The New Hereford Electric Zipper Buses Coming Soon To Hereford! 

Ever wondered how we're ushering in a new era of eco-friendly commuting in Hereford? It's all thanks to the remarkable Government Funding that's electrifying our city, quite literally! Let's take a journey into the heart of this initiative and explore the empowering impact it holds for our community.

What is the Government Funding?

The Government, recognising the importance of sustainable transportation, has allocated significant funds to support our city's green transition. This financial boost is not just an investment; it's a vote of confidence in a cleaner, greener future for Hereford.

More information:

https://strongerhereford.co.uk

How Will It Benefit Hereford?

Eco-Friendly Commuting: The funding enables the introduction of state-of-the-art Electric Zipper Buses, minimising harmful emissions and reducing our carbon footprint.

Accessible Transport: It ensures the creation of a comprehensive network, connecting key areas of Hereford. This means more accessible transportation options for everyone!

Economic Growth: By embracing sustainable practices, Hereford is not only nurturing the environment but also fostering economic growth. The initiative creates jobs, stimulates innovation, and supports local businesses.

Why It Matters to You?

Cleaner Air: Reduced pollution means fresher, cleaner air for us all to breathe, promoting better health and well-being.

Cost-Effective: FREE Eco-friendly transport reduces long-term costs associated with environmental damage, leading to savings for taxpayers and residents alike.

Future Legacy: By supporting this initiative, you're contributing to a legacy of sustainability, ensuring a vibrant, green Hereford for generations to come!

Your Role in the Green Revolution:

Spread the word! By understanding and appreciating the significance of Government Funding, you can inspire others to support eco-friendly initiatives. Let's create a Hereford where clean energy propels us forward, together!

Every ride on the electric Zipper Bus is a step toward a cleaner, greener Hereford. Let's ride this wave of change and make our city a beacon of sustainability!

Source | Hereford City Council

The Care Quality Commission visited Hereford County Hospital earlier this year and carried out a focused inspection on Maternity Services.

Something to shout about - Amie Symes, front row in the red dress, with colleagues after hearing news of the CQC’s “Good” rating for Maternity Services

The report, published today, praises the staff who the inspectors say were working “incredibly hard” to deliver a high standard of care to those using their services.

They added that they found a “well-respected and supportive leadership team” in the maternity service with skills and experience to run the service well.

Amie Symes, the Trust’s Associate Director of Midwifery, said: “We’re delighted to receive the CQC report which highlights overall improvements in our maternity service, and in particular the rating improvement to ‘good’ in how well-led the service is.

“We’re incredibly proud of our wonderful maternity team, working with dedication, enthusiasm and pride to achieve these improvements. We are fortunate to benefit from a highly skilled and experienced multi-disciplinary team across a range of specialities including midwifery, obstetrics, paediatrics, anaesthetics and theatres, and the improvements made are a testament to the team’s hard work and commitment to the service.”

She added that by working closely with, and listening to, service users had enabled the team to develop the kind of services local people want.

“Developing strong relationships with our service users through the Maternity Voices Partnership has enabled them to influence and shape our priorities. This, coupled with the implementation of local and national recommendations, has facilitated improvements to care provision.

“While the report identifies that the safe domain ‘requires improvement,’ we are committed and making good progress towards our quality improvement objectives.

“Our staff pride themselves on providing exceptional and compassionate care to women, babies and their families who access our service, and this remains our priority.”

Jane Ives, the Trust’s Managing Director, said: “Our excellent maternity team deserves this recognition.

“They have worked very hard to continually improve the service to women and families. Listening to the users of the service and responding to feedback, as well as implementing clinical best practice, latest research and national guidelines.

“Our next ambition as a Trust is to be rated as “good” overall, and this rating is a further step in this direction.

“We shall look closely at the full report and continue to closely monitor the service to further improve the quality of service we are offering our local communities.”
 

A message on their Facebook page said;

"THANKS & GOODBYE //

It is with great sadness that we’ve made the decision to close the doors at Gilbies. We’ve spent 7 years serving our wonderful customers, but the combination of COVID, my own ill health, the rising cost of supplies and utilities, along with the declining footfall to the city have left us with little choice than to make this devastating decision.

We’d like to take the opportunity to thank our regulars, our staff & our families for your unwavering loyalty & support.

Customers with existing bookings should have heard from us this week, but please get in touch if you haven’t"

Sad news to read that this famous Hereford Bar has sadly closed.

Plans for improvement work to Leominster High Street and Corn Square have taken a further step forward as the preferred design is agreed and work set for work to start in January 2024

The High Street, Iron Cross, Victoria Street and Corn Street in Leominster will be enhanced with attractive surfacing, improved paving, wider pavements and raised tables at the major junctions making it easier for pedestrians. Corn Square will also be resurfaced in materials which will make the square more aesthetically pleasing and in keeping with its historic setting.

The proposed new timeline for these street works will see Corn Square and Leominster Town Centre remain open throughout the Christmas trading period and minimise disruption to residents and businesses at one of the busiest times of the year for the town.

Councillor Graham Biggs, cabinet member for Economy and Growth said:

We’re acutely aware of the pressures faced by small businesses across Herefordshire and where possible we will always seek to minimise the impact of street works especially at peak times such as Christmas. I would like to thank Leominster Town Council and all of those involved in delivering this scheme who have worked tirelessly to secure a commitment which will see the proposed street works delayed until January 2024 to allow full access to Leominster Town Centre throughout the Christmas trading period. Under this administration the Council will always act to support businesses and promote the local economy wherever possible and we will be offering to meet with local businesses to see how we can support their Christmas plans going forwards.

Original proposals had included the pedestrianisation of Corn Square to allow for events, and a reduction of traffic entering the High Street during the day. Due to feedback received during the consultation earlier this year there will be no immediate changes to the current parking or traffic arrangements. We can confirm that no formal decision on this has been taken by Herefordshire Council and nor will it be until a full consultation with residents, businesses and local stakeholders has taken place.

Plans for the improvement work will be available to view at Leominster Town Council Offices, Tourist Information Centre, 11 Corn Square, Leominster, HR6 8YP and on the Herefordshire Council website

The tender for this work is now live online. We value expressions of interest from local businesses 

A planning application has been submitted by STAR PUBS AND BARS for new signage at the Volunteer Inn located in Harold Street Hereford.

Proposed erection of illuminated and non-illuminated signs to the exterior; sign a - repaint existing letters in gold with dark green returns, sign b - one new double sided pictorial panel to existing post sign illuminated by linolites, sign c - three new amenity boards, two fixed back to back on post, sign d - two new lanterns to entrance, sign e - four new led floodlights to replace existing

Planning Application P233243/A

£2.2 billion for local authorities in the West Midlands and East Midlands which includes Herefordshire.

Redirected HS2 funding to resurface more than 5,000 miles of road across the country, improving journeys for all.

Millions of people will enjoy smoother, safer and faster road journeys thanks to the biggest-ever road resurfacing programme to improve local roads.

Today (17 November 2023), Transport Secretary Mark Harper has set out the allocations of an £8.3 billion long-term plan, enough to resurface over 5,000 miles of road across the country over the next 11 years. It’s one of the key cornerstones of Network North to improve journeys for all.

Across England, local highway authorities will receive £150 million this financial year, followed by a further £150 million for 2024/2025, with the rest of the funding allocated through to 2034.

Each local authority can use its share of the £8.3 billion to identify what local roads are in most need of repair and deliver immediate improvements for communities and residents. This is divided as:

£3.3 billion for local authorities in the North West, North East and Yorkshire and the Humber

£2.2 billion for local authorities in the West Midlands and East Midlands

£2.8 billion for local authorities in the East of England, South East, South West and, for the first time in 8 years, London

We’ve already confirmed £5.5 billion up until 2024/25, for England outside London, which includes the £200 million announced by the Chancellor at the Budget in March. Today’s £8.3 billion nationwide boost comes on top of that and extends until 2034, providing long-term certainty to local authorities and helping to prevent potholes from coming back in the future.

The funding also comes on top of the local transport, road and rail budgets allocated at the last Spending Review and in addition to what local authorities were already expecting for the next decade.

Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said:

For too long politicians have shied away from taking the right long-term decisions to make life easier for hardworking families – tackling the scourge of potholes being a prime example.

Well-maintained road surfaces could save drivers up to £440 each in expensive vehicle repairs, helping motorists keep more of the cash in their pocket.

This unprecedented £8.3 billion investment will pave the road for better and safer journeys for millions of people across the country and put an end to the blight of nuisance potholes.

Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, said:

Most people travel by road and potholes can cause misery for motorists, from expensive vehicle repairs to bumpy, slow and dangerous journeys. Our £8.3 billion boost to repair roads across the country shows that we’re on the side of drivers.

Today’s biggest-ever funding uplift for local road improvements is a victory for all road users, who will enjoy smoother, faster and safer trips – as we use redirected HS2 funding to make the right long-term decisions for a brighter future.

According to the RAC, smoother, well-maintained road surfaces could save drivers up to £440 each in expensive vehicle repairs from pothole damage, helping motorists keep more of the cash in their pocket.

This £8.3 billion boost is particularly important when considering that, according to a survey from the AA, fixing potholes and investing in roads maintenance is a priority for 96% of drivers. These funds can also help boost road safety and encourage active travel, as smoother road surfaces will make it safer and easier for cyclists to use roads with greater confidence.

RAC head of policy, Simon Williams, said:

Drivers’ biggest bugbear of all is the poor condition of local roads, so the fact the government has found a significant additional pot of revenue should give councils the certainty of funding they need to plan proper long-term road maintenance, something we have been calling for many years.

We hope local authorities will use the money in the most effective way possible by resurfacing the very worst roads, keeping those in reasonable condition in better states for longer through surface dressing and filling potholes as permanently as possible wherever necessary.

This should in time go a considerable way to bringing our roads back to a fit-for-purpose state and saving drivers hundreds of pounds in the process from not having to fork out for frustrating repairs to their vehicles.

To increase transparency and ensure the £8.3 billion leads to an increase in the number of roads being resurfaced, local authorities will be required to publish information on their websites on a regular basis explaining how they are spending the funding in their area.

The measure is a key part of the government’s Network North plan, with money redirected from HS2 instead going to improve the daily transport connections that matter most to people.

It builds on tough regulations announced in April this year to crack down on utility companies causing pothole pain with botched streetworks, through stricter inspections and costs for the worst offenders – backed by further measures in our Plan for drivers announced just last month.

These include £70 million to keep traffic flowing, updating 20mph zone guidance for England to help prevent inappropriate blanket use and measures to speed up the rollout of electric vehicle charging.

Edmund King OBE, AA president, said:

Perilous roads blighted by potholes are the number one concern for drivers and a major issue for bikers, cyclists and pedestrians.

So far this year, the AA has attended more than 450,000 pothole-related breakdowns. The damage caused can be a huge financial burden for drivers but is also a major safety risk for those on 2 wheels.

The £8.3 billion plan can make a considerable difference in bringing our roads back to the standards, which road users expect, especially if councils use the cash efficiently to resurface our streets. As well as safer roads, eliminating potholes gives confidence to people wanting to cycle and instils pride of place within local communities.

Network North will see £36 billion invested in hundreds of transport projects and initiatives across the country, and includes the extension of the £2 bus fare cap in England to the end of December 2024, as well as over £1 billion to improve bus journeys in the North and the Midlands.

Rick Green, Chair of the Asphalt Industry Alliance, said:

This additional funding is good news for local authorities in England and is much needed to help them tackle the backlog of repairs.

We have long been calling for surety of funding over the long-term and the fact that the DfT has committed to this money being available over the next 11 years should allow highways teams to implement more efficient works to improve local road conditions and enhance the resilience of the network once they have details of their allocation.

This long-term investment will also help give the asphalt supply chain confidence to further invest in plant upgrades, materials innovation and technical advancements to support the development and delivery of lower carbon roads in line with the government’s net zero ambitions.

See a breakdown of the funding allocations for local highways maintenance by authority.

Further information

The £8.3 billion funding is equivalent to resurfacing 5,157 miles of road. This is based on sector data suggesting an approximate cost of £1 million to resurface 1km of road. £8.3 billion would, therefore, allow 8,300km or 5,157 miles of road to be resurfaced.

Netflix are filming in Hereford for documentary, thanks to our lovely friends at Sunshine Radio for letting us know! Ho ho ho

Come and enjoy the festive fun in High Town for the annual Christmas Lights Switch On.

The Hereford Christmas light’s switch-on display takes place in High Town from 3pm until 5:30pm this Sunday 19 November.

The event by Hereford City Council, Sunshine Radio & Outstanding Education, will be packed full of festive fun, including live music. Ho ho ho

If you are unable to attend, do not worry, you can watch the whole event LIVE on our HEREFORD LIVE 24/7 HD Camera https://hfd.news/HerefordWebcam

A superb panoramic view of High Town Hereford hosted by our good friends at WorkHere: Community Workspace, Hereford

West Mercia Police have confirmed that a body was found on (Tuesday 15 November) in a woodland near Church Stretton following searches for a man who was reported missing on Sunday 29 October.

As of Tuesday a formal identification had not yet taken place but it is believed to be that of 56-year-old Christopher Jiggins.

New Hereford library and learning centre one step closer according to Herefordshire Council.

The development of a new library and learning centre for Hereford has taken a step further forward following a Cabinet decision to locate it at Shirehall.

Hereford library is currently in a temporary location at Friar St, after moving out of the Broad St building to make way for the £18m redevelopment of Hereford museum.

While a previous decision had been for the new library and learning centre to be sited at the Maylord Orchards Centre, Herefordshire Council’s Cabinet requested that the Shirehall also be explored as an option.

The business case for Shirehall considered by Cabinet (Thursday 26 October) set out how the building would be capable of providing a significantly larger footprint and an increase in shared workspaces than Maylord Orchards, while bringing a hugely valuable heritage asset back into community use.

The proposals outline how a modern library would provide space for people of all ages while being flexible enough to also hold events and community space. The lower area would accommodate a digital skills lounge with dedicated PCs for public use/digital workshops, a fully equipped sensory room and a ‘maker-space’ for members of the public to use equipment that may not be available to them at home.

As a result of the decision today, a request will now be made to the Stronger Towns Board for the funding previously allocated, by the Government as part of the Stronger Towns Fund, to the Maylord Orchards library project to be reassigned to the Shirehall project. Following this a proposal will be put to Full Council for additional funding to be added to the capital programme for essential building works.

Councillor Harry Bramer, cabinet member for community services and assets, said:

“Hereford’s Shirehall is a landmark building that’s at the heart of the City’s heritage. Siting the new library and learning centre in this prominent venue will bring it back into use for the whole community. It offers many options and opportunities for how we could use the space to benefit people of all ages.”

“While we recognise the proposals are still subject to funding agreements, we’re excited that this decision is taking another step towards the creation of a modern, inspiring library and learning space for Hereford – to provide a first-class library and learning centre to match the quality of the City’s new museum that’s currently in development.”

In a post on his Twitter account the MP wrote;

"Very grateful to the Prime Minister for accepting my resignation. Having laid the ZEV mandate and framed the Automated Vehicles Bill, this is the right time to step down. Looking forward to more freedom to campaign on the River #Wye and other crucial local and national issues!"

Hereford's iconic Grapes Tavern is up for sale with Savills with a guide price £210,000

A Grade II Listed circa 17th century public house within a busy city centre location.

By order of the LPA Receivers KROLL

To be sold via online auction on 21 November 2023. 

Location
The Cathedral City of Hereford lies approximately 50 miles south west of Birmingham and 35 miles west of Cheltenham.

An historic and attractive city, the property benefits from a prominent corner position at the junction with Church Street

The immediate area is made up of an impressive array of boutique independent traders including clothes shops, coffee shops and delicatessens.

#HerefordVoice | #JohnLewisChristmasAdvert | #Christmas

1. You must LIKE & FOLLOW 👉 Hereford Voice on Facebook.
2. Free are adverts promoted on our Facebook page only.
3. Limited to one advert per business however, we may find additional free slots to re-advertise again during the month.
4. You can have a free advert providing you are NOT paying to advertise with any other local page within the same period.
5. Free adverts are subject to availability on a first come first serve basis.
6. Free adverts are only for local independent businesses. 
7. Existing clients will benefit from additional free adverts during this festive period.
8. Free advertising is only during the month of December.
9. Make sure to email your advert content together with any good quality images to news@herefordvoice.co.uk
10. Free Events - email news@herefordvoice.co.uk

NOW THAT'S CALLED SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESS!

A man has been sentenced to eleven years in prison after he pleaded guilty to child sex offences and bestiality.

Knill Watkins, 34, from Withington in Hereford he pleaded on 4 September 2023 and was sentenced on Friday 27 October at Hereford Crown Court.

He was sentenced for the following offences:

▪️Three counts of making indecent photograph of a child
Observe a person doing a private act

▪️Two counts of sexual penetration per vagina/anus by a person with a living animal

▪️Possess extreme pornographic image/images portraying an act of intercourse/oral sex with a dead/alive animal.

▪️Possess a prohibited image of a child

▪️Two counts of assault a girl under 13 by touching

The offences took place between 2012 and 2021.

Detective Constable Rich Britton said: “Watkins is a dangerous individual who committed horrendous crimes. I’m pleased that he will now face the consequences for his actions and will rightly be identified as a sex offender for life and spend time in prison.

“We take all forms of child abuse incredibly seriously and I hope this result shows the effort we put into making sure children in our community are safe from sexual predators”

If you feel you are a victim of any sexual offence you can report it to us via West Mercia's Victim Advice Line on 0800 952 3000 or visit www.victimadviceline.org.uk. This is a free, independent and confidential support service. In an emergency always dial 999.

We were invited to see how the new restaurant is coming along...

WOW! The new Greek themed restaurant is looking fabulous! We can't wait to get stuck into some wonderful Greek food.

Indulge your taste buds in the authentic flavours of Greece at the brand-new Mr.Gyro restaurant and takeaway, coming to West Street Hereford at the end of September!

Experience the essence of Greek tradition with our mouthwatering Gyros, bursting with tender meat and deliciously fresh toppings.

The menu features a delightful selection of traditional Greek cuisine, including savoury Souvlaki, delectable Moussaka, and delightful Baklava for those with a sweet tooth!

Join us for a warm and welcoming ambiance, where every dish is prepared fresh with love and care, delivering an authentic taste of Greece to your plate.

Conveniently located on West Street, our new restaurant and takeaway option allows you to experience the flavours of Greece at your own pace, whether you dine in or take it home!

To celebrate the grand opening, Mr.Gyro will have some exciting promotions and giveaways planned with Hereford Voice!

Follow Hereford Voice and Mr.Gyro on social media for updates and exclusive offers!

Mark your calendars for the end of September and join us at Mr.Gyro to embark on a culinary journey like no other. We can't wait to share the taste of Greece with our friends in Herefordshire in our new restaurant. See you soon!

'Remember Where You Heard It First'

Golden Valley South Ward - Thursday 26 October 2023

Matthew Engle with 549 votes, more the doubling the amount of votes received by Conservative candidate David Greenow.

Do we live in a democracy?

https://www.ukcolumn.org/video/uk-column-news-25th-october-2023

Andrew Bridgen presents Bill preventing UK Government from signing Pandemic Preparedness Treaty without a referendum

00:24 Andrew Bridgen (YouTube): 10 Minute Rule Bill—Parliamentary Sovereignty (Referendums) Bill

Andrew Bridgen (on X): 

"YouTube have taken down the speech I gave in Parliament today. I am an elected member of the UK Parliament. The speech was given in the Chamber of the House of Commons and responded to by a Government Minister, what chance has anyone else got of putting their views on YouTube?"

All part of the control and surveillance of the UK public as directed by the US CIA.