MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF BILLINGTON AND LANGHO PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON
Monday, 26th January 2026 at 7.15pm
AT THE COMMUNITY HALL
PRESENT
Parish Councillors. Brian Haworth, Martin Hincks, Eva McPrice, Katie Swingewood, Michael Collins, Dennis Johnson, Cllr Tony Austin and Cllr Steve Farmer.
In attendance –2 members of the public and R Greenwood clerk
ITEM 1 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
1.1 There were apologies for absence from John Aspden
ITEM 2 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
- Register of Interests – Councillors were reminded of the need to update their register of interests.
- No members disclosed a personal interest in any matter to be discussed at the meeting.
ITEM 3 ACCEPTANCE OF THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING
3.1 Minutes of the meeting held November 2025 were accepted and signed as a true record.
ITEM 4 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
4.1 Two members from Mytton Fold Dog Daycare attended the meeting to talk about their planning application. 3/2025/0926. They gave a history of the business stating that they have been in business for 4 years and at the moment are one of the only licenced dog premises in the Ribble Valley. Questions were asked about the number of dogs, noise, dog waste and traffic. All these were allayed – the dogs are subject to noise management, the dog waste is collected by a licenced contractor and the dogs are all picked up and dropped off at home. There will be one vehicle per day increase only. The Parish Council were reassured and will not be lodging any objections.
ITEM 5 PLAYGROUNDS
5.1 No report was received from the Lengthsman.
5.2 A quote has been received to repair the crazy paving at Billington Playground. A further two quotes will be sought.
5.3 A quote has been received to jet wash the drive at Langho Playground, given the state of the tarmac it was felt that a better use of money and maintenance would be to ask the Lengthsman to undertake this work with a brush.
5.4 A quote to undertake the repair of two pieces of play equipment at Billington Playground was accepted at £370
5.5 Langho Playground – Dogs are not permitted on the playground. This is a Public Safety Protection Order that was renewed in 2023 for three years. All playgrounds in the Ribble Valley are subject to this. Residents are concerned about the number of dogs being exercised in the playground. The clerk to remove the RVBC signs requesting residents pick up after their dogs as dog are not allowed and the signs are causing some confusion.
ITEM 6 ACCOUNTS
6.1 The following cheques were presented for payment.
| Cheque 202701 | C Walton Lengthsman – December | £276.92 |
| Cheque 202702 | Ribble Valley Restorers for Billington Playground | £1750.00 |
| Cheque 202703 | N Haworth Old Langho Church Groundsman | £200.00 |
| Cheque 202704 | James O Garnett Ltd Billington Playground hedge works | £120.00 |
| Cheque 202705 | Employer NICO for December 2025 | £20.97 |
| Cheque 202706 | Employee PAYE for December 2025 | £10.40 |
| Cheque 202707 | December Salary | £546.43 |
| Cheque 202708 | C Walton Lengthsman – January | £276.92 |
| Cheque 202709 | Travel and parking | £64.30 |
| Cheque 202710 | Ribble Valley Restorers for Langho Playground | £2700.00 |
| Cheque 202711 | Employer NICO for January 2026 | £20.97 |
| Cheque 202712 | Employee PAYE January 2026 | £10.40 |
| Cheque 202713 | January 2026 Salary | £546.43 |
6.2 The bank reconciliation, bank statement and cash flow were presented and signed.
ITEM 7 PLANNING
7.1 The following applications were received and considered.
6002485 Land off Longsight Road, this has gone to appeal The Parish Council has lodged its objections to this at the time of the planning application and were advised by Cllr Tony Austin that no further action would be needed. The Planning Inspectorate would be given access to those objections.
3/2026/0019 Land adjacent to Miles Hill, Moor Lane, this is an amendment to an existing application, the clerk to write to RVBC planning to ask what the detail of those amendments are.
3/2025/0926 Land Mytton Fold – Dog Day Care as discussed under Public Participation.
Raja Farm, the enforcement order has been appealed. A caravan parked there has been reported for removal.
ITEM 8 HIGHWAY
8.1 The clerk to write to C, Cllr Stephen Atkinson, C. Cllr Warren Goldsworth and Matt Townsend about the state of the A59 on the approach to the roundabout. The potholes are dangerous and drivers are having to swerve to avoid them. Concerns were raised regarding the state of the nearby layby and those potholes.
8.2 Cllr Steve Farmer has reported, on numerous occasions, the drainage issues on Northcote Road. It only takes 1.5inches of water to aquaplane and the water levels on Northcote Road are up to 6 inches.
8.3 A complaint has been received by the owner of Clarkson Farm. This is regarding the drains that are overflowing from the culvert. C.Cllr Atkinson has been asked to investigate this.
8.4 Cllr Farmer has requested a crossing person be employed for St. Leonards School.
8.5 The clerk to report the puddle that covers three quarters of the road on Whitehalgh Lane and the need to repaint the white lines on York Lane / Snodworth Road.
8.6 Cllr Farmer is looking to replace the broken stile on the A59, on the footpath leading from the Railway Station. PROW have offered to purchase a metal accessibility style stile and the parish council to install it. The clerk to seek quotes for the installation. Proposed SF, Seconded EM and all in favour.
8.7 Footpath 35 which leads from Swindells Wood to the main road near the Cenotaph has had the gate removed when the stile and steps were repaired. This footpath is used by the school children to get to St Augustine. There is no barrier to stop the school children running into the road on this blind bend. The clerk to write to PROW and LCC to reinstall the barrier.
ITEM 9 OFFICERS REPORT
9.1 The clerk to write to St. Augustine School and PCSO Pemberton as parent are parking on the grass verge opposite the Cenotaph. This is causing damage to the grass verges and is a dangerous parking place.
ITEM 10 FLOOD CONCERNS AND UPDATE
10.1 There has been a complaint regarding flooding at the end of Bank Cottages. Since the building of the houses there has been issues with surface water. United Utilities have repaired a blocked drain but the flooding still happens with under the railway bridge being a problematic area. There are worries that the flooding could impact on the houses.
ITEM 11 DEVOLUTION
11.1.There is no decision from Government regarding the division of Lancashire.
11.2 It was reported that each district council have asked to postpone the elections in May 2026
.ITEM 12 DATES OF NEXT MEETING. All at 7.15pm.
23rd February 2026, 30th March 2026, 27th April 2026
AGM is 25th May 2026, 29th June 2026, 27th July 2026, 28th September 2026, 26th October 2026 and 30th November 2026
