In a message issued by West Mercia Police the spokesperson for the force said;

"Hereford Police Station is currently closed as a precaution after what is believed to be a hand grenade was handed in by a member of the public. Explosive Ordnance Disposal have been informed and are attending the scene assess the device and ensure it is disposed of safely"

This fabulous map has been created by our Old Hereford Pics member Chris James Birse, in an interview today he told Hereford Voice;

"The idea started when I was writing a fantasy novel. I needed a map to go at the front of the book and rather than pay someone to do it, I thought I'd give it a go myself. It turned out well; so I drew some real-world locations like Scotland and Wales in this fantasy style for a bit of fun and posted them online. The response was brilliant and so I've since turned my attention to Herefordshire.

This has been great fun to do since there's simply so much history in the area which lends itself perfectly to being depicted in the classic fantasy style. The response from the public was fantastic too back when I was asking for ideas to put on the map. From the hundreds of hill forts, castles, barrows and standing stones, to the more mythological features such as the Mordiford Dragon, the Marden Mermaid and the witches of Garway Hill - everyone's feedback has been added to the map where possible"

If you would like to purchase this wonderful fantasy map follow this link https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1437362192

West Mercia Police Statement 

We are proud to officially announce that we have exceeded the uplift recruitment target set by the Home Office in 2019. We now have 2494 officers – the highest number in our force history.

A record number of police officers are now serving Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire communities, as officer numbers hit a new high.

In 2019 a government campaign, known as Uplift, was launched to recruit 20,000 officers nationally and the force was given a target to hire 290 extra police officers. Thanks to our recruitment efforts and investment by the Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion, we have now not only reached this target, but exceeded it by 19. 

This investment in additional officers means that, from today, we have a headcount of 2494 officers within West Mercia Police – the highest number in our force history. Since 2016, police officer numbers in West Mercia have increased by 508. This has been made possible as a greater proportion of the police’s budget has been focused on front-line service delivery.

Reaching this landmark moment has been a collective effort across the whole force with officers and staff working to recruit the right people, carrying out thorough vetting and properly train new officers. The benefits are already being felt across the communities of Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire

Chief Constable Pippa Mills said: “This is a fantastic achievement and great news for the communities we serve. These new officers will be vital in helping us protect people from harm and deliver an excellent service that the public deserve. We’re ensuring this investment increases visibility across our communities and helps us get the best possible outcomes for victims of crime.

“As a result of this recruitment drive we are now a more representative force as well and we have achieved a long-standing of having 35% female representation across the force. We’ve now revised our target and reset it at 50% as it’s important we continue to be ambitious to achieve a more balanced level of representation.

“Officers from ethnic minority backgrounds have also increased, from 2.4% in 2019 to 3.3% today and so we continue to work to be a force that is truly representative of the communities we serve.”

Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said: “I am extremely proud to see police officer numbers at their highest level in West Mercia Police’s history.

“As the voice of the public in policing, I have listened and delivered on calls for more officers to be visible and accessible in the heart of your communities.

“Since I was first elected in 2016, I have overseen a year-on-year increase in police officer numbers and while the force has now hit this momentous milestone, I am funding a further 40 officers - exceeding the Government’s target.

“As PCC, I will continue to champion a journey of reform in West Mercia Police to ensure you feel the benefit of the increase in officers, working to meet your priorities.”

Our efforts to recruit police offices will not stop post Uplift. We are committed to our recruiting and resourcing plan for 2023/24, where we have committed to recruiting an additional 40 officers whilst also maintaining our uplift numbers. This makes sure we have enough police officers in the right roles to keep our communities safe.

A spokesperson for West Mercia Police told Hereford Voice

'Officers were called around 3.20pm today (Monday 27 March) to a concern for someone’s safety and welfare at a home in East Street, High Town in Hereford.

The incident has now been brought to a safe resolution and we would like to thank the local community for their patience and understanding'

Hereford Voice were invited to attend the extraordinary meeting held by Belmont Rural Parish Council at The Left Bank Village last night.

In attendance was Herefordshire Council leader Mr David Hitchener, Jesse Norman's PA, a Superintendent and Inspector with additional officers from West Mercia Police, a representative from Hereford Medical Group and local Councillors. There was no representation from Serco or the hotel.

There was a reasonable turnout of about 100 people in total.

At times the debate got heated as people expressed their concerns and frustrations about Asylum Seekers being accommodated on a full board basis at the Three Counties Hotel on Belmont Road, Hereford.

Some people welcomed the opportunity to give these people Asylum while many others raised some genuine concerns with their questions and worries.

Some people and new councillors also used this as an opportunity for some political point scoring which did not go unnoticed.

The panel were often unable to provide answers to many of the questions being asked and promised to attempt to answer as many over the coming weeks. In fairness, the Home Office have provided very little information.

Hereford Voice suggested to the panel that maybe it would be an idea to call another extraordinary meeting in the coming 6-8 weeks to return with as many answers to these questions as possible. By then the hotel guests will have settled in and the Council and representatives will be in a much better position to respond. Furthermore, MP Jesse Norman and MP Bill Wiggin will have more notice than just the week that they were given to attend.

Fresh Out of the Oven - News for Hereford’s Pizza Lovers

Hereford City Life sat down with local pizza restaurant, The Broad Street Pizza Works, to find out more about the recently announced changes to their business.

In this post on social media, this popular eatery shared that they would be moving from their home on Broad Street and handing the keys over to another foodie businesses, as they work toward new projects in a new location. But what does that mean for us pizza lovers?

With a menu of ultra-cheesy deep-pan and sourdough pizzas, plus drool-worthy sides, The Pizza Works first captured the hearts of local foodies when they opened back in 2021. With a bold, retro colour palette and striking design features, The Pizza Works transformed the old Ask restaurant into a contemporary dining experience that welcomed everyone, including four-legged friends!

Change sounds scary, but fear not! Nicola, owner of The Pizza Works, assures us that this move doesn’t mean that the brand you’ve come to know and love is vanishing forever - far from it. With plans to team up with their sister restaurant, Sensory & Rye, The Pizza Works brand has lots in store for the future that will be sure to keep Hereford’s foodies very happy. Lips are sealed for now as the details are finalised but rest assured that something exciting is heading your way and we will share updates with you as soon as we can.

“Of course, we are super sad to go - thinking of the final day next Saturday makes me feel all choked up, for sure, but it is really exciting news and we can’t wait to get stuck in to our new project and next phase!” – Nicola Hassenpflug

The Pizza Works will close its doors today! (Saturday 25th March) so if you want to satisfy your cheesy-cravings before then, be sure to book a table! Head to their website or call 01432 483044 to make a reservation.

So, what will the future look like for dining on Broad Street? For those concerned about where they will get a pizza-fix after the 25th March, don’t be! Local restauranteurs A Rule of Tum have been confirmed as the brand new owners taking on this great venue as a home for Leaven Pizza!

Source | Hereford City Life

The good news is that the Leaven Pizza will be moving straight in!

Three men found guilty of the murder of a 51-year-old man in Kington, Herefordshire, have been sentenced at Worcester Crown Court today (Friday 24 March).

The three men were sentenced as follows:

• Ajay Price who is 21 years old from Canon Pyon in Herefordshire - Life imprisonment with a minimum term 15 years. 
• Luke Bellis who is 30 years old form High Street, Kington - Life imprisonment with a minimum term 17 and a half years.
• John Lock who is 35 years old from Greenfields, Kington - Life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years. 

The sentencing follows each man being found guilty of the murder Carl Dyche from Kington on Thursday 2 December 2021. The trial heard how Carl was assaulted in his own garden in what was a completely unprovoked attack.

On the night of the attack, three men climbed over the back gate to Carl's garden where they set about attacking him with sustained and repeated blows. The attack was so harrowing Carl’s wife and son attempted to intervene. Unfortunately, Carl had been so badly beaten that he later died in hospital as a result of his injuries.

Detective Inspector Chris Percival, who led the police investigation into Carl’s murder, said: “This was a deeply upsetting investigation for the family as Carl was senselessly beaten in a brutal and unmotivated attack in front of his wife and young stepson. Bravely and with the upmost dignity, both Carl’s wife and stepson provided evidence which helped reach the guilty verdicts. While invaluable, it was an incredibly difficult task for a grieving family, especially those who witnessed this harrowing event in person.

“Understandably this has been an incredibly difficult time for Carl’s family and close friends and I would like to again offer my sincere condolences to them. While today’s sentencing will not bring Carl back, I hope it does at least allow his family to finally begin the grieving process.”

About Emergency Alerts

On Sunday 23 April 2023, there will be a national test of the UK Emergency Alerts service.

Emergency Alerts is a UK government service that will warn you if there’s a danger to life nearby.

In an emergency, your mobile phone or tablet will receive an alert with advice about how to stay safe.

The government does not need to know your phone number or location to send you an alert.

Reasons you might get an alert

You may get alerts about:

• Severe flooding
• Fires
• Extreme weather

Emergency alerts will only be sent by:

• The emergency services
• Government departments, agencies and public bodies that deal with emergencies

What happens when you get an emergency alert

Your mobile phone or tablet may:

• Make a loud siren-like sound, even if it’s set on silent
• Vibrate
• Read out the alert
• The sound and vibration will last for about 10 seconds.

An alert will include a phone number or a link to the GOV.UK website for more information.

You’ll get alerts based on your current location - not where you live or work. You do not need to turn on location services to receive alerts.

What you need to do

When you get an alert, stop what you’re doing and follow the instructions in the alert.

If you’re driving or riding when you get an alert

You should not read or otherwise respond to an emergency alert whilst driving or riding a motorcycle.

If you are driving, you should continue to drive and not respond to the noise or attempt to pick up the mobile phone and deal with the message.

Find somewhere safe and legal to stop before reading the message. If there is nowhere safe or legal to stop close by, and nobody else is in the vehicle to read the alert, tune into live radio and wait for bulletins until you can find somewhere safe and legal to stop.

It is illegal to use a hand-held device while driving or riding.

If you cannot receive emergency alerts

If you do not have a compatible device, you’ll still be informed about an emergency. The emergency services have other ways to warn you when there is a threat to life.

Emergency alerts will not replace local news, radio, television or social media.

If you’re deaf, hard of hearing, blind or partially sighted

If you have a vision or hearing impairment, audio and vibration attention signals will let you know you have an emergency alert.

Alert languages

Emergency alerts will be sent in English. In Wales, they may also be sent in Welsh.

Earlier today our Friends of Castle Green announced that they have applied for planning permission to regenerate the historic Pavilion building. Whilst respecting its Georgian heritage, the plans submitted aim to create a modern, accessible space and iconic visitor attraction in the heart of Hereford.

The revitalised building will provide cafe facilities and flexible community meeting space, as well as the opportunity to celebrate local arts and heritage and a revived home for the Hereford Youth Canoe Club (HYCC).

The once forgotten Pavilion will become a new and much needed thriving and sustainable community hub, a defining visitor attraction in the city and a source of pride for residents.

The project has been made possible thanks to a successful £22.4million funding bid for the City of Hereford via the Stronger Towns Fund. The Pavilion project is one of fourteen projects elected for funding and FoCG has submitted a planning application for a £1.56 million regeneration of this historic building on the banks of the River Wye.

Our Hereford LIVE first HD camera is kindly hosted by our lovely friends at The Pavilion, Castle Green on this very building overlooking the river Wye and Victoria Bridge.

LIVE CAMERA FEED 👉 https://bit.ly/VickyBridge

Hopefully this will be approved without a hitch becuase we can't wait for this much needed update and modernisation of this fabulous historic building on the lovely Castle Green in Hereford

Alexander Stone, 38, of Bridge Street in Kington was found guilty of attempted murder today (Friday 17 March) at Worcester Crown Court.

The incident happened in High Street in Kington on Friday 22 July 2022 when Stone attempted to strike the victim multiple times to the head with a hammer. This happened in full view of shoppers and members of public, many of whom intervened.

Detective Constable Leah Lowe, the investigating officer said “We welcome the verdict today which comes at the end of a detailed investigation. The victim has shown considerable courage in what has been a deeply distressing case. Stone acted with extreme violence and if it hadn’t been for the intervention of members of public prior to the arrival of the police, the outcome may have been far worse. I hope this reassures the community that we will deal with such acts of violence with determination and ensure that victims are supported and given the confidence to come forward”.

Stone is due to be sentenced next month at Worcester Crown Court.

Residents in Belmont have today received the letter below from Hereford Mayor, Councillor Mark Dykes. The overriding tone of the letter appears to suggest that 'Security - Noise - Anti-Social Behaviour and Crime are anticipated, which is also inline with the recent FAQ set out by Herefordshire Council in our 'Breaking News' news article last week https://bit.ly/3countieshotel.

There has been a delay in the arrival of up to 120 Asylum Seekers but there are some obvious concerns here from both Herefordshire Council and the Hereford Mayor.

There is an Emergency Extraordinary Meeting Of Belmont Rural Parish Council to be held at The Left Bank Village on Friday.

Both MP's have confirmed that they are unable to attend. West Mercia Police have confirmed they will be at the meeting and invitations have also been sent to the Chief Executive of Herefordshire Council is Paul Walker, NHS and the Serco (security company) onsite manager/representative.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an ‘extraordinary’ meeting of the Belmont Rural Parish Council will be held on Friday 17th March 2023 at The Left Bank Village - River Terrace, Bridge Street, Hereford, HR4 9DG, commencing at 19:00hrs, doors will be open from 18:30hrs.

The ONLY item being considered will be to accept members of public comment regarding the recent Three Counties Hotel, Belmont, Hereford being used as temporary accommodation for Asylum Seekers to the United Kingdom.

As a direct response to our 'Breaking News' article of the 17th of February 2023 HERE 👉 https://hfd.news/T5b3 about 120 Asylum Seekers to be accommodated at the Three Counties Hotel, Hereford Voice are privileged to have been officially invited to attend this meeting.

Both MP's will be invited along with Chief Executive of Herefordshire Council Mr Paul Walker and the Serco (security company) onsite manager/representative.

The meeting is open for the public to attend and as numbers are expected to be high, a larger venue than normal was required.

This is your opportunity to 'HAVE YOUR SAY' and ask any questions or concerns that you may have.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an Extraordinary meeting of the Belmont Rural Parish Council will be held on Friday 17th March 2023 at The Left Bank Village - River Terrace, Bridge Street, Hereford, HR4 9DG, commencing at 19:00hrs, doors will be open from 18:30hrs. 

The ONLY item being considered will be to accept members of public comment regarding the recent Three Counties Hotel, Belmont, Hereford being used as temporary accommodation for Asylum Seekers to the United Kingdom.

'Remember Where You Heard It First'

Hereford Voice, Leading The Way

The Courtyard is fighting to keep its doors open due to vital and costly structural works that need to be undertaken urgently.

During The Courtyard’s major Capital Expansion project, which was partly funded by Arts Council England, the community hub discovered that the building needed urgent repair. Extensive surveys during this time revealed multiple issues with the glazing that makes up the external walls of the building (known as curtain walling). The surveys carried out in 2019, 2020 and 2022 all recommended that the curtain walling should be replaced, but the estimated cost of full replacement would be over £600,000.

The Courtyard approached Herefordshire Council, the owners of the building, with the news of the survey results. The Courtyard, a registered charity, was met with a firm response from Council Officers that they are not liable for the repairs in any way and that the costs were the sole responsibility of The Courtyard.

Further research uncovered that when the curtain walling was installed in 1998, it was only designed to last for 25 years. September 2023 marks 25 years since The Courtyard opened, therefore, immediate action needed to be taken and The Courtyard had no option but to begin structural repairs and delay the full replacement of the curtain walling.

The Rt. Hon. Jesse Norman inspects the curtain walling issues at The Courtyard

The Courtyard took legal advice on the question of liability for the repairs. From that advice and the building survey that has been carried out, it appeared that the problems with The Courtyard are so fundamental that it should be the Council, as owner and landlord of the premises, which is responsible for the cost of remedying what appear to be fundamental defects in the design and construction of the curtain walling.

Hereford and South Herefordshire MP, Jesse Norman expressed his concern at the prospect of The Courtyard facing these costly works, knowing that the charity would be unable to afford to repair or replace the entire curtain walling itself.

“The Courtyard is an essential asset both for the city and the county of Herefordshire.” Said Jesse Norman, “I am no expert in this area, but anyone can see that the footings of the curtain walls were never installed properly in the first place.”

As an independent charity, who had just managed to financially survive the coronavirus pandemic, The Courtyard appealed to Herefordshire Council, as the owners of the building, for support on numerous occasions. However, despite these attempts Herefordshire Council Officers refused to negotiate and matters have reached an impasse.

The Courtyard has since been forced to dip into its scarce reserves and commission emergency interim structural repairs, which began in January. The estimated cost of this is currently around £150,000.

“We hope that the action we have taken will extend the life of this part of the building by at least 10 years, until the curtain walling can ultimately be replaced.” Says Chair of The Courtyard Board, Bruce Freeman, “We remain deeply saddened that our local Council, the owner of the building, which was responsible for signing off the original build in 1998, has shown so little sign of assisting us and helping us preserve, not only a valued cultural hub for Herefordshire, and its second most visited building, but also an Arts Centre that generates around £15 million per year for the local economy. It is the Board’s sincere hope that a more understanding and positive relationship can be established when the new administration is elected in May.”

The original layout was installed back in 2011 under the previous Council Administration, so this work and extra cost is as a direct result of continuous complaints and issues arising from the low kerbs in particular, which were installed at that time.

This work is long overdue, over a decade after the road was redesigned and this hazard has been allowed to continue for too long.

Hereford Voice would like to thank campaigners like Barb Tilling and Anna Gardiner from local group Widemarsh Street Trips and Falls for their hard work over the years to raise awareness on this issue and also want to thank the coalition administration who have took the decision and secured the funding for the levelling of the kerbs after nothing was done by the previous administration. 

The existing Widemarsh St design since its completion in 2011 has been subject to a number of specialist design and safety reviews. All of these have concluded that the scheme is fully in line with design guidance and best practice.

However, the public have continued to lobby local councillors as well as the Cabinet Member regarding incidents personal to them. In light of this a Cabinet Member decision made last year ensured that a budget to enhance Widemarsh St was included in the HCCI programme.

Councillor John Harrington, Cabinet member infrastructure and transport said:

“The existing layout of Widemarsh St was conceived with the best of intentions, conforming, I believe, to design and best practice guidance, and with the aim of promoting pedestrian safety. And this remains the professional view of officers and our public realm contractor. However, it is our opinion as an administration, that unfortunately and undeniably, the design has caused difficulties for some pedestrians, and this is something we were keen to remedy.

“Widemarsh St is a key part of the City centre, being a popular route for pedestrians and vehicles, home to many shops and businesses, and providing an important link between Old Market and High Town. It is a central component of our transport network and economy, along with the status and appeal of Hereford as a visitor destination and place for local people to enjoy their leisure time. As such it is important that we listen to feedback from the public to make it as safe as possible.

“We explored a wide variety of options, with emphasis on aesthetics, safety, ease of use, drainage and cost. Unfortunately, no matter which way we cut it in terms of trying to remove the kerb and its negative effects - balancing that out against best value in trying times financially - nothing provided the certainty that we insisted on other than this optimal solution of removing the kerb completely. This will be expensive but it is a cost we are certain we must pay to ensure this street scheme is what the visitors and residents of Herefordshire deserve. I am only sorry that it has taken so long to address”.

A spokesperson for Hereford Business Improvement District said;

"The enhancement works to Widemarsh Street which is planned to last around 17 weeks.

A letter will be/ has been sent to businesses explaining plans.

The arrangements for deliveries are as follows:

ONLY PRE-NOTIFIED DELIVERIES WILL BE ALLOWED BY CALLING 07880 342090 (please note the number does not yet work but we expect this to do so in the coming weeks).

Smaller Vehicles - Access Maylord Street via Blue School Street by turning left into Maylord Street service yard.....continue across the yard and turn right opposite Specsavers down Maylord Street to Widemarsh Street. A banksman will be there to help vehicles turn around and exit via the same route.

Larger Vehicles - Access Maylord Street via Blue School Street by turning left into Maylord Street service yard.....use Maylord's service yard to turn around and exit"

13 inch stainless steel knife conveniently dropped into road drain. Noticed while litter picking Sunday12th March 2023. Hope it wasn't used on anyone! Contacted police that morning. No reply so far.

Residents particularly in SouthWye have seen a big increase in the use of drones in the area. If you have a drone then please read the advice here from West Mercia Police;

Use of Drones

Dear All, 

After a rise in incidents relating to the use of drones within the Southside Area, we hope this message will outline some of the rules relating to drones.

The UK’s drone rules are based on the risk of the flight – where you fly, the proximity to other people, and the size and weight of your drone.

Rules surrounding public drone use.

Persons flying drones need to follow the drone and model aircraft code. Some of the key rules are:

• Never fly higher than 120m / 400ft 

• Always keep the drone in sight 

• Keep clear of airspace restrictions, including around aerodromes, unless you have permission to fly within them 

• Keep 50m away from uninvolved people, to avoid endangering them 

• In most cases, unless flying a drone that is less than 250g, persons must keep at least 150 metres horizontally away from parks, industrial, residential and built-up areas

All of the rules also apply if flying at night.

If a person’s drone weighs less than 250g then they may overfly a small number of people for a short period of time. But, if they have a heavier drone, or want to fly near or over people for longer periods then it’s most likely they will fall into the Specific category of regulations and may well need a special approval from the Civil Aviation Authority. This may allow them to fly in congested areas and closer to people.

Registration and flyer ID

If the person’s drone has a camera (unless it is a toy) or weighs 250g or more then they need to register with the CAA. They need to renew this registration every year. 

Anyone flying a drone 250g or more needs to pass a test and get a flyer ID from the CAA.

Minimum age to fly

In most cases you must be at least 12 years old to fly a drone on your own*. 

You can fly if you are under 12, but you must be supervised by someone 16 or over and both of you must have passed the flyer ID test.

Labelling your drone or model aircraft

Persons must label every drone or model aircraft they’re responsible for with their Operator ID. Operators will use the same Operator ID for all their drones or model aircraft. 

Operators can find their Operator ID in a confirmation email or online.

Further advice and information around drones can be found by visiting the CAA HERE

Drone code can be downloaded below;

the_drone_code.pdf

The project, Stories of Change, is funded through an #iwillfund grant via Herefordshire Community Foundation and is an opportunity for the children, who are all in Year 5, to find out more about the pollution of the river Wye. Pupils at Lea primary school are also taking part. 

So far, the children have met campaigners and some of the groups held responsible for the pollution. They have created artwork and started to plan short films for a launch at The Bishop's Palace on June 26th. 

Countryfile filmed a session where the children met representatives of the Friends of the Upper Wye and a local citizen scientist called Fran. The children gathered natural materials from around the river and then worked with poet Jean Atkin to create 'spells' to reverse the state of pollution within the river. (The group have called themselves Turn it Around). They then watched a short film about the state of the river Wye made by Friends of the Upper Wye and there was a Q and A where each group asked the other questions.  

We all walked to the Victoria Bridge to work with the citizen scientist and this is where we met Anita Rani. The children learned how to collect water and test it for phosphates. 

The children were extremely excited to meet Anita and asked her lots of questions about her time on Strictly which she was happy to answer. 

This will feature on Countryfile on the 19th March. 

#HerefordVoice | #HerefordNews | #HerefordshireNews | #HerefordCommunity | #Hereford | #Herefordshire 

STATEMENT

"Herefordshire Council has been informed by the Home Office that they plan to use the Three Counties Hotel in Hereford as accommodation for people awaiting the outcome of their asylum applications, starting from 13 March 2023.

This is a private arrangement between the Home Office and the hotel, which is closing to the public.

The council was not involved in this arrangement and will not be involved in running the site or providing day-to-day support, all of which will be managed by the Home Office’s contractor, Serco.
However, the council will be working closely with Serco, local partners and the community and voluntary sector to ensure appropriate help and wellbeing support is in place for those coming to the county and to respond to any matters raised by businesses and residents.

Asylum seekers will be accommodated on a full-board basis within the property. There will be support on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week, along with security staff, and this is all being funded by the Home Office.

Herefordshire has a proud history of welcoming and supporting refugees and asylum seekers. Over the past year we have seen the generous support extended to Ukrainian refugees and the compassion shown by local communities to those in need and it is hoped that asylum seekers coming to Herefordshire will receive the same warm welcome"

'Remember Where You Heard It First' 

Hereford Voice 'Leading The Way For Others To Follow'