PEOPLE in Bromyard have taken matters into their own hands by moving plant pots used to block parking spaces and widen pavements for social distancing.

From July, Herefordshire Council started to introduce active travel measures in Hereford and the county towns so walking and cycling would be more attractive during the coronavirus pandemic.

But after a number of parking spaces in Broad Street and High Street in Bromyard were replaced with widened walkways, plant pots in place to stop cars parking on the extended pavements have been moved.

At a full Bromyard and Winslow Town Council meeting on Monday evening, councillor Johnathan Lester said it was "absolutely ludicrous that those parking spaces have been robbed" and was "lamentable".

Coun Suzette Brunsdon said she had heard from a business owner who had concerns about the measures, which have also seen the speed limit reduced from 30mph to 20mph in the town centre.

Speaking to Conservatives Bromyard Bringsty ward councillor Nigel Shaw, Coun Brunsdon said a business owner told her the pots were not convenient and felt they had not been listened to.

In reply, Coun Shaw said: "It would be even more powerful if either the town council or the business owner passed that onto Councillor John Harrington.

"I have spoken to Councillor Harrington about moving some of the pots where they didn't really seem to be doing what they were intended to do.

"I did comment that I've seen, I believe, some retailers or some persons as yet unknown have moved some of the pots to enable car parking to be augmented a little bit.

"Either they're there to do a purpose or they're not, and if they're not doing the purpose then we're just fooling ourselves to have them there.

"The responsible thing to do would be to revisit and modify some of the areas, I think that would actually do a lot to make people feel they were being listened to, even if not all the pots were removed."

Councillor Fred Clark added there have been several comments from traders and others about the pots.

He said the amount of rubbish around the tubs was a "disgrace".

Herefordshire Council said during the measures being put into place that it would take feedback on board and adjust the changes if necessary.