating the two recent planning applications he had responded to those applications with no objection to either.
PLAYING FIELD – Concern was expressed that the mowing of the playground and of the football pitch was not being done regularly enough and not to a high enough standard. A name of a potential groundsman was raised and the Clerk agreed to contact him to ascertain if he was interested in taking such a task on. If he was not interested then it was agreed that the position be advertised in the Signal and on the Parish Council website.
HIGHWAY MATTERS – The discussion in respect of potholes contined. The Chair reminded Councillors that they should continue to report potholes on the website available on line for that purpose.
PARISH COUNCIL WEBSITE – It was agreed that whilst legally the website meets the legislation in respect of its presentation it could be updated and smartened up. M Jones informed the Clerk that he would provide the name of a local who has worked on another Parish Council website to a good standard. The Clerk agreed to make contact with that person.
DEFIBRILLATOR – The meeting was informed that a First Aid course was being convened that coming Thusday. The possibility of a Defibrillator being placed in Monnington on Wye was to be pursued by E Pearson-Gregory. It was also agreed that an appeal for new people to operate on the ‘phone line should be made.
FOOTPATHS – Mr Shepherd has walked and liaised with Cllr Highfield on a regular basis. Training sessions are to be made available for Footpath Officers.
WAR MEMORIAL – A report was received from B Arthur outlining the latest developments. The meeting was informed that the sub committee had met and that the collection of finances for the funding of the memorial was progressing apace. A smaller sub-committee has been set up to oversee the re-dedication of the memorial. The base for the memorial has now been laid and a date for the lifting of the memorial has been set for the 15th May.
GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE – There were no items of General Correspondence for discussion.
FINANCE – The Clerk informed the meeting of the current financial standing of the Parish Council.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS – The Chair informed the meeting that the position of Clerk to the Parish Council had been advertised and an expression of interest received. The Clerk will set up a meeting between that person, N Sellar and the Clerk. L Boddington reported back from a Webinar that she had attended on the local environment and bio diversity.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING – 12 MAY 2025 – COMMENCING 7.00PM The meeting concluded at 8.33pm.
Chair informed the sub-committee that two local charities have donated generously to the project; this will allow work to begin on Doctor’s Pool.
Sue Hubbard has been working tirelessly for the book we intend to have publish with information of the men named on the War Memorial. Also an article was published on Your Herefordshire FB about the relocation of the War Memorial and requesting any information about the men named on the War Memorial. Two members of the public came forward within hours of seeing it and they have given Sue a lot of info and photographs.
The sub-committee agreed that a meeting should be held to inform other committee members to give an update. Feb 3rd was agreed.
Feb 3rd 2025
All committee members were present to hear the updates. At this meeting it was agreed that a small sub-committee be formed to organise the re-dedication of the War Memorial which is planned for early September 2025.
Alan Harrhy is to co-ordinate with Rev Philip Harvey, Arthur Denaro, Kelvyn and Jo Davies, Headmistress of Staunton on Wye Primary School.
Agreed Project so Far
Requested structural engineer specifications from Jake Smith Engineering for new concrete base for War Memorial.
Obtain landscape material quotes for paving, bench and fencing from local businesses.
Chair met with McMillan and Holder Ltd our stonemason, Luke Trumper and Andrew Morgan to agree the positioning of the new concrete base. A local business has offered to supply aggregate and concrete for the base and will take away surplus soil away from the site.
First step of the relocation of the War Memorial from the A438 to Doctor’s Pool started on 27/28 February. This work was carried out with the help of two local businesses from Staunton on Wye who gave valuable time carrying out the groundwork and providing the aggregate and concrete.
The second stage of the project will be the structural of the Memorial. This will be carried out over the Easter period.
Forthcoming Fundraising Events
15th March Steve Grist skydive.
15th – 30th April Lorna Williams cycle from Staunton to Belgium.
18th May Bikers Breakfast.
Big “Thank You!” to Ian Rivers for his talk on February 28th 2025. This event raised £850.00.
Move the war memorial from its current site on the edge of the A438 to the common land known as Doctor’s Pool, opposite to Staunton-on-Wye Primary School
Produce a printed resource telling the history of the memorial, the men identified on the memorial and their families. Submitted and obtained approval from Herefordshire Planning Application, Listed Building Consent and Secretary of State to relocate the war memorial Contacted local charities, businesses and people requesting financial support Requested structural engineering specifications from Jake Smith Engineering for the new concrete base of the war memorial Obtained landscape material quotes for paving, benches and fencing from local businesses Held first of five fundraising events, 31st January, Proud to Serve, Ian Russell Met with McMillan & Holder Ltd, our stonemasons, plus Luke Trumper, Panda Morgan and Sarah Morgan to agree positioning of new concrete base at Doctors Pool Selected a sub-committee within our War Memorial Committee to plan our re-dedication of the War Memorial, possibly early September 2025
NEXT STEPS Complete new concrete base by 31st March 2025 Relocate War Memorial to Doctors Pool by 15th May 2025 Fundraise – 28th February, Maintaining an Adventurer’s Mindset, Ian Rivers
15th March, Skydive, Steve Grist 15th – 30th April, Cycle to Tyne Cot, Lorna Williams 18th May, Bikers Breakfast
Tuesday 15th April, Lorna Williams will be Cycling from the Staunton memorial to Belgium. Her route will go via Gloucester , Oxford, Reading then head to Hastings and follow the coast road to Dover and catch the Ferry, arriving at Ypres Monday 21st April. She will then spend two or three days visiting cemeteries where the lads are either buried or remembered, then cycle back to Dunkirk where she will catch the ferry. Train to London and on to Hereford.
Sunday 18th May, Bikers Breakfast ~ “Calling all motor cyclists”. Breakfast at Staunton on Wye Village Hall. More information will be available shortly.
Our thanks go to Ian Russell for his interesting and enthusiastic talk as a former Fast Jet Pilot, which he gave to a full hall on Friday 31st January. A very enjoyable evening raising £800 to help bring our lads ‘home’.
All relevant planning permissions are now in place.
Advice on landscaping is in progress with the guidance of Alan Kerr who has 16 years’ experience in large projects and who gave us useful information using diagrams from planning permission applications such as what type of stone and slate we would require for this project.
Fundraising 2025
Friday 31st January at 7.30pm – A Talk with Ian Russell on Life Experiences (Proud to Serve) at Staunton-on-Wye Village Hall – £10.00 including a drink on arrival.
Future Fundraising Events include:
Lorna Williams bike ride from the War Memorial to Belgium
War Memorial Relocation – Lorna’s Fundraising Journey
Lorna Williams has cycled to work and socially most of her adult life. Now she is organising a fundraising cycle trip to five of the WW1 graves in Belgium, where our young soldiers are buried.
In April 2025, when the daffodils are in their glory, she will set off from the Staunton on Wye War Memorial for a 300-mile ride. The village of Dymock will be her first stop, where the Dymock poets wrote their WW1 literary works. Then on to Reading, down to Dover, over to France and finally Belgium. She plans to visit each of our soldiers graves in Etaples ( France ), Tyne Cot Cemetery, Mendighem, , Ploegsteert and Vlamertinghe ( Belgium ). Plus attend the Last Post at the Menin Gate.
All donations given for Lorna’s bike ride will go towards expenses to relocate our village War Memorial. Fundraising to begin in January 2025.
Staunton-on-Wye Parish Council agreed after their Annual General Meeting on the 29th April 2024, that a sub-committee should be formed for Staunton-on-Wye War Memorial Relocation under the guidance of the Parish Council with the appropriate constitution drawn up by the Parish Council with guide lines. Seven members of the previous War Memorial Committee formed the sub-committee. The previous other members would still be forwarded information and updated of progress and would be called upon when their expertise is needed.
The following Sub-Committee is as follows:
Chair Sarah Mason Morgan
Secretary Fran Steer
Treasurer Loraine Boddington
Researcher Sue Hubbard
Parish Council Annette Andrews
Parish Council Barbara Arthur
Others Dave Shepherd
After the first sub-committee meeting in May the following was carried out;
May 2024 letters were sent out to all residents of Staunton-on-Wye and Letton to inform them that 2 public meetings would be held on the 19th June 2024, one in the morning and one in the evening. Each meeting had displays of photos and drawings of the proposed plans and a list of names of the fallen that are mentioned on the War Memorial who lost their lives in the First and Second World War. All committee members were on hand to answer questions and carried out a tick box survey. These two meetings were well attended and all in favour of the removal of the War Memorial from the A438 road to the centre of the village.
Planning permission was applied for. Planning and listed buildings consent application was closed on 16th August with no objections. Planning and Listed Building consent has now been granted.
Section 38 applied for and has been advertised under public notices in local Hereford Times newspaper.
Section 38 has to be applied for because the land on which the War Memorial is to be relocated comes under the title of Common Land but has no rights registered.
Sue Hubbard is doing research for a historical book with the help of Barbara Arthur. Through advertising in the local paper and social media, several people have been in contact about relatives mentioned on the War Memorial who lived in Staunton-on-Wye and Letton.
List of Names of the Men named on the War Memorial
First World War
John Bethell (1917) age 39 Thomas Price (1918) age 24
Reginald Baker (1916) age 22 Henry Sayce (1917) age 29
William Gladwyn (1917) age 22 Edger Thomas Williams (1917) age 20
Thomas Hicks (1918) age 24 Lewis Williams (1918) age 31
Arthur Jones (1917) age 39 Percy Wilcox (1917) age 20
Thomas James (1917) age 24 Thomas Arthur Williams (1917) age 24
Alfred Price (1914) age 18 Thomas Watkins (1917) age 19
Second World War
Thomas Jones (1946) age 35 Frank Price (1943) age 21
John Lewis (1942) age 25 John Williams (1943) age 22
Any further information about the above men please contact:
Sue Hubbard 01981 590319 or Barbara Arthur 07464 096518
Fund raising for the future is being held off until planning permission is approved.
