Rural villages across Herefordshire are set to benefit from the expansion of a popular scheme aimed at sprucing up the county’s countryside roads and highways.
Herefordshire Council is expanding its Lengthsman’s Scheme by rolling out the project to 16 new parishes across the county.
Under the project a local contractor is appointed to look after minor highway maintenance operations in the parish.
The Lengthsman's typical rounds include clearing leaves and debris from ditches and drains, clearing obscured traffic signs, trimming verges and overgrown hedges, painting and repairing fences.
So far 37 parishes across the county have benefited from the scheme since it was launched in 2000.
The origins of a Lengthsman date back to the 19th century when a local person was employed to maintain the highways and byways.
Slowly, with increased mechanisation and centralisation, this once familiar figure with his shovel and hook, disappeared from our rural byways.
Local parishes receive funding from Herefordshire Council by claiming £100 for each kilometre of non-principal road maintained over the first three years dropping to £75 per kilometre in subsequent years.
Main “A” roads remain the responsibility of the County Highways team.
Cllr Brian Wilcox, Cabinet Member (Highways and Transportation), said: “The Lengthsman Scheme is very popular with parishes who view it as an opportunity to restore pride into their own communities by giving them more responsibility for their own maintenance.
“By employing someone with local knowledge they can act swiftly in response to new problems.
“It is refreshing to see, at a time when many traditional ways of rural life are being lost, that this practice is being safeguarded and expanded.”