Barley Parish Council
Annual Parish Meeting (26 May), Whitehough, Litter, Lengthsman, Planning...
The Annual Parish Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 26th May, and you are all invited to attend. Local groups and the PC will be talking about what has happened in the village during the last year and what will be happening in the future for about one hour then we will finish with beer, fine wine and high-class nibbles. This is a village social providing us all with the chance to catch up with what is happening, those we do not see often enough and the local gossip – it is always a good night so please come along.
Since 2020 I have been writing about the woes of the Whitehough masonry arch bridge and its stability. In October 2025 I reported that improvement works to the Whitehough access road had been undertaken. The road was badly pot-holed but a new macadam surface from Barley Road down to the pack horse bridge and about 100m beyond had been laid and it was funded by the owner and some residents. The road looked great, but the new surface could cause horses to slip and so the County Council implemented an order to temporarily prohibit horses being either ridden or led over the Bridleway for a period of 6 months or until any necessary works are completed within this period. In March the access roads to the ford across the river also got a macadam surface as signs diverted vehicles over 3.5t GVW away from the bridge to the ford since there is a weight restriction on the bridge.
The Swarcoplast high friction surface dressing produces a skid resistant surface improving road safety for pedestrians, and horses of course, on steep areas and it has been applied in a 3m wide strip over the area with a steep gradient.
The layby on Barley Lane, popular with hill walkers, is a litter blackspot in the village. In late 2025 the PC and PBC shared the cost of replacing the old single size litter bins with double size bins to increase the capacity and reduce the instances of overflowing. One was installed at the layby and the other at the foot of the steps up Pendle Hill and in the last week we have installed signs next to the bins to encourage their use, designed to reflect the pendle landscape. We hope the bins will be used by all.
The PC has recruited a new Lengthsman to undertake a range of maintenance tasks around the village including grass cutting, weeding and helping keep the village tidy. Scott lives locally and you will no doubt see him around the village.
Planning Matters – The planning inspectorate have approved planning permission for a single storey timber structure at Pendle Hill Farm. The structure has been there for at least two years. The inspector determined that the structure does not have any significant adverse effect on the landscape character of the area and does not conflict with policies ENV1 and ENV2 of the Pendle Local Plan: Part 1.
Finally, the Council wishes Angie Hargreaves a speedy recovery from illness. She is a valued member of our community playing a big role in the Chapel and local events.