Conservation
Perhaps, later, when you roll the present Plan forward, you might wish to look at three specific issues which I believe have been raised recently within the area.Perhaps, later, when you roll the present Plan forward, you might wish to
        (1) Trees. Would you wish to identify those you consider important within your area?
        (2) Not much has been said about the built or historic environment. If you want pointers, I would be happy to oblige.
        (3) You might like to look more at the impact of the river on your area and how it could be improved in terms of environment, awareness and recreation. Again, I can help in relation to some of these.

Bill Bloxsome
Chief conservation officer

Environment
• Dog fouling matters: Mike Higgins, animal health and welfare manager (383147)
• Litter and street cleaning: Stephen Oates, head of engineering and transportation (260780)
• Landfill: Bruce Chartres, senior environmental health officer (260542)

Landscape
I am very pleased to see that the increased use of wildflowers is being promoted by residents. A cautionary note: wildflower meadows are sometimes difficult to establish and need very specific maintenance. It is important that residents realise that the grass has to be left uncut for most of the summer, thus it will not look tidy.
        Also, whoever does the maintenance must be prepared to adapt the usual maintenance regime. This has been a problem along the Bromyard bypass where the new shrub and bulb planting has been substantially destroyed by inappropriate mowing.

Jane Patton
Landscape officer

Belmont Rural parish:
Some statistics
Area: 153 hectares.
         Population (2001): 3382. Density (ie, persons per hectare) 22.04 (vs 0.80 for the county).
         Population breakdown: up to 14 yr, 710; 15 to 19 yr, 122; 20 - 29 yr, 625; 30 to 44 yr, 1046; 45 to 64 yr, 559; 65 to 74 yr, 197; 75 to 84, 102; 85 to 90-plus, 21
         Households (selected data): lone pensioner 6.8%, other single person 22.5%, one family, all pensioners 6.9%, married couple with dependent children 19.6%, co-habiting couple with dependent children 5.3%, households totals 1504
        Marital status: single (never married) 31.4%, married 42.4%, re-married 8.7%, separated (but still married) 2.7%, divorces 10.5%, widowed 4.3%
         Tenure (% of households): house owned outright 21.5%, owned with mortgage or loan 59.5%, shared ownership 1.1%, social rented 5.3%, private landlord or agency 10.9%, other (inc. tied homes) 1.6%
         Employment (top five): motor vehicle repair 21.4%, manufacturing 19.9%, health and social work 9.8%, real estate 8.3%, transport, storage, communication 7%.

Isobel Gibson
Principal research officer