The renovation of one of Hereford’s most historic buildings, the Shirehall, is now a step closer as design proposals are to be submitted soon that will transform the building into a new library and learning centre, and versatile community space.

The exciting plans outline how the building’s heritage features will be preserved when the Shirehall becomes a vibrant community hub.

The renovation will breathe new life into the building, offering a variety of spaces and services. In addition to being home to a modern library and learning centre, the Shirehall will feature:

• Meeting rooms
• Community skills development areas
• Heritage interpretation and tours
• Hireable courtroom spaces
• Offices for the Coroner and Registrars
• Temporary library relocation during Shirehall renovation

While the Shirehall undergoes its two-year renovation, Hereford Library will temporarily relocate to the Town Hall. Following consultations with library users, Hereford Town Hall was chosen for its central location near High Town, ample parking, and greater space for programming and book stock.

As part of the move, the current temporary Hereford Library at the Museum Resource and Learning Centre on Friars Street will close on Saturday 12 October 2024. The new library space at the Town Hall will open on Tuesday 22 October 2024, and officially launch over half term with a week-long programme featuring family-friendly activities, drop-in crafts, Storytime and Baby Sign sessions, and a performance by Sea Legs Puppet Theatre.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to view the exciting design proposals for the Shirehall Library and Learning Centre and share their feedback.

Looking Ahead to 2026

Shirehall is set to open its doors to the public in autumn 2026, providing a new community hub that celebrates Herefordshire’s heritage while fostering growth, learning, and connection for all.

We were kindly invited to The Pavilion, Castle Green earlier and to see the progress being achieved by the wonderful team at Vision Building and Development. Also huge thanks to Katie.

This superb Friends of Castle Green project is on schedule to be completed before the end of the Summer and we can't wait to share all the finer details with you.

We are looking forward to getting our LIVE HD Camera back online and to showcase this fantastic venue on the beautiful Castle Green overlooking the River Wye and Victoria Bridge.

There is so much going on but we can't tell you anymore at this stage, so be sure to 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 Hereford Voice 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀.

Ally from Golden Valley Funeral Services got in touch with Hereford Voice today to explain all about their community project.

Golden Valley Funeral Services have sponsored Belmont Roundabout in conjunction with Hereford in Bloom for some time now. They realised that the roundabout isn't very 'bloomy' so they asked Hereford in Bloom how they could improve this. Hereford in Bloom very kindly purchased 6,500 bulbs however, they didn't have the volunteers to plant them, so Golden Valley Funeral Services took it upon themselves to plant them.

Come the end of the winter, beginning of spring, our community can enjoy them as they are passing and we hope to brings a moment of joy and hope that better seasons are ahead.

Ally's 90 year old Nan chose the selection of bulbs carefully and guided everyone on how to plant them correctly. She attended the whole planting session today and was quick to get stuck in. The whole team are so grateful for her guidance.

It took 4 hours to plant all 6,500 bulbs and the weather today was perfect! Ally and Pete want to thank everyone who helped us today.

Well done to everyone involved.

Golden Valley Funeral Services are an independent family Funeral Directors, and provide personal support to communities in Hereford and all around Herefordshire.

Five people have been arrested for drug offences after police executed a warrant in Hereford yesterday (17 October), by the proactive team in Hereford.

Four men aged 29, 27, 23 and 18 and a woman aged 22 were arrested at a property on Waterfield Road, on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of drugs.

During the warrant, drugs believed to be cannabis was seized along with scales, cash and various weapons including a wooden bat with screws in the end.

The 27 year old man remains in custody while enquiries are ongoing. The other four suspects have been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Detective Sergeant Jim Moore said “Drug dealing causes an untold negative impact in our communities, often leading to other criminality and the exploitation of vulnerable people.

"A number of instances of disorder have been reported in the area by local residents, yesterday’s warrant shows that we are taking clear action, to stop the supply of drugs and the harm to the public.”

Floods Keep School Closed For Remainder Of Week.

School Statement:

Unfortunately, due to the intense rainfall and substantial amount of water flowing from the fields into school, parts of our school building have been severely flooded, and a significant amount of damage has been caused.

On advice from the Local Authority and after surveying the damage, the school will be closed for the next 2 days (Thursday and Friday) in order to keep pupils and staff safe and to make repairs to the affected areas.

We will be working tirelessly over the next few days to find a solution to ensure that we can get back to normal as soon as possible, teachers will be uploading work online for pupils. This is not a decision that has been taken lightly and we will do all that we can to get the school back to a safe working order as soon as possible, we realise this is an inconvenience for some parents, but safety is a priority.

A BIG thank you to Peterchurch Fire Station and all the staff who stayed and looked after the children at school, even the bus full of local High School children who were stuck. We are surrounded by a wonderful community and everyone's help is appreciated.

The Installation Of New LED Floodlights At Hereford FC Could Begin This Week Following Planning Approval.

Photo courtesy of Air Vistas

Hereford FC – Edgar St, Hereford HR4 9JU, United Kingdom Reference: Musco Lighting System and Design

Musco Lighting has completed lighting designs and spill light calculations for the lighting assessment of the Hereford FC Stadium in Edgar St, Hereford (HR4 9JU).

Based on consultation with the club and the lighting standards enforced by the Premier League Stadium Fund to assess the quality of the technical proposals, Musco has designed the pitch lighting to levels that are suitable for non-professional games in accordance with BS EN 12193 – Sports Lighting and the Football Foundation criteria. In addition, the system will be designed to be dimmable to allow lower lighting levels for training and underage matches, when the highest light level is not required.

The club has asked that Musco’s lighting design would minimize the spill light and glare on the surrounding areas with particular consideration for the residences that are in the vicinity.

Musco has proposed the appropriate number and height of columns to provide adequate downward aiming angles of the floodlights onto the pitch surface, thus minimizing glare and spill light. In addition, the Musco system is custom-designed with full cut-off visors and reflectors to control the light output from the floodlights and direct as much light as possible onto the pitch surface and away from surrounding areas. The following report details the proposed Musco system and design and how it has been developed to control light, maintain performance, and comply with the lighting requirements.

Experience

Musco Lighting has nearly 50 years of experience in the sports floodlighting industry worldwide. Musco has had a presence in the United Kingdom for over 25 years and has provided floodlighting solutions on hundreds of projects all over the country. This experience extends from grassroots clubs to professional training grounds to major stadiums.

Some notable projects similar to the proposed development at the Crystal Palace FC Training Ground include Musco installations at training grounds for Manchester City FC, Arsenal FC, Liverpool FC, Leicester City FC, Burnley FC, Fulham FC, Brighton and Hove Albion FC, Manchester United FC, Tottenham Hotspur FC and many others.

Each project involves unique locations that require very specific designs to accommodate the facility users as well as the surrounding residents and road networks. Musco has an extensive team of project engineers who design in accordance with specific codes and guidelines of each individual project location to provide the best possible floodlighting solution.

In addition to actual project experience, Musco is consistently on the cutting edge of floodlighting technology in product design and performance. The Musco Total Light Control (TLC) LED system cuts operating costs by around 50%, significantly reduces off-site spill and glare, eliminates all maintenance for 10 years, and guarantees the actual performance of the system for 10 years – all covered by a comprehensive 10 Year Warranty.

Our uniquely designed luminaire uses a system of optics and visors to control and re-direct light onto the pitch, thus significantly reducing the negative impact of the floodlights on nearby roadways and residences. Each luminaire is custom-designed and built according to its specific purpose for the pitch lighting.

Another critical aspect when designing an environmentally friendly lighting system is the reduction of Sky Glow or Upward Light. Sky glow is the illumination of the night sky by an artificial light source. Musco’s luminaire is designed to redirect upward light back down to the pitch, using the custom design and patented visor and reflectors, in accordance with the international lighting guideline.

A man has been charged with attempted murder following an incident in Moorfield Street, Hereford on Wednesday 9 October.

Bryan Robson, aged 49 ,of Moorfield Street appeared at Kidderminster Magistrates Court this morning (11 October) and has been remanded in custody to appear at Worcester Crown Court on Monday 11 November.

A 42 -year-old man remains in hospital in a stable condition. 

Original news article - 

A U.S. citizen has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving that left a British nurse unable to walk. Isaac Calderon was arrested in Texas in July, nearly a year after he collided with Elizabeth Donowho in Shucknall, Herefordshire, resulting in serious injuries.

📷 Go-fund me image

The American soldier acknowledged causing significant harm to the nurse through reckless driving after being extradited from the U.S. late Wednesday.

Extradition documents reveal that Calderon admitted to vaping before the crash. However, questions remain about his affiliation, as police informed the victim that he was visiting a British special forces base (SAS) in Herefordshire at the time of the incident.

Elizabeth Donowho broke both of her ankles in the collision and was also left with a fractured sternum and a broken bone in her hand. She was unable to walk for six weeks following the collision. It happened on the A4103 near Shucknall in Herefordshire on 31 July.

Elizabeth Donowho was seriously injured following a collision with a car JACOB KING/PA

We were treated to a fabulous northern lights show in parts of the UK last night, we took these photographs from our garden.

Police are currently at the scene after a man was seriously assaulted in Hereford.

Police were called to a property on Moorfield Street at 4.25pm today (9 October) to reports that two men had sustained knife injuries.

One of the men, aged 42, has sustained serious, potentially life threatening injuries and has been airlifted to hospital.

Another man, aged 49, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Detective Inspector Jordan Baker said “ We understand that communities may feel concerned but we believe this to be an isolated incident. Officers including firearms officers swiftly attended the scene and a man has been arrested. Enquiries are ongoing and police are in attendance in the area.”

Hereford Library is temporarily relocating to Hereford Town Hall while the Shirehall undergoes a two-year renovation

Following consultation with library users, who said they would prefer for Hereford library to be in a more central location, Hereford Library is temporarily moving to Hereford Town Hall until its permanent new home at Shirehall is completed.

Hereford Town Hall was chosen for its central location near High Town, ample parking and greater space for programming and book stock.

As part of the move, the current temporary library at the Museum Resource and Learning Centre on Friars Street will close on Saturday 12 October 2024. The new library space at Hereford Town Hall will open on Tuesday 22 October 2024.

The library’s temporary new home will officially launch over half term with a week-long programme featuring family-friendly activities, drop-in crafts, Storytime and Baby Sign sessions, and a performance by Sea Legs Puppet Theatre.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to view the exciting design proposals for the new Library and Learning Centre at Shirehall, and share their feedback.

The Duke of Edinburgh visits NMITE’s Centre for Advanced Timber Technology

New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) is delighted to welcome The Duke of Edinburgh to the Centre for Advanced Timber Technology (CATT) at their Skylon Campus on 1st October 2024.

His Royal Highness, who will be accompanied by the Lord-Lieutenant of Herefordshire Mr Edward Harley CBE, will meet NMITE’s President and Chief Executive Officer, James Newby, academic staff and NMITE students, including those who have recently entered the workplace. The visit will include a tour of NMITE’s Skylon Campus, providing an opportunity for His Royal Highness to get hands-on with NMITE’s unique approach to learning, and will conclude with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque.

Ahead of the visit James Newby, President & Chief Executive said “This will be an amazing opportunity to show The Duke of Edinburgh how NMITE is a transformative force in UK university and technical education, redefining engineering and construction training on a national scale, how we are providing new educational opportunities for local people and helping to overcome the barriers to regional economic growth. Our overarching goal is to generate substantial employment, skills development, and economic impacts for Herefordshire, fulfilling the institution's intended role as a catalyst for positive change in the region.”

During the visit, His Royal Highness will meet NMITE’s Foundation Year students, along with MEng and BEng Integrated Engineering students, some of whom will be showcasing their engineering and technology projects. Several of NMITE’s Pioneers (NMITE’s first student intake from 2021) who have now entered the workplace will also be among those on-site to welcome His Royal Highness. Representatives from NMITE’s recent Retrofit programme, and Timber Technology Engineering Design (TED) short courses will also be in attendance.

The venue for the visit, Skylon Campus, completed in 2021, has been recognised with a Construction Excellence Social Impact Award and is an exemplar of timber-based modern methods of construction. Designed as a demonstration of the benefits of using timber as a building material, the building is a "Living Lab" and also stores 330,000 kg of CO2e, serving as a beacon for sustainability in the region and beyond.

Academic staff who will be present include Professor Robert Hairstans, CATT Director, Professor David Oloke, Chief Academic Officer and Steve Bertasso, Associate Professor. CATT which was established as a partnership between NMITE and Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) has drawn particular praise from industry and government for its part in developing innovation in timber construction.

Professor Hairstans, NMITE’s CATT Director, is also a Professor of offsite and industrialised construction at ENU’s School of Computing, Engineering & the Built Environment (SCEBE). Hairstans says “It is a privilege to have the opportunity to explain how CATT is being established as a nationally renowned centre for research and education excellence in timber construction for the delivery and upgrade of the built environment. Our work in collaboration with the sector and throughout the supply chain has an important part to play in achieving the net zero carbon ambitions of the UK whilst enabling a just transition by means of upskilling and reskilling the professionals of the future.”

A Herefordshire care home has celebrated its 20th year of delivering care to the local community with a party for its staff and residents. 

The milestone celebration, which was attended by Shaw healthcare’s CEO, Russell Brown and chairman, Simon Macsorley, was held at Orchard House in Withington on Thursday 5 September. 

Residents and their families enjoyed afternoon tea, cakes and entertainment from local singer, Darrel Barnsdale, who performed many of the resident’s favourite hits from the likes of Elvis and Johnny Cash.

During the event, several employees were recognised for their long service and 90 years of combined experience. 

There was a special mention for support workers, Susan Stocker and Claire Griffiths who celebrated 25 years at the home, having transferred from Herefordshire Council when Shaw healthcare took over the operation of Orchard House in 2004.

Service manager, Michelle Orris commented: “It’s been so lovely to mark this special occasion with residents and their families, and not forgetting the wonderful team here who strive to provide a high standard of care to those who live here.” 

Orchard House provides residential care as well as operating a day care service. Shaw is the largest employee owned care provider in the UK.

A man has been arrested this afternoon (4 October) following a report of him carrying a bow and arrow at Herefordshire and Ludlow College, Folly Lane in Hereford.

West Mercia Police Officers believe this to be an isolated incident, and officers will remain in the area to offer reassurance to students, staff and the community.

Specialist conservation work on the exterior of the iconic Black and White House Museum in Hereford has been completed a month ahead of schedule. 

The Grade I listed timber-framed building, dating back to 1621, is one of the county's most treasured heritage sites.

Originally built as a butcher's home, the building has served as a museum since 1929, offering visitors a glimpse into 17th-century life. Despite the ongoing restoration, the museum has remained open to the public, ensuring minimal disruption to its visitors.

The project, which focused on repairing and conserving the historic exterior, was due to be completed by the end of October but has been completed ahead of time, allowing the building to be fully enjoyed in the coming months. The work was carefully timed to coincide with the summer months, ensuring that the materials used in the repairs could set properly.

Come and explore the Black and White House Museum, open Tuesday to Sunday. Enjoy entry for just £3.50 for adults, with special offers available!

Opening hours for the Black and White House:

Tuesday to Saturday: 10 am - 5 pm

Sunday: 11 am - 4 pm

Special Offer: Entry for 2 adults plus a guidebook for £10.

Standard entry prices:

Adults: £3.50

Under 16s: Free

Students (with valid ID): Free

Don’t miss this chance to explore a piece of local history!

For more information, please visit the Black and White House Museum or contact Herefordshire Council's Museum Service.

Local MP Jesse Norman has expressed his strong support for two great initiatives in South Wye, the new CMA debt advice service and the community food parcels provided to needy families. 

Speaking on a visit to Putson Baptist Church, Jesse said: 

"These are both fantastic local community initiatives, aimed at helping people to get out of debt, and feeding more than sixty local families with good, nutritious food. 

"I warmly congratulate Revd Andy Goode and the whole team at the Baptist Church in Putson for their energy and spirit in making them happen."

The Royal visit is on Tuesday 1st October.

Diary Of Events: 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗗

🔷 New Model Institute For Technology & Engineering’s Centre for Advanced Timber Technology, Skylon Campus, Canary Drive, Hereford HR2.

🔷 Herefordshire Veteran Support Centre, 19 West Street, Hereford HR4.

🔷 Holme Lacy College, Holme Lacy, Campus, Hereford HR2 6LL

𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗠𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗛

🔷 The Duke of Edinburgh
Member of the Court of Assistants, The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers will open the Haberdashers’ Monmouth School, 24 Hereford Road, Monmouth NP2.

The Duke of Edinburgh is His Majesty The King’s brother and the youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

He dedicates much of his time as a full-time working member of the Royal Family to championing young people and promoting the benefits of non-formal education across the world.

The Duke of Edinburgh is proud to support the work of the Armed Forces both in the United Kingdom and overseas. He holds a total of eight military appointments and meets service personnel and their families whenever possible.

Lidl wants to increase its size before it's built with an amended plan. Can't wait to see how the traffic on Belmont road will cope. All the local shops must be worried.

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