Community

The parish has about 500 residents - of all ages - and 180+ houses, mostly in the village. The village has a church (Christ Church), a pub with a restaurant (The Farmers Arms), and a village hall (The Memorial Hall). The Memorial Hall was rebuilt in 2001, replacing the original hall which was built in 1924 to serve as a memorial for those who had fallen in the First World War. Located close to the pub are a post box and a public telephone box (no longer operational as it now contains a defibrillator). The parish’s five listed farmhouses are all private houses, two being associated with businesses. There are a number of businesses in the village and outside, but no shop, school or Post Office. The nearby town of Ledbury provides facilities which are well used by the residents of the parish, and its proximity helps to fulfil local requirements. Almost all residents of the parish are car-owners, and travelling to the town presents difficulties to only a few. Most residents are employed outside the parish, travelling to work by car. (Source:2001 Census Crown Copyright 2003)

In comparison with a similar rural parish with a comparable population and close to a market town, in broad terms the people of Wellington Heath tend to live in houses in higher Council Tax Bands, own more cars, and have higher educational qualifications.(Key Statistics for parishes - Research Team, Herefordshire Council Source:2001 Census Crown Copyright 2003).

Compared to the county as a whole, the parish has a higher percentage of people in the older age ranges. Having once moved into the parish, a high percentage (57%) of people tend to stay for more than 10 years; the attractiveness of the area is cited as being the main reason for remaining.

The parish has retained its rural character and community spirit into the present day, to the satisfaction of its people. The vast majority of residents consider the peace andquiet offered by the rural setting to be one of the most important features of living in the parish, and are very keen to preserve the natural and historical environment. Since the village survey in 2000, general opinion seems to have hardened against further housing development, which is seen as a threat to the high quality of life offered by the area: “suburban convenience with rural peace”, as one resident put it.