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Hereford Voice last won the day on June 25 2021
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๐ ๐๐น๐๐ถ-๐บ๐ถ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ผ๐ป-๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฑ ๐น๐ฒ๐ด๐ฎ๐น ๐ฐ๐น๐ฎ๐ถ๐บ ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ผ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ ๐น๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ฅ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ช๐๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐น๐น๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ด๐ฒ๐ฑ๐น๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ถcken producers
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A legal claim potentially worth hundreds of millions of pounds has been launched by law firm Leigh Day in a bid to compensate thousands of people living in the Wye catchment likely to have been affected by a major degradation of the River Wye and its tributaries in recent years. Photo of flowering ranunculus weed bed (credit Phil Wilson) The claim will be brought against Avara Foods Limited, one of the UKโs biggest food producers, alleging that industrial scale chicken farming in the River Wye catchment area is polluting the River Wye and surrounding land. Evidence shows the operations of Avara Foods to supply UK supermarkets has been the overwhelming cause of phosphorous pollution which is damaging the River Wye, says Leigh Day. Photos of flowering ranunculus weed bed (credit Phil Wilson) Avara has said that it will cease polluting the river in the future. However, Leigh Day will argue that Avara Foods is responsible for the damage that has already been caused and should clean up the River Wye and the surrounding land, as well as pay hundreds of millions of pounds to people and businesses whose lives, livelihoods and enjoyment of the area has been impacted because of the effects of pollution. The legal claim will also look to prevent Avara Foods from polluting the river further if the company doesnโt carry out its pledge. People who can join the legal claim will have a claim alleging private and public nuisance. They will live in a 4,000 sq km area in Powys, Herefordshire and Monmouthshire. ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ฏ๐ฒ: โช๏ธ People whose land and property surrounds the River Wye โ potentially thousands of claimants โช๏ธPeople who belong to the community surrounding the Wye โ potentially tens of thousands of claimants The claimants will include people affected by the pollution such as swimmers, canoeists, walkers, clubs, organisations, anglers and businesses whose lives and trade has been hit by the worsening condition of the river, or the nuisance effects on those living near chicken farming, such as smells, insects and noise. The businesses affected will include those working in tourism, hospitality and leisure. The River Wye has been at the forefront of a major expansion of the chicken industry in the UK. Between 2013 and 2017 the number of birds in Herefordshire rose by one-third and researchers estimate the area now houses 23 million or more birds at any one time, generally concentrated in very large poultry units. The largest poultry processor is Avara, which is reportedly responsible for 80% of the birds in the River Wye catchment area. It is believed that a significant factor in the increase in poultry production in the region after 2018 was in order to meet the chicken meat demands of Tesco, a customer of Avara Foods. High intensity farming, such as that required by the large-scale operations of Avara Foods, has affected the water quality of the River Wye to which landowners and others have a right under common law, the legal claim will say. Some people living in the area have reported sickness after swimming, and last year the river was downgraded to โunfavourable โ decliningโ status by the government nature watchdog Natural England. This is only two stages away from the River Wye being listed as โdestroyedโ. The claim will allege that the scale of the operations of large corporate poultry producers is generating significant quantities of phosphorous-rich manure which leach into the soil and into the river. This is raising phosphorous levels in the water which cause algal blooms which result in odour, insect swarms, biodiversity loss and water quality reduction. Avara Foods is a UK subsidiary of US multinational Cargill Plc which has faced similar claims in the US as a result of polluting the Illinois River due to the same practice of high intensive poultry farming. In 2023, the Oklahoma Court ruled that Cargill Inc polluted the Illinois River by spreading chicken manure on land so that it then leached into the riverโs watercourse. The judge in that case found that Cargill knew or should have known that using poultry waste as fertilizer posed a risk to waterways, and the UK claimants will similarly allege that Cargill Plc and Avara Foods knew that the outcome of intensive poultry farming would cause the pollution of the River Wye but continued with their operations anyway. Avara Foods says it is committed to playing its part in the restoration of the River Wye โby taking accountability for the poultry manure that originates from it supply chain . . . but reversing the decline of the river is beyond the means of any single organisationโ. The civil claim is being handled by a team led by Leigh Day partner Oliver Holland. Leigh Day partner Oliver Holland said: โWe consider that the significant decline in the health of the River Wye over the last few years is clearly linked to the significant increase in intensive poultry farming in the main brought about by Avara Foods. The lives and livelihoods of those living in the River Wye area are being significantly impacted only to the benefit of Avara Foods, a subsidiary of US multinational Cargill Plc. This destruction of one the UKโs most beautiful natural areas cannot continue, which is why we are bringing this legal action.โ The claim is supported by charity River Action. Chair and founder Charles Watson said: โWith around a quarter of the countryโs chickens now being reared in the catchment of the River Wye, the waste emitting from this totally unsustainable concentration of poultry production has blighted communities across the region. โWith a huge percentage of this industry controlled by Avara, it is entirely appropriate that the polluter must now be made to pay to clean up the mess we believe it has created and subsequently profited from. We therefore applaud this action being taken by Leigh Day to seek recompense for the pollution of this magnificent river.โ Anyone who thinks they have a claim against Avara Foods because of nuisance they have suffered because of the impact of chicken farming in the Wye Valley, can get in touch with the River Wye claim legal team at Leigh Day by contacting riverwyepollution@leighday.co.uk Legal basis for the claim ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ป๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐น๐ฎ๐ถ๐บ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐: โช๏ธ Avara has a duty not to impact the reasonable use/enjoyment of neighboursโ land by conducting activity beyond reasonable land use โช๏ธThe pollution of the river; and odour and insect pollution caused by the intensive poultry units (IPU) breaches that duty โช๏ธBy controlling the IPUs, Avara has exercised sufficient control over the nuisance to be liable for the nuisance caused by them โช๏ธThe impact of the scale of intensive poultry farming required by Avara Foodsโ regional operations on the river and the local community was entirely foreseeable, particularly given the successful liability claim against Avara Foodsโ ultimate parent company Cargill, Inc. for the poultry farming pollution of the US river Illinois โช๏ธProperty owners bordering the river (including those with rights to the riverbank and angling/fishing rights) are entitled to recover the loss they have suffered, including damages for loss of amenity and fall in property value. They can also seek remedial action e.g. cleaning up of the river. โช๏ธProperty owners bordering intensive poultry farming units are entitled to recover the loss they have suffered, including damages for loss of amenity from odour and insects and fall in property value. They can also seek remedial action e.g. cleaning up of the river. โช๏ธBusinesses owning affected property which have suffered financial losses are also entitled to be compensated. ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐๐ฏ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ป๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐น๐ฎ๐ถ๐บ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐: โช๏ธAvara Foods has a duty not to impact the life, health, safety and/or comfort of the public โช๏ธIt has breached this duty by polluting the river โช๏ธThose who have suffered a particular damage over and above the general public are entitled to be compensated, including for financial losses of a local business and loss of amenity. Remedial action can also be sought. ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐น๐ฎ๐ถ๐บ ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ The deterioration in the state of the River Wye has been well documented and has resulted in a public law claim against the Environment Agency. Brought by River Action, who are represented by the environment team at Leigh Day, the judicial review claim cites the Environment Agencyโs failure properly to enforce the rules governing the spreading of organic manure and artificial fertiliser that can be spread on agricultural land from which water runs off and leaches into the River Wye. That claim was heard in the High Court on 7-8 February 2024. It pointed out: โช๏ธ The Wye was designated a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) to protect the riverโs once-famous extensive Ranunculus river weed beds. However over 90 per cent of the riverโs Ranunculus has now been lost, smothered by the algal blooms which means the river is not meeting the SAC conservation status specified by the Habitats Directive. In June 2020, a thick algal bloom extended for over 140 miles, almost the entire length of the river. โช๏ธ A study published in May 2022 by the University of Lancaster, Re-focusing Phosphorus use in the Wye Catchment (RePhoKUs Study) concluded that 60-70 per cent of the riverโs total phosphorus load now comes from agriculture and an excess load of 3,000 tonnes of phosphorus is still being added to the river catchment area each year. This excess is accumulating at a rate equivalent to 17kg of phosphorus per hectare when the national average is 7kg per hectare. Mark Hubbard Adam Fisher Wye Photo by Leigh Day Pete Reddings Pete Reddings Usk photo by Leigh Day -
An outline planning application has been submitted to Herefordshire Council. 'Outline planning application for the demolition of existing buildings and structures and the erection of up to 350 dwellings (including affordable housing), a farm shop and cafรฉ, employment workspaces, and land for a potential primary school, along with associated parking, access roads, walking and cycling routes, public open space, landscaping, sustainable urban drainage and other associated works, site clearance and infrastructure. All matters reserved except access, which is partially reserved, with detailed approval sought for the primary vehicular site access via the A438' Planning Application P240422/F
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Extra police officers will soon be out on patrol in towns across Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford and Worcestershire as West Mercia Police introduce ten new dedicated town centre teams. The teams will see officers and PCSOs with a specific town (or city) centre focus, based in: Evesham Hereford Kidderminster Leominster Oswestry Redditch Ross-on-Wye Shrewsbury Telford Worcester Delivering on the Police and Crime Commissionerโs Safer West Mercia Plan, the introduction of the focused teams is part of our joint commitment to ensure officers are visible, accessible, and focused on tackling the priorities that matter most to the communities we serve. The locations of the new teams have been chosen based on where data shows thereโs the highest policing demand, biggest populations and/or footfall, and where an extra police presence will further help prevent crime and offer additional reassure to communities. Temporary Chief Constable Alex Murray said: โThe town centre teams will bolster local policing in our communities, making sure we have officers in the places we know you want to see them and tackling the issues that really matter to you. โThese extra officers will work alongside response teams to make sure we are where you need us โ be it in the towns and cities or the more rural areas of the three counties we serve. โOver the last year crime has reduced and more crimes have been detected and the new teams will help us in our persistent and proactive approach to fighting crime. They will be highly visible, working to cut crime, reduce anti-social behaviour, actively target repeat offences and working to reduce retail and business crime, including shoplifting.โ The teams are being funded through Police and Crime Commissioner John Campionโs 2024/25 budget. Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said: โI hear regularly from communities calling for police officers to be evermore visible and accessible in the heart of communities. โI have listened to those concerns and have ensured West Mercia Police has the resources it needs to introduce first-of-a-kind town centre policing teams across West Mercia. "I know these teams will help drive down crime and build strong relationships with the public and businesses they proudly serve.โ The teams will be in place later this year.
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Herefordshire Council adopts the Council Tax precepts Herefordshire Council has adopted the total Council Tax precepts for all Herefordshire residents. As the billing authority, the council has a statutory duty to collect charges set by each parish council, the Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia and Hereford & Worcester Fire Authority. However, Herefordshire Council has no control over the level of increase or how these organisations choose to spend their budget. Herefordshire residents will be provided with individual bills based on their parish location. The raised precepts are needed to support the delivery of vital services across the county, with the average Council Tax bill for a Band D dwelling set at ยฃ1,954.79. This includes the councilโs own tax charge of ยฃ1,875.76 (for a band D dwelling) which was approved by Full Council on 9 February 2024. The increase is needed to support the continued delivery of vital services across the county and our priority is to get the best possible value for every pound we spend on the people of Herefordshire. The precept for the Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia rose by 4.91% to ยฃ277.50, an increase of ยฃ13.00. The precept for Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority rose by 2.99% to ยฃ97.22, an increase of ยฃ2.82. The discount on the council tax reduction (CTR) scheme for any struggling family which qualifies will remain at 100% for the coming year โ irrespective of the price banding of their home. Additionally, some residents will continue to pay no Council Tax at all, such as young adults who have left care and also all the councilโs Foster Carer families. More information and advice on reduction schemes and allowances can be found on the Herefordshire Council website at www.herefordshire.gov.uk/counciltax The Council Tax setting report discussed at Full Council on Friday 8 March 2024 can be found on the councilโs website.
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This is a good point!
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Hereford Voice, leading the way for others to follow...
Hereford Voice replied to Hereford Voice's topic in Open Forum
Let's talk about the highly controversial Lidl planning application (remember when we originally broke the news and other pages said it was all rumours as they had spoken with the hotel... ๐ค) Anyway, this application ended up having to go to a full planning committee This topic ๐ that followed just 18 minutes later was a pure coincidence of course..- 102 replies
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Hereford Voice, leading the way for others to follow...
Hereford Voice replied to Hereford Voice's topic in Open Forum
Council would like to convert this toilets into a sleeper pod for homeless. Just a pure coincidence and nothing more..๐- 102 replies
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Hereford Voice, leading the way for others to follow...
Hereford Voice replied to Hereford Voice's topic in Open Forum
We absolutely love the new Hereford Murals and shared this on Thursday 22 February at 16:13 Someone else likes them also and shared this 4 minutes later ๐ But wait! Just incase you missed it...- 102 replies
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Hereford Voice replied to Hereford Voice's topic in Open Forum
We thought we would ignore the posts over Christmas, so let's see what 2024 brings.. Today we wrote a review on the fabulous Dick Whittington Pantomime Oh no someone can't have that!- 102 replies
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This is going to be a major problem! We cannot get a 'traffic lights out trial' yet exiting a Lidl supermarket and turning right (onto one of the busiest roads in Hereford A465) and crossing the carriageway, which is the direction of oncoming traffic and hoping that the traffic heading southbound or vehicles waiting in the little filter lane turning into Lidl's will giveaway is ok though... Accidents here are sadly inevitable! Mark our words!!
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You can watch the Herefordshire Council Planning And Regulatory Committee meeting below
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Do not be surprised if they start to demolish the hotel fairly rapidly. Let the mayhem begin!
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Well we were spot on with our prediction! The full meeting live stream can be viewed here ๐ https://hfd.news/Lidlvote
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Most of the committee were in favour of refusal but we did think the Chair Terry James was a real ditherer and was more worried about being able to defend any legal appeal if refused.
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