EDITORIAL
News: Aston Ingham, Bromsash, Lea, Linton, Upton Bishop & Combined.
GORSLEY NEWS
News: Aston Ingham, Bromsash, Lea, Linton, Upton Bishop & Combined.
News: Aston Ingham, Gorsley, Bromsash, Linton, Upton Bishop & Combined.
LEA NEWS
NEWS FROM LEA CHURCH
I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and New Year. We were busy at the church with our various services, the photos are from the Advent Carol Service at which the children from Children’s Church told us all about the Advent Candles and their meanings. This was a lovely service and well attended. Thank you to all who came along. Similarly, the Torchlight Carol service at the village hall was also well supported - again our thanks to all who came along to it. It was nice after the hectic pace of Christmas to have a quieter New Year!
We are now starting to put together our Entertainments agenda for the year. if there is anything you think we could possibly do, please do contact me on www.theleaparishcouncil.gov.uk
Our first event will be the
Pancake Day Races at the village hall - keep your eyes peeled for notices! Then it's all go for Easter!! (Yes, the shops had Easter Eggs in before Christmas was over!)
Our very best wishes and congratulations to Victor and Chloe on the occasion of their marriage at Lea Church on 17th January.
Take care all and God Bless
Marion Martin. Churchwarden.
LEA PLAY AND CHAT
We are back and have enjoyed the cold weather! with pictures of snowflakes, snowmen and polar bears, but now we are looking forwards to spring and a slightly warmer climate. We encouraged the children to get out and about and join in the British Bird Count by making our own charts and bird pictures. We have welcomed new families to the group, and we meet on Fridays 9.00 - 10.30am in the Lea School hall - everyone is warmly welcome.
Forthcoming event
An Animal interactive Session, April 1st at 2.00pm in the Lea Village Hall. To book a place contact Contact Details on PDF copy on Home Page
LEA VILLAGE HALL
We value our Village Hall in Lea and are now considering how best to promote its use not just to our residents, but to other villages as well.
The Trustees are looking at the list of jobs required during 2026, and to kick start the process the main hall has been decorated over the Christmas/New Year period, making it so much lighter and brighter. One other urgent issue has been a leaking roof over the Committee Room, but with that repaired it’s a case of preserving funds before anything else can be considered.
We are also pleased to say that in the couple of months before Christmas, the new seat in memory of the late Jacky Hopkins (our previous Chair) had
arrived and it is now in situ in the patio area (see above) with an appropriate commemoration plate inscribed “In memory of Jacky Hopkins, who touched so many lives. A faithful friend, never to be forgotten”. This is courtesy of Lea Parish Council.
Fundraising at the hall is prominent in our minds since the annual Quiz Evening planned for 28th November was cancelled due to lack of interest. This concerns us, as for many years November was always the time it occurred, and as our regular Quiz Master had prepared the questions it was very disappointing. Perhaps I should quote him on how he prepares: “I always lean on the side of my questions and photographs being such that most participants can score at least 60% to ensure they are inclusive in the evening and not embarrassed. I plan to have 6 sections of 20 questions across a wide range of subjects and a photograph identification section of 20 well known people”.
Consequently, we have now booked Friday 20th March 7.00pm for 7.30pm start as our new date, and hope that this time we can fill the hall as on previous occasions. Keep a look out for booking arrangements and a poster in this issue, but you can of course contact me, Sylvia Nicholls on: Contact Details on PDF copy on Home Page
Future dates for your diary at the hall are:
Monthly Coffee mornings on the 1st Wednesday of each month, 4th February, 4th March and 1st April from 10.00 am – 11.30 am.
Regular monthly Bingo sessions run the Lea Residents Association Wed 11th February, 18th March, 22nd April, 20th May, 7.00pm for 7.30 “Eyes Down”.
Lea Lunch Club on the last Wednesday of each month 25th February and 25th March.
Contact Nicky Keef to book Contact Details on PDF copy on Home Page
Wednesday 1st April, 2.00- 4.00 pm, Play and Chat session for young children – see Lea Play and Chat section above.
Do also check the Lea Village Hall website for up to date information on all the regular clubs and events that you might like to join. The following groups currently meet each week. Contact details for the group organisers are on the events page of the website:
Mondays - Yoga 9.10 – 10.10am. Brownies in term time 5.45 – 7.15pm
Tuesdays - Short Mat Bowls 7.30 – 9.30pm. Beginners welcome too
Thursdays - Keep Fit (older people but anyone welcomed) 11.30 – 1.00pm. Let’s talk Spanish – 3 sessions from 10.00am (led by a native Spanish speaker). Yoga 6.30 – 7.30pm
Fridays - Painting Group 9.30am – 12 noon (newcomers welcome)
LEA VILLAGE HALL 100 CLUB WINNERS FOR:
NOVEMBER
1st Prize £25 - John Roworth
2nd Prize £10 - Anne Hennessy
3rd Prize £5 - Sarah Thomas
DECEMBER
1st Prize £25 - Brian Jones
2nd Prize £10 - Chris Rivers
3rd Prize £5 - Yvonne Taylor
LEA CAFÉ
It was good to see everyone at the January coffee morning, quite a crowd, and to sing Happy (??th) Birthday to David our village Vicar!
The February meeting falls on Wednesday 4th from 10am at the village hall, as always, and all Lea residents are warmly invited to pop in for coffee and cakes. A couple of things to highlight:
Firstly, Hereford & Worcester Fire Service will be having an information table there, if anyone wants to talk to them about safety and prevention, or even to book a free visit to your home to assess and advise on fire safety ideas.
Secondly, please come along with your favourite ideas for this year's Day Trip, which will probably happen in June.
Do bring your neighbours along to the coffee morning anytime, if a lift is needed contact me, Gill Davis on Contact Details on PDF copy on Home Page
LEA LUNCH CLUB
The lunch club meets again on February 25th at 12.30pm in the village hall. We have a waiting list for the lunch, so if you’re interested in coming along, please speak to Nicky: Contact Details on PDF copy on Home Page Priority is always given to Lea residents.
LEA FRIDAY PAINTERS
Join us at our regular Friday morning meetings at the village hall, starting at 9.00am. Hope to see you there. Any queries contact Di Brice:Contact Details on PDF copy on Home Page
LEA PARISH COUNCIL NEWS
THE LEA PARISH COUNCIL
The agenda and full minutes of Parish Council meetings are available on the Lea Parish Council website www.theleaparishcouncil.gov.uk
Anyone in the parish can contact the council by e-mailing Contact Details on PDF copy on Home Page
The meeting on 26th November 2025 was attended by 6 Councillors, the Clerk to the Council and five members of the public.
The new Chair, Martin Richards, welcomed members of the public. The Council heard a synopsis of a recent planning application, with members of the public having the opportunity to question/discuss any issues. After consideration, the Parish Council resolved to support the Planning Application 252870 — Land at Line House.
Open Session/Views of Residents: Members of the public acknowledged the new Chair had attended the Coffee Morning in the Lea Village Hall and requested the Council do more to raise its profile in the village. Martin had been surprised that some residents were unaware of the Parish Council’s work. Discussions will continue on raising the profile within the village.
A written submission to the Clerk expressed concerns that the new road surface on the A40 will have the same issues with leaves/plants growing in the edges and blocking drains. Martin has been meeting with the new Lengthsman and Locality Steward and these issues will be addressed as needed. At the time of writing Balfour Beaty are responsible as most issues occur on A and B roads in the village.
Residents expressed concerns about the junction of the B4224 /A40. Members of the council have daily experience of this junction where traffic does not stop/give way/look left. There are blind entrances/exits on the A40 plus the school entrance. Councillors expressed the view that “it was only a matter of time” before the recent “near misses” become a serious accident. Martin has agreed to follow this through with relevant authorities.
The minutes of the Ordinary meeting of 24th September 2025 were accepted.
Finance statements and bank balances were accepted.
The Tree Warden scheme is to be considered in future meetings when more is known of the roles/responsibility.
The Parish Council agreed to adopt the IT Policy from Herefordshire Council.
There were no reports available from the PCSO or Ward Councillor Bramer. (This has since been received and is on the webpage).
Items taken forward to the meeting on 28th January 2026 at 19.00 in Lea Village Hall were: a) Tree Warden Scheme b) Thoughts on land purchase c) Bleed/Defibrillator Training d) Feedback regarding B4224/A40.
There is no meeting in February, but the next meeting of the Parish Council is on Wednesday 25th March. Please come along or submit any questions/queries via the Clerk. Meet the new Chair and become involved in the village management.
Please submit any questions via Contact Details on PDF copy on Home Page
