Had a good morning out last Thursday with the Hereford Walking Group. Meet at Drybridge House Day Centre every Thursday 10.30am to 12.30pm. Stay for refreshments (suggested £1 donation!) Good company walking and chatting along river to The Waterworks at Broomy Hill (open Tuesdays 11am to 4pm) and back to Drybridge House for warm bowl of soup and cup of tea/coffee. Worth calling in as other activities are being organised througout the week. Working in partnership with Herefordshire & Worcestershire Age UK.

Thursday 18th January 2024 - 7pm - 9pm
at the Kindle Centre (talk starts at 7.30pm) when our speaker is Dr David Marshall (Associate, the Brightspace Foundation), speaking on

"Apples and People”
The global story of the apple, illustrated with art from collections around the world.

Sorry it's short notice.

StrongerHereford has voted to support Herefordshire Council’s proposal to relocate the Hereford Library & Learning Centre to Shirehall.

The decision effectively gives the go ahead for £3,000,000 from the city’s Stronger Towns Fund (totalling £22.4m) to be invested in creating a vibrant, modern and innovative library within the Shirehall, rather than at Maylord Orchards, now subject only to acceptance by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

The decision follows a thorough assessment of the project plans, as explained by Abigail Appleton, Chair of Stronger Hereford and Principal of Hereford College of Arts, "The Library is a flagship project for our city and vitally important for residents of all ages so we needed to explore and understand all the implications of the relocation. We have worked extremely closely with the project team at Herefordshire Council to dig into the details of the new proposal and consider its benefits, risks and mitigation. I am proud of the rigour and quality of the Board’s discussion and the diversity of perspectives heard.

We will continue to work collaboratively and closely with the Council team as the project develops, to monitor progress and ensure all is done to make the library the flagship destination for Hereford that we expect - a place of creativity, learning, culture, connection and community we can all be proud of. ”

Cllr Harry Bramer, Herefordshire Council Cabinet Member, Community Services and Assets said, “I am delighted that Stronger Hereford has voted in favour of the relocation of the Library to Shirehall and that we can begin work on this vitally important project for Hereford and the wider county. I have always been clear that ambition for a world class library and learning space should be at the heart of this project and I now look forward to working with the Council Officers to deliver a library and learning space in an iconic Herefordshire building that we can all be proud of”.

A mother and a man have been charged with manslaughter following the death of a four-month-old baby nearly four years ago in 2020

Melissa Wilband, 27, the child's mother, and 30-year-old Jack Wheeler have been charged with manslaughter and causing or allowing the death of a child, Gloucestershire Police have said.

A force spokesman said: “Gloucestershire Police’s major crime investigation team led on the investigation and the Crown Prosecution Service authorised charges.”

The infant, from Newent in the Forest of Dean, was admitted to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in a serious condition on 12 April 2020. The child was later transferred to Bristol Children's Hospital but died six days later, on 18 April.

Image Courtesy of Wikipedia - Bristol Royal Hospital For Children

The force's full statement said: "Two people have been charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of a four-month-old infant. Jack Wheeler, 30 and from Ledbury, and 27-year-old Melissa Wilband, the mother of the child, and from Newent"

"The pair have been charged with manslaughter and causing or allowing the death of a child. The four-month-old from Newent, Forest of Dean had been admitted to hospital on 12 April 2020 and died on 18 April 2020.

They both appeared at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court yesterday, Friday 12 January and were released on conditional bail which bans them from having contact with any child under the age of 18.  They must also not contact each other by any means.

They will next appear at Bristol Crown Court on 19 February where it is expected that they will enter pleas to the charges.

A prolific shoplifter from Malvern has been given a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) which bars him from all shops in the town.

Mark Spragg, 41, of Madresfield, Malvern, is also banned from entering any retail premises with Natalie Cull, 29, who was handed a suspended sentence for shoplifting in November.

Spragg’s order was granted on Thursday 4 January at Worcester Magistrates Court and has the following conditions applied to it: -

Mark Spragg must not: -

• Enter any retail premises in Malvern, Worcestershire
• Enter Sainsburys on Windermere Drive, Worcester
• Enter Asda on Silver Street, Worcester
• Be in any retail premises in company with a named individual

Minister backs Children’s Commissioner’s recommendation

Herefordshire Council will retain control of children’s services in the county as it continues to deliver a far-reaching improvement programme.

Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing, David Johnston OBE, has today approved a recommendation by Children’s Commissioner Eleanor Brazil for the service to remain under council control with no further consideration of any alternatives.

Ms Brazil – who will continue to work alongside the council – made the recommendation in a progress report on improvements to the service since her original review was published in February this year.

She said: “There have been positive developments that hopefully can form the basis for quicker and more sustained improvement.

“I do not think that any further consideration of an alternative delivery model is required as it remains my view that supporting the council and its partners to deliver quicker and better improvements is the best way forward.”

Ms Brazil’s report says that progress has been made or is under way against all the key recommendations she made in her original review, including a strengthening of the leadership team, increasing the number of permanent front-line team managers, reducing the levels of agency staff and finalising a new strategy for the SEND service.

The council had formed a ‘well-received’ long-term working partnership with children’s services experts from Leeds who had identified some strengths to build on, and three monitoring visits by Ofsted had also highlighted areas of progress.

But Ms Brazil said the pace of change continued to remain too slow and too many areas in the council’s improvement plan had not yet been addressed quickly enough.

The quality of practice and assessment remained inconsistent, children were still experiencing too many changes of social worker, figures for statutory intervention remain high and 50 per cent of staff are still agency.

Figures for the number of care leavers in work or education had also fallen and there were high rates of looked-after children and children with a child protection plan.

Director for Children and Young People, Darryl Freeman, welcomed today’s decision and thanked Ms Brazil for her detailed report.

“This is a significant moment for the council on our improvement journey. The Commissioner has recognised that improvements are being made and that the council, working with our partners, remains best placed to drive the progress outlined in our improvement plan.

“This is a vote of confidence for both our workforce and the work we have done together to build the improvements the Commissioner has recognised. I am particularly pleased that she recognises that staff like working at Herefordshire Council and welcome the changes which are under way.

“But we accept the Commissioner’s view that the pace of change needs to quicken and share her assessment of the work we still need to do to deliver the service that we all want to see. We have an ambitious three-year improvement plan in place and delivering a service which meets the needs of the whole county remains our number one priority.”

Councillor Ivan Powell, Cabinet member for children and young people, said: “The Commissioner’s report is fair and balanced, and I thank her for all her work since her appointment.

“It is also pleasing that she acknowledges that scrutiny meetings are now more focussed, and that the political leadership brings both knowledge and commitment to the improvement programme.

“We know that there is much work still to do but I believe it is absolutely right that responsibility for delivering these improvements remains with the council.”

Children’s Services were judged to be inadequate during an Ofsted Inspection last July. Eleanor Brazil was appointed in September 2022 to help the council deliver improvements. She will review progress again in another six months.

You can read the Children’s Commissioner’s report in full on the Government’s website 

The trailer for the new, British independent movie DERELICT, a harrowing and violent thriller of revenge and empowerment, has now been released online.

Filmed exclusively in Herefordshire in the UK on a budget of just £35k, DERELICT focuses on a daughter’s revenge and the circumstances that have led to the murder of her father. Soaked in the tradition of the British film noir, a series of unusual characters are thrown into situations that will have repercussions beyond their imagination.

Abigail is a socially isolated, angry young woman who is struggling to come to terms with the brutal murder of her father some years prior. When she learns that one of her father's murderers is about to be released from prison, Abi sets herself on a path of revenge. Matt is a young man whose life gets turned upside down by the return of his brother Ewan. The destinies of these lost souls crosses in ways that will tragically shape their lives.

Writer and film critic Guy Adams called it "Rashomon for the Sports Direct Generation!" and Wayne Kramer (The Cooler, Running Scared) said "DERELICT is the slow-burn anatomy of a brutal murder and its aftermath, one that puts the viewer on a collision course with both the victims and the perpetrators in the gut-wrenching crime drama from talented up-and- coming director Jonathan Zaurin. Following in the tradition of Mike Hodges, Shane Meadows and Ben Wheatley, Zaurin demonstrates a skill for digging just below the surface of England’s societal ills, exposing equal parts pain and redemption, all served up with a powerful cinematic vision."

The Derelict crew consists of producers Sarah Zaurin, Andy Piper, Pete Bird and Todd Rodgers. Michael Mackenzie and Kat Ellinger will both be working on the screenplay, Michael Sànchez will be composing the score and sound engineering by Ryan Jordan.

The talented cast features Suzanne Fulton (Cold Feet, Mum Said), regular LBS Films contributors Mikey JL Coombes and Pete Bird (both Wyvern Hill), Dean Kilbey (Boiling Point, Manfish, Top Boy), Nick Cornwall (Devils, Sky Sharks), Corinne Strickett (Housewarming), Joe Nurse (Santa Baby), Darren James King (April, Essex Boys: Law Of Survival), Clova Perez- Corral (The Antwerp Dolls), Ben Manning (The Snarling, Cursed), and Stacey Coleman (Polterheist, Emmerdale).

Trailer 👇

We have started this topic to highlight that having a large amount of followers does not always mean you have a bigger audience reach, so do not be fooled to think it does. There are other factors to take into account, including interaction from local people.

Here is a good example.

We REGULARLY advertise the fabulous St Martin's FoodShare and are proud to have supported this project since its inception back in 2020 at the start of the pandemic (It actually began at Leominster FoodShare). This is a really wonderful local community initiative, which has grown and grown but this popularity has now attracted other local pages jump on the bandwagon for want of a better word.

We have scheduled topics to run EVERY WEEK, the latest was last Monday 8th January 2024. Let's have a look at Your Herefordshire, they got their post out this week before ours... 🤔 at 07:38, you can see that screenshot we took today below; (Screenshot 2024-01-12 at 11.36.51)

44 LIKES - 2 COMMENTS - 53 SHARES

Our usual scheduled advert went out at 09:16 you can also see our screenshot we took today below; (Screenshot 2024-01-12 at 11.34.13)

258 LIKES - 57 COMMENTS - 186 SHARES

But wait! Once these numbers were noticed YH swiftly added a MUCH BIGGER BOLD ADVERT at 09:43, see that screenshot we took today below; (Screenshot 2024-01-12 at 11.37.11)

46 LIKES - 19 COMMENTS - 93 SHARES

Your Herefordshire often brag how many followers they have, over 90k (which is incredible) however, if you combines both of their posts above you will have a total of 90 LIKES - 21 COMMENTS - 146 SHARES which is really good.

Hereford Voice, now if you add our totals for just the one advert 258 LIKES - 56 COMMENTS - 186 SHARES, that speaks volumes.

West Mercia Police are appealing for anyone who has information following criminal damage of a property and car on Lowfield Meadow, Kingstone in Herefordshire.

On Friday 29 December at around 8.45pm a property on the street had three panes of the living room windows smashed, along with multiple windows of the car parked outside.

Three suspects have been seen in the area at the time of the incident, all wearing grey tracksuits.

If you witnessed the incident or have any information that will help with enquiries, please contact PC Ashen by email helen.ashen@westmercia.police.uk or by calling 07977957688, quoting 00398_i of the 29 December.

Alternatively, information can be shared anonymously with the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or by visiting www.crimestoppers-org.uk

A spokesperson for Friends of the Upper Wye said;

"We have just recorded our highest phosphate levels ever at Bredwardine Bridge: 0.29 ppm, more than 4 times the target set by the Environment Agency for this section of this fragile and failing river. With the river in spate, the sheer volume of nutrients this represents is frightening"

This is a really lovely story that I have just read in the HT and thought I would add it to our forums for discussion.

photo courtesy of HT

A UNIQUE filling station in the Golden Valley which is believed to be one of the oldest in the country is to sell fuel once again following a refurbishment.

 

Robert Wilding has been running West End Garage, in Vowchurch, since the 1990s when he took over from his dad, Hedley.

 

The garage has been refuelling motorists since 1923 when Mr Wilding's grandfather, James Charles, was granted a licence to sell petrol.

 

Widely believe to be one of the oldest filling stations in Britain, Mr Wilding is now taking steps to upgrade the tank so that he can continue his family's legacy.

 

He said: "My grandfather started selling fuel in 1923. He died in 1948 and my father and uncle took over the business then. I have grown up here.

 

"I am only using one petrol pump now and trying to keep the tradition up of selling petrol in the Golden Valley.

 

"I haven't been selling since last June but have been helping people out with petrol should they get stuck. But I am going to start again in the next fortnight."

 

There are two petrol pumps in the front garden, one a Wayne and the other an Avery.

 

Large enamelled advertisement plates for Raleigh bicycles and one for Castrol can be seen on the front facade of the house, which dates from the early to mid twentieth century.

 

Sales take place in the front room of the cottage which has a sales counter for sweets, newspapers and small motoring supplies.

 

But the traditional appearance of the filling station won't change with the refurb and works are taking place to change the tank to a fiberglass liner with new plastic pipes.

 

"If the work hadn't been carried out I would have had to have had it filled with concrete or had the tank taken out," Mr Wilding, 67, said.

 

"So it was one or the other and I decided to carry on. I'm not going to make much money out of it but it's a traditional way of life."

      

The pump will supply motorists with petrol but Mr Wilding is also able to help anyone who needs diesel.

 

Speaking about why his grandfather decided to start the business, he added: "He just went into everything. He was a coffin maker, he did building work, he did cycle repairs. He had the first radio in the district, he was just a pioneer, he was a marvellous man that I never met."

A man who was seriously injured in an assault in Malvern on New Year’s Eve has died.

The man, in his 60s, was assaulted outside The Beauchamp Arms on Worcester Road at around 10.15pm on Sunday evening (31 December).

He was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and has sadly died from his injuries.

A 52-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder has been released on bail whilst enquires continue.

Officers are continuing to appeal for witnesses.

Detective Inspector Mark Walters said: “I would like to pass on my condolences to the family and friends of the individual who has sadly died following this tragic incident on Sunday evening.

“I know an incident like this brings great concern to the local community and I would like to reassure people that this is an isolated incident.

“Our investigation is continuing, and I urge anyone who may have seen the incident take place or has any other information, however small you think it may be, to please contact us”.

To contact police please call 101 quoting incident number 388i of December 31, 2023.

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.

We were out with our friends from Air Vistas and this is the short drone footage we created.

We are pleased that they persuaded us to invest in a quality drone.

It’s not too late to have your say on priorities for Herefordshire over the next four years

Herefordshire Council is asking for your views about proposed priorities in new County Plan. The County Plan is the document that outlines the Herefordshire Council’s overarching ambitions and objectives, and how they will be delivered.

The council is currently consulting with local people on a new four year County Plan for 2024-2028.

Residents are being asked to think about how they would like it to feel to live in Herefordshire in 2028, and then help to shape and refine the County Plan by completing an online consultation survey.

Complete the County Plan consultation questionnaire here.

The consultation will close on 10 January 2024. 

The consultation outlines ambitions and priorities in the following areas:

People – Enable resilient and connected communities to ensure that everyone lives well and has the best start in life.

Place - Protect and enhance our environment and keep Herefordshire a great place to live.

Growth - Support growth across the county which builds on the county's strengths and resources and asks respondents to consider when they should be delivered during the next four years. 

All feedback received will be considered in developing the priorities for the 2024-2028 County Plan.

Congratulations to Lyndsey Evans for services in South Wye Hereford (Belmont Community Centre)

Wye, Herefordshire

Lyndsey has been a volunteer for over ten years providing support to the children's Christmas grotto, also puts on coffee mornings and is involved with several special events in the evenings like Valentines Day, Christmas Meal, Burns night etc. She was the stalwart who has transformed the entrance to the community centre, which involved obtaining grant money. Lyndsey is a volunteer and Trustee of Belmont Community Centre.

Full list attached  New Year Honours List 2024 (CSV) - GOV.UK.pdf

Thank you to our Hereford Voice Photo Studio member Slavi Mihov for sharing this fabulous drone footage from the New Year celebrations at The Left Bank Village.

Hereford's main entrances into the city centre will have anti-terror bollards installed, at a cost exceeding £200,000.

The goal, according to the Herefordshire Council, "its aim was to reduce danger for people in the city, “whether from errant vehicles or those acts motivated by terrorism aims”.

By March, the work will be completed.

Given the volume of pedestrian traffic, High Town, St. Peter's Street, and Commercial Street were identified as possible targets in a 2021 review of Hereford's historic centre.

Following earlier attacks in European cities, the authorities said that the restrictions would safeguard the safety of city users, with a focus on people assembled for festivities.

The construction company Speller Metcalfe, located in the West Midlands, has been hired to build an arbitrary quantity of "permanent, detachable and lowering/rising bollards at important city entrances, at a price of £202,830.

A comparable sum is still available from the £6 million Hereford City Centre Improvement Fund for additional initiatives.

The project has been funded by the council and Marches local enterprise partnership.

West Mercia Police Officers in Hereford are appealing for witnesses after a heavily pregnant woman was subjected to a frightening assault by another motorist while in her car with her son.

The woman was waiting at a junction on the Ross Road in Hereford at around 3.30pm on Friday 22 December when an irate male motorist behind her started beeping at her.

The man got out of his black Vauxhall Insignia 12-registration plate, came up to her light blue Toyota Auris, and started banging on the window.

When the woman tried to get out of her car, the man kicked her door several times which shut on her leg causing bruising. It also caused a dent to her car door.

The man then drove off in the Vauxhall with the partial registration plate “VU12”.

He is described as a white man aged approximately in his late 50s, of stocky build with dark hair and a grey beard. He was wearing glasses and dark coloured clothing.

He had a female front seat passenger wearing clothing with a leopard print.

PC Melanie Davies, who is investigating the incident, said: “The victim here is heavily pregnant, and her young son was in the vehicle at the time, so this was a frightening ordeal for them both.

“The attack took place around school closing time so there will have been witnesses around.

“We would like anyone with information, who may have witnessed the assault or may have captured it on their dash-cam to come forward and share it with us.

“Please email me at melanie.davies@westmercia.police.uk or call me on 07870 219274, quoting log 327i of December 22 if you know anything about this or think you may have witnessed it.”

Alternatively, information can be shared anonymously with the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or by visiting www.crimestoppers-org.uk