Ward Councillor Bromyard Bringsty – Peter Stoddart
Update from Herefordshire Council as at 16 March 2026
Following the unprecedented rainfall over January and February Herefordshire Council have been highlighting on social media the work of our road repair teams who have been out literally night and day repairing potholes and maintaining our roads across the county. We have also brought forward a number of road repair works so that we can carry out the work this financial year. Later in this Ward Update I have included details of this work across the Ward.
Herefordshire Council has appointed the contractor to undertake detailed design and early technical work for the first phase of the Hereford Bypass, paving the way for construction to begin by December this year. Graham, a civil engineering and construction firm, has been awarded the contract following a comprehensive tender process launched last year, and will work on the project, which will see a new road linking the A49 and A465 to the south-west of Hereford. The new 3.6km single‑carriageway road will link the A49/Ross Road–Rotherwas Access Road roundabout with the A465 Abergavenny Road and provide a connection onwards to the B4349 Clehonger Road. The scheme includes a series of underpasses and structures, including a new bridge over the Hereford-Newport railway line, to maintain regional and local access, and provision for walkers, cyclists, equestrians and wildlife. As set out in the Statement of Reasons published in December 2025, Phase One is expected to deliver a range of standalone transport, environmental and economic benefits. The scheme provides the first direct route between the A49 and A465, enabling all traffic, including freight, to avoid congested urban routes in South Wye, with reduced flows anticipated on key corridors such as the A49(T), A465, Belmont Road, Ross Road, Holme Lacy Road, Walnut Tree Avenue and several rural roads southwest of Hereford. This reduction supports improvements to air quality, noise levels and conditions for walking and cycling.
A significant growth area for Herefordshire Council is the visitor economy. We have recently met with the Herefordshire County BID, which manages destination marketing for the county through the Visit Herefordshire brand where we discussed plans for this year, including this year’s Tourism Conference and further maximising the impact of Hamnet, filmed in Weobley. We are working together on Film Tourism, with Council colleagues playing a key role in providing location services, and our first proactive marketing campaign targeting production companies, location ‘scouts’ and the wider screen sector planned over coming months.
Our inward investment marketing continues to step up. For the first time, we attended SDSC-UK, a major national defence and security trade exhibition, promoting the county as a location to do business. Our new Invest in Herefordshire LinkedIn page assists us in our work to attract investors, businesses and developers to boost the local economy.
Herefordshire Council has also launched our first ever Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS). It again shows our commitment to working with partners to make a difference for all aspects of our county and its residents in how we protect and restore our natural assets, habitats and species. It’s a significant plan for Herefordshire and is now out for public consultation. It’s a nationally significant document (one of just 48) and is putting us very much on the national stage, showing our ambition as well as excellence.
The biannual Parish Council Summit took place on Tuesday 4th March and highlighted how important and mutually supportive our relationships are with our many Parish Councils. They were very positive about our work including the impact of Public Rights of Way Grants scheme, which saw 73 applications approved, covering improvements to some 465 assets ranging from gates, fingerposts and stiles through to bridges. Similarly, Drainage Grant schemes worth half a million pounds were approved across 87 Parishes. There was also strong appreciation for the opportunities to programme more ‘hyperlocal’ works through our new Public Realm services contract.
On Wednesday 5th March, Herefordshire Council joined together with partners from Police and Health services to launch Child Friendly Herefordshire and how we individually and collectively make the county a better place for children. Actively listening to the voices of young people – their views, ideas and lived experiences to develop our services. Child Friendly Herefordshire is not just about Children’s services but how we embrace this ethos as a culture, in how we think and as a way of working across the Council.
Digital switchover
Landline telephone services in the UK are switching to a fully-digital network. This means phone calls will be carried out over the internet (instead of analogue landlines). This is what’s known as the digital switchover.
The switchover is happening because analogue telephone lines are becoming harder and more expensive to maintain, and the UK needs a modern digital system that can handle communications via mobile phones, laptops, tablets and other electronic devices.
The digital switchover is planned to be completed by January 2027.
How will it affect me; what do I need to do?
For most consumers and businesses, this change will be straightforward.
If you already have an internet connection, the change may be as simple as plugging your phone into your broadband router, rather than the socket on the wall.
If you need to upgrade your phone system, your provider may need to arrange for a telephone engineer to come to your home to install a new system.
If you have other devices connected to your phone line, such as an alarm and healthcare system (including Technology Enabled Care (TEC)), your alarm or healthcare system provider might need to upgrade your alarm device to make sure it’s compatible. If you’re unsure about how a device in your home or business might be affected, contact the equipment supplier or device manufacturer to find out whether it will still work on a digital phone line.
Your telecoms provider (eg Virgin Media, O2 or BT) will contact you ahead of the switchover to let you know what you need to do to make sure your service isn’t affected. You do not need to take any action until your provider contacts you directly.
Please remember to inform Herefordshire Council of the location of non-emergency pot holes, drainage issues and Public Rights of Way (PROW) issues using the Herefordshire Council website https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/roads-1 For any emergency potholes please report them via the 24hour telephone number: 01432 261800
In respect to the four Parish and Town Councils which make up the Bromyard Bringsty ward, I have the following updates:
Bromyard and Winslow Town Council.
I am very pleased to see Bromyard Town Council using their allocated £200k for public rights of way to resurface the High Street and have planned work to improve the pavements around Bromyard. In addition, Church St is being resurfaced overnight on the 23rd of March and the A465 by the Hope Centre is scheduled for repair in late March.
The long-awaited drainage upgrade at the bottom of Linton lane is scheduled to commence on 16 March with a road closure planned for two weeks. This will see the drains there replaced and an upgraded connection to the main drainage on the A44.
The B4204 will be resurfaced from the Rugby Club to the C1062 at Rock Farm over the period 18-20 March.
Following a request from a Bromyard resident I am working with Herefordshire Council Officers to discuss and review disabled parking in Bromyard.
I have also met with two residents of the Porthouse Rise estate, whose rear gardens flood due to surface water overflowing from the B4204. Following a meeting with the Highways Director, work to address this has now been added to the work programme for the next financial year.
Brockhampton Group of Parish Councils.
I am very pleased to report that the blocked-off layby on the A44 next to the cross Downs road junction which for the last eight years has been an eyesore, has been removed and the area restored back to its natural habitat.
In respect to the traffic situation at Brockhampton School, I am awaiting updates from Traffic Management Officers and others.
I have also contacted BBLP in regard to the drainage issue at the entrance to the Royal Oak pub. They are investigating the issue during March and I hope to have an update for residents in the next month.
Further to a request from a resident in respect to Ash Die Back affected trees I have requested that a Herefordshire Council officer visits her to look at the affected trees.
A local youth leader has requested my assistance in speaking with Herefordshire Council regarding the use of the Ashfields Depot site on A465 Hereford Rd as a youth centre for running Scouts, Guides and the Bromyard Youth Club.
Following a request from a resident in regard to damaged grit bins in the Parish I have had agreement from BBLP that they will replace the grit bin on the cross Downs Road next to White Railings cottage and also the two damaged grit bins on Burying lane.
Whitbourne Parish Council.
The long-standing issue in respect of the provision of funding for the recently installed white gates at the entry to the village has now been resolved and the payment to the contractor has been made by Herefordshire Council.
The resurfacing of the A44 at the junction for Whitbourne and from Norton Lane to the Worcestershire border are scheduled for completion by the end of March having been brought forward from next year’s plan of work.
North Bromyard Group of Parishes.
The work to resurface the bend on the B4203 on the hill leading out of Upper Sapey with high grip tarmac is scheduled for completion on 16 – 17th March.
The work to introduce a 40MPH speed limit on the B4203 through Upper Sapey, continues to progress.
I will be showing the Parish Council at their meeting on 24th March the design plans for the redesign of the junction at High Cross. The project remains on track to be completed in the next financial year.
I have arranged for a resident to be updated by the Head of Highways in regard to her concern about the condition of Stoney Bridge lane. He explained to her that the road was part of the coming year’s maintenance plan and that he would try and have it completed as early as possible.
I am present at the Surgery in the Foyer of the Conquest Theatre on the first Saturday of the month from 10:30 – 12:00 for residents to meet with me in person.
It remains my pleasure to assist residents of the Bromyard Bringsty Ward with their Herefordshire Council issues and concerns. Please do not hesitate to contact me via telephone or email if you have any Herefordshire Council related issues.
If you wish to contact me, my contact details are
Councillor Peter Stoddart MBE MBA CEng
Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services
Bromyard Bringsty Ward
Address: Herefordshire Council, Plough Lane, Hereford, HR4 0LE
Telephone: 07529 188727
Email:peter.stoddart@herefordshire.gov.uk
