A political row has broken out after plans to improve England’s most expensive piece of tarmac with tree planters was linked to council tax increases.

Conservative Herefordshire councillor Ann-Marie Probert has slammed the proposals to install tree planters along Hereford’s City Link Road as ‘disgusting’, arguing that the money should be used for other purposes, including lowering council tax but Independent for Herefordshire's Cllr John Harrington said: ‘The City Link Road, which Coun Probert criticises, perhaps not realising was a Conservative led scheme, was badly designed and badly thought out and has cost £30 million for less than a mile of tarmac, with no segregated cycle path and a huge ugly central reservation.’

‘We have managed to secure funding to put tree planters along the road that can be re-used when we are able to put in a proper tree planting system. This is not money raised through council tax, this is capital funding, raised and ring-fenced, that can only be used for this purpose - I know Ann-Marie is a relatively new councillor but she needs to get her basic facts right.’

The furore has been caused by calls from the Conservative councillor to ‘help residents first’. Defending the decision Coun Harrington said: ‘We have done exactly that. We have trebled the support for anyone who is struggling with council tax, but we cannot divert money from capital projects specifically for identified works, into revenue pots for running services. If Ann-Marie wants to help residents first then she should lobby her political masters in Westminster who have told councils they must ‘wash their own faces’ and ensure that services are funded by local taxes.’

‘We've lost £100 million a year in revenue coming in when you compare 2022 to 2010 and both her Conservative MPs voted for those devastating cuts - has she expressed her disgust towards them? This is not our decision; this is Conservative Party policy. We know how hard increased cost of living will be for many and therefore set aside wide-ranging support for anyone struggling.’

Coun Harrington said that deadlines for spending £6 million budget, half of which was from a grant from the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership, for the city centre improvement scheme were looming. ‘I took the decision not to dig up High Town, as planned by the previous Conservative administration, because I couldn’t justify two years of disruption to traders as a building site moved around High Town simply to replace a surface, that needs minimal repair, with a complete excavation and relaying with several millions pounds worth of Chinese granite.’

Coun Harrington said he had instructed that some of the funds were diverted instead to make improvements to the Widemarsh pavements which ‘have long been overdue and which the Conservatives refused to address’. The funds also ensure the Cycle Contraflow proposals for St Owens Street go ahead and improve the street scene around Hereford. Tree planters were chosen as they could be moved for the May Fair in the City and would give planners time to consider where to plant the planned increase of trees in the ground.

‘This has nothing to do with council tax’ said Coun Harrington, adding: ‘every councillor should know that. This is about spending funds ring-fenced for specific jobs that are important to Hereford, have been identified as needing attention for many years, and will start the process of improving air quality and the aesthetics of the county’s important mother city.’

An electrical mechanical engineer employee at the Ross on Wye Laundry firm 'Clean' that was recently destroyed by a devastating fire has just won his dream car and £20,000 cash.

Presenter Christian Williams with lucky winner Jonathan Smith 

Jonathan Smith was shocked when the online competitions company BOTB Presenter Christian Williams surprised Mr Smith with his prize while he was at work.

Jonathan won a brand new Ford Mustang and £20,000 in cash all for £2 entry.

It is so nice to have a really positive story like this to start the day.

More details - https://www.botb.com/winners/mw1722/

BBC Panorama - Statement from Herefordshire Council following last night's programme which aired on BBC1 at 8pm.

A statement from the Chief Executive of Herefordshire Council made to Panorama as part of last night's episode.

I would like to apologise to children and families affected by the very serious failings in our Children’s Services.

Since my arrival I have made it my top priority to ensure we make urgent changes so that children and families in Herefordshire get the quality of support they need.

We are one year into our three-year plan to improve services for children and families, by reducing caseloads for Social Workers, recruiting more staff for home visits, providing better leadership and supervision for our staff, and by modernising our systems.

We are committed to supporting families and protecting vulnerable children in our community.

If you have any concerns about the way you or your family have been treated by Herefordshire Children’s Social Care Services, you can contact us at on our careconcerns webpage or or email careconcerns@herefordshire.gov.uk

Paul Walker- Chief Executive, Herefordshire Council

ExploreStation immersive virtual reality Hereford (Shell Store) Rotherwas today 16th and I believe 17th May 2022. Went down and had my first experience of virtual reality with a journey on the train and walk around a station. Felt very dizzy and one person couldn't cope with it. Well organised with places available I was told on the 17th May 10am to 6pm. I would just turn up and fit in. There is a first class cafe and the building is interesting. A very good conversion and easy to get to on the bike.

It is with sad news that we inform you that Glenda Vaughan-Powell passed away last Saturday.

Glenda Vaughan-Powell

Glenda was an active member on our forum for many years and although sometimes she could be a difficult person, in fairness, she also did a lot of very good things when she was a local councillor in Newton Farm. She campaigned hard to save the Asda Walk-In centre as well as other good projects locally.

Glenda Vaughan-Powell served as a District Councillor of Herefordshire Council and a Hereford City Parish Councillor until May 2015, elected as an Independent, serving Belmont Ward for 12 years.

In 2003 she won £744,000 for the Wyes Moves community bus company plus a further £126,000 from the South Wye regeneration Fund, to serve the people of South Wye.

During her time as a councillor she successfully led a campaign to keep the post office open in South Wye, was responsible for keeping the South Wye police station open and led a campaign to maintain the GP walk-in centre at on the Asda site, as well as acting as a member on the following council advisory groups:-

• Safer and stronger communities,
• South Wye Regeneration Partnership.
• Healthier communities and older people group
• Children and young people advisory group.
• Member of the community safety group
• Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator for Newton Farm.
• Member of Herefordshire Housing Steering group for redevelopment of the Oval.

She was formally Chair of the Herefordshire Neighbourhood Watch Association for Hereford and Belmont, as well as chair of the Friends of Belmont Haywood Country Park.

In June 2011, as a councillor, Glenda was appointed as a member of the Wye Valley NHS Trust and in April 2012 was invited to become a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group representing Herefordshire Independents at the House of Commons, which she accepted.

In 2014, again as a councillor, Glenda became a member of the Local Government Association (LGA) Executive group representing all Herefordshire Independents in Hereford and West Midlands.

Rest in peace and thank your for all the good things you accomplished locally.

There were 3 casualties in the RTC which involved 2 vehicles.

 
Photographs courtesy of HWFRS Kingsland 

Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service crews from Kingsland fire station and Leintwardine Fire Station had to cut out casualties from one of the vehicles and Midlands Air Ambulance Charity arrived swiftly to give advanced medical treatment at the scene. West Mercia Police and Officialwmas were also in attendance.

 
Photographs courtesy of HWFRS Kingsland 

A spokesperson from Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said; "This afternoon we attended a nasty RTC involving a car and a small sports car. We were joined by colleagues from Leintwardine fire station, police and ambulance, but most importantly the Air Ambulance, this arrived swiftly and as always gave the best advanced medical care to a casualty. We are so fortunate to have this service and save countless lives every year"

#HerefordVoice | #HerefordNews | #HerefordshireNews

Over 100 individual letters of objection to demolishing Three Counties Hotel for another Lidl Supermarket in Hereford have been submitted on the Herefordshire Council planning portal with dozens more still not yet listed.

One resident wrote;

Quote

"An absolutely inappropriate location, Belmont road is a traffic nightmare at the best of times. Tesco traffic, McDonald’s traffic, school traffic, Asda traffic, usual everyday traffic.

If this proposal for Lidl's is approved it will create even more traffic on Belmont road and feeder roads, it can’t cope with the volume of traffic now, more pollution in that area and blight the lives of those who live along the route"

This is the general opinion from most people who have taken the time to send in their letters of objection, with only 2 letters supporting the planning application.

Our Petition here https://chng.it/bWYtFHb78S has had over 960 signatures from people who feel the same. Many residents have said this is completely the wrong location and if Lidl want to pursue having yet another supermarket in Hereford they should seek alternative locations and well away from the Belmont Road (A465).

Another local resident wrote;

Quote

"The proposed planning to build a LidI on the current Three Counties site is utter madness!

The proposed supermarket and drive through restaurant would cause so much more volume of traffic it would cause Belmont Road to halt to a standstill.

The road could not cope with even more traffic this would bring. If there was a relief Road that went from the Madley/Clehonger turning across to the Rotherwas relief road/roundabout that would take 70% of traffic away from Belmont and would be fine to give this project the green light. But as it stands I think this proposal is ridiculous.

Also a small buisness/retail park would benefit the area more with a nursery, shops, eateries. 1 huge LidI to me is a waste of the land, especially with an Asda and Tesco in earshot of it"

Belmont Rural Parish Council Extraordinary Meeting

An Extraordinary Meeting of the Belmont Parish Council will be held at The Kindle Centre (Asda) on Thursday 5th May 2022 at 7.30pm (Tomorrow evening)

Agenda;

To discuss and agree a formal response to the Three Counties Hotel Hybrid application for demolition of existing hotel and build a Lidl Supermarket.

Members of the public and press are invited to attend this important meeting.

Web | https://belmontrural-pc.gov.uk

Last night Hereford Voice attended a wonderful event at The Pavilion, Castle Green in Hereford, which we were kindly invited to join and celebrate very exciting plans for the regeneration of the historic Pavilion building as part of StrongerHereford.

There were plenty local people at the event organised by our lovely Friends of Castle Green including the members of the StrongerHereford board, the building regeneration architect Oliver Steels from Errand Studio as well as Mayors from other towns, the manager of the Hereford Youth Canoe Club our MP Jesse Norman, local Councillors and the Bishop of Hereford to name just a few.

The Friends of Castle Green director Mark Hubbard gave a fabulous opening speech explaining his long family history and connection with the Castle Green, The Pavilion and his home next door, which had also been occupied by many generations of his family, it was wonderful to hear his Infectious enthusiasm.

Please find below a few photographs that we took during the evening together with some new exclusive illustrations (please be aware that they have only applied for planning permission, so there are likely to be some revisions to the plans submitted).

Whilst respecting its Georgian heritage, the plans submitted recently 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.

(planning illustration subject to planning and revisions)

Featured Fire Station 🚒 | In our series, we are focusing on the very important work and training that Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service crews undergo on a regular basis.

Today we look at the remarkable training that Kingsland fire station did yesterday evening.

Last nights training was back to basics brushing up on ladder pitching skills for the crews who were kindly allowed by Vaughan farms of kingsland to use their yard and buildings for this essential training excercise. It’s always a benefit using different venues to practice 🚒👍🏽 🪜

'Thank You For Your Service' to the crews at Kingsland Fire Station and to all our emergency services for the vital work and support they provide to the community.

📸 HWFRS Kingsland

Councillors from the Belmont Rural Parish Council Overwhelmingly Objected to the Lidl Planning Application to Demolish the Three Counties Hotel and Build Supermarket.

This evening we attended the Extraordinary Meeting of the Belmont Parish Council at The Kindle Centre.

There were about 50-60 local residents many who gave their concerns, including employees of the Three Counties Hotel who pointed out that Lidl have given wrong information suggesting that there is only 18 people employed at the hotel, when in fact there are over 30 said one employee.

The Parish Council agreed and will be sending their objections to the planning department before the end of the day tomorrow, which is the deadline for residents to submit any letters, whether in support or as an objection. (The Parish Council can only object or support as an advisory and they cannot actually reject the application itself, that is controlled by the Planning department).

You can submit your comments in just a few minutes, simply be completing this form 👉 https://bit.ly/3vgx6jE

Our petition 👉 https://chng.it/bWYtFHb78S is great and has over 980 signatures but the more INDIVIDUAL COMMENTS AND LETTERS submitted will carry much more weight in planning terms.

Belmont Rural Parish Council Website | https://belmontrural-pc.gov.uk from 

During the whole pandemic many people got filthy rich off government contracts for PPE including the dubious religious sect the Plymouth brethren/brethren according to a article in the Sunday times today they received millions from the awarding of government contracts…the brethren who own a factory down Rotherwas industrial estate as well as development land…they also have connections to political figures past & present which begs the question was there any corruption by parliamentarian involved in the awarding of these contracts? 

https://apple.news/AHHHWof0wTmC8_Yv2v3L9sw 

Convenience store chain McColl's is on the brink of collapse, potentially placing thousands of jobs at risk.

The retailer said it was "increasingly likely" it would fall into administration unless talks around a rescue deal were successful.

The statement on Thursday came after Sky News reported the company could call administrators in on Friday.

More than 16,000 people are employed by McColl's, which also has a partnership with supermarket Morrisons.

The company wrote that without any fresh funding in the short-term, the group would likely "be placed into administration with the objective of achieving a sale of the group to a third-party purchaser and securing the interests of creditors and employees".

But the chain also stressed on Thursday that discussions are still ongoing.

It added that it wanted to create a "stable platform for the business going forward".

The 1,400-store group has a wholesale tie-up with Morrisons, as well as Martin's newsagents, with a strategy centred around an image of a "neighbourhood retailer".

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Bet Lidl will be pleased. No Newspapers, no convenience shopping and I imagine the Post Office will close.

Two men have been arrested after police uncovered a significant amount of cannabis growing at a farm in Ross on Wye.

A member of the public reported suspicious activity at the location, and the smell of cannabis, and when officers arrived on Wednesday 4 May, they found in excess of 1000 plants at various stages of growth.

A 32-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of cultivation of cannabis and a 74-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of being involved in modern slavery.

Anyone who has witnessed suspicious activity, or has concerns about drugs or drugs supply in their area, is asked to report it to police on 101 or visit https://www.westmercia.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/ quoting incident 144 of 4 May.

Alternatively, if you have information but don’t feel comfortable speaking to police, you can speak to the independent charity Crimestoppers. It is 100% anonymous, they never ask your name and they cannot trace your call or IP address.

You can contact them at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/ or 0800 555 111.

T’other day I was down on the Wye fishing for Barbel. As is always the case I’d mounted a Halibut pellet on a hair rig and employing my Shimano Barbel Vengeance rod and a two ounce quiver tip, I cast out waiting for this species to swim along and feast upon the bait and its size nine barbed hook.

For reasons unbeknown to me as I was sat there minding me own business hoping that promiscuous women wouldn’t emerge from the undergrowth and subsequently violate me because I’m the most desirable man in the world and generally speaking women can’t keep their hands off me, I glanced across to me left and found a pile of neatly folded clothes placed alongside a Bosch Strimmer. Atop of the clothes was a little handwritten note that read, ‘ Dear finder, you can keep the clothes and the Strimmer. I no longer have use of them. I’ve gone to a better place’.

Course, being on the Wye fishing for Barbel and living in the City of Hereford I honestly wracked my brains trying to work out where this better place was because, to my mind Hereford is as good as it gets. Anyways, if this fella has moved to another area and didn’t want his clothes or his Strimmer and he’s managed to find some place better than here in Hereford then more fool him I say. So I decided to do as he asked and take ownership of the Strimmer and try the clothes on.

Sadly, mostly because I’m a fat old bas.tar.d, the underpants, the vest, the trousers, shirt and jacket didn’t fit me so I discarded them, neatly folding them so that some other passing pilgrim could try the clothes on and decide whether or not they wanted to take advantage of this well meaning gift from the person who had found a better area to live in. Seemed to me to be the proper way to comply with the instructions relating to the tiny hand written note from this unknown person who didn’t want to keep his clothes or his Bosch 180 cordless Strimmer.

Anyways, to cut a long and tediously boring story very short, I kept the Strimmer and cleared off home. It was only when I returned to my abode did I suddenly realise I’ve no grass or foliage to Strim. Before taking ownership of the aforementioned property it completely escaped me that I lived at a property that had no grass because I lived on the fifth floor. I genuinely had forgotten that I and my property were completely lacking in the grass department and so I was now in possession of a Strimmer with no grass to do any strimming.

Me options suddenly became three. One keep the Strimmer and never use it. Two, lug the bloody heavy cumbersome thing back to the Wye and reunite it with the clothes and it’s little note or three, sell the bloody thing and get down the Commercial with the lads and enjoy my good fortune.

I went for option three. I popped an advert in the paper asking for twenty quid. From hereon, one could argue things went downhill. My view is things actually went uphill and if anyone on here wants to purchase this Strimmer then the following précis of my first encounter with a prospective buyer should act as a salutary warning to those who have grass, need a Strimmer and desperately want to acquire a device to cut grass.

He tipped up at my threshold, had a look at the Strimmer, noted I hadn’t got grass to Strim and offered me ten quid. It was at this initial point that I realised that he and I had entered into an exercise in haggling. Now, I know that haggling is traditionally a process whereby  two people, a buyer and a seller, enter into a little word of mouth game that eventually arrives at a place where one buys and the other sells. Thereafter, there’s an exchange in monies and property, in this case the bloody Strimmer, concluded with a shake of hands and a couple of fair thee wells.

I on the other hand chose a different approach. One designed to confuse him, literally ‘p’ him off and result in him regretting ever trying to haggle with me. Following his offer of ten quid, my selling offer shot up dramatically to thirty quid which left him in a state of bemused shock. He laughed mistakingly thinking I was a reasonable man and said, ‘ok. I’ll give you fifteen quid’. I laughed and offered to sell for thirty five quid. It was then that the buyer realised that going down or up in tens and fives wasn’t really helping and so he gave in and said, ‘ok. Twenty quid’

Now I could have then completed this transaction with relative ease. I could have but I didn’t. I explained that as a result of the haggling which he introduced, it wasn’t my decision, the price of the Strimmer had now shot up to forty quid which was actually twice the amount I had originally asked for. Quite simply I explained to him that around these here parts we haggle very differently and if he now chose to offer me thirty five quid I’d respond by asking for forty five quid. Indeed, the reality of it all meant that if he continued undercutting my asking price, as unreasonable as it was, I’d also go upwards rather than downwards. This fella, who clearly wanted and needed a Strimmer became fully aware  that if he went on like this he could end up paying me hundreds of pounds for a tool which he could easily have purchased for twenty quid.

Suffice it to say he left without purchasing the Strimmer cognisant that he’d wasted the best part of thirty minutes of his life trying to do business with me.

Now, to my original point. Does anyone on these here pages keen to avoid haggling want to purchase a Strimmer for twenty pounds?

Dramatic drone images from Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service at the 10 pump factory fire at Overross Industrial Estate in Ross-on-Wye this morning.

Good progress made through the early hours and now 4 appliances remain on scene damping down, with fire investigation officers working to establish the cause.

Thankfully there are no reports of any casualties and fantastic team work from all the fire fighters and emergency services who attended.

Photographs courtesy of Ade Farmer (Group Commander HWFRS)

Multiple fire crews are in attendance this morning at Large factory fire at Overross Industrial Est, Ross on Wye in #Herefordshire.

Photograph courtesy of Ade Farmer (Group Commander HWFRS)

Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service have 10 appliances on site with support from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

Great effort from all crews especially the first pumps from Ross-on Wye-Fire Station who established a sound IC structure.

Photograph courtesy of Ade Farmer (Group Commander HWFRS)

The Guardian 1st May 2022:

‘Dental deserts’ form in England as dentists quit NHS, experts warn

Patients struggle to get treatment as report says health service has lowest number of dentists for a decade

‘My teeth still hurt’: patients unable to get on to NHS dentists’ lists

The number of dentists providing NHS care in England fell from 23,733 at the end of 2020 to 21,544 at the end of January this year, according to the latest NHS figures, which have been obtained by the Association of Dental Groups (ADG) under freedom of information laws.

Given that dentists each have a caseload of about 2,000 patients, the depletion of the workforce has left an estimated 4m people without access to NHS care. The NHS now has the smallest number of dentists it has had for a decade, according to the ADG, which represents major chains of surgeries.

Access to NHS dental care is now so limited that people in some areas are forced to wait three years for an appointment. The difficulty obtaining treatment is one of the public’s main sources of frustration with the health service, with just one in three people satisfied with dental services.

Many are forced to go private, after seeking an NHS dentist in vain, in order to have problems resolved. Some have rung dozens of surgeries in their area in a vain quest to be accepted as an NHS patient, or had to travel outside their home area to get it. A growing number of dental surgeries do little or no NHS-funded work, citing problems with the dental contract.

______________________________________________

I am resigned to go private as The NHS has been ruined by this Conservative government. Their plan of creative chaos is working wonders and I see Bill Gates is winding us up for another spate of Coronavirus and new vaccines - worse than the last lot.

Lidl are to hold a Public Meeting at Three Counties Hotel on Wednesday 11th May 12:00noon - 19:00

Further to our previous breaking news article here https://hfd.news/bgq regarding the Lidl supermarket planning application to demolish the Three Counties Hotel and change it into a supermarket and immediate backlash this has caused this meeting was inevitable.

Lidl have also confirmed that they plan to have a dedicated website and we will advise once this becomes live.

It is important that anyone with objections to this planning application, send in their individual letters (can be done on the Herefordshire Council planning portal) outlining their concerns and objections based on planning law ie, traffic, local disturbance, noise levels etc.

You can also sign our Petition https://chng.it/bWYtFHb78S

#HerefordVoice | #HerefordNews | #Hereford