The A49 at Dinmore Hill will remain closed overnight with a view to reopen in the morning following an incident involving an overturned HGV vehicle.

DIVERSIONS

Road users travelling southbound are advised to follow the solid circle diversion route:

At the junction of the A49/A417, turn left on to the A417 eastbound. Continue along the A417 to its junction with the A4103. Turn right on to the A4103 westbound.

Continue along A4103 westbound to its roundabout with the A49. Join the A49 and continue your journey.

Road users travelling northbound are advised to follow the solid triangle diversion route:

At the roundabout junction of A49/A4103 take the exit to the A4103 eastbound. Continue along the A4103 eastbound to its junction with the A417 Turn left along the A417 and continue to its junction with the A49 to continue your journey.

Delays are likely on the approach to this closure, with additional journey times also expected on diversion routes.

Further incident information is available from Highways England by visiting our www.trafficengland.com website and travel apps, or via our @HighwaysWMIDS regional Twitter feed. Our 24/7 Customer Contact Centre is also available to provide up to the minute information on 0300 123 5000.

Go ahead given to priority City transport improvements

Priority improvements for transport in Hereford have been confirmed with funding for the further development of key schemes, including safer routes to school, walking and cycling network and a new river crossing to the east of the City, approved by Cabinet today (Thursday 24 June).

Funding of £1.24m has now been allocated to take forward these schemes, which were identified in the Hereford Transport Strategy Review, to help increase low carbon active travel options and also to provide an alternative to the single river crossing.

The council has also secured government funding to develop proposals for improved bus services across the county. Government published its National Bus Strategy in March and has confirmed that it intends to provide more funding for councils to improve bus services in partnership with local operators.Councillor John Harrington, Cabinet member for infrastructure and transport said:

Quote

“This is very welcome news. This more detailed allocation of the money already agreed by full Council allows us to manage our projects more robustly and to move at pace with these priority schemes to help deliver much needed improvements to travel and transport in our City.

“We now have a joined up vision and approach that supports our plans to support economic development, healthier lifestyles and one that will respect and protect our environment. We have here all the much needed elements required for a good, 21st Century transport system. This process started with a complete review of an outdated transport strategy and the development of a new and more holistic one that better aligns with the government’s direction on the climate and ecological emergency and legally binding carbon zero targets.

“The Hereford Transport Strategy incorporates a long term forward view and plan – we can’t do everything at once but we will able to deliver some elements very quickly, including tackling our school run issues and developing an enhanced partnership with our bus operators. We can also now pick up the pace with plans for a second river crossing, giving the City that much needed resilience. This is an exciting time, a real opportunity to change the way we travel for the benefit of our residents and our precious environment whilst making sure we have the necessary resilience in our existing road network.

“We will also be looking more closely at a number of proposals to improve travel in the wider county including continuing to support plans for a new parkway railway station at Pontrilas, facilitating schools to provide transport at cost to parents and smart lift sharing, and community-led proposals such as the rural greenways projects. This will enable the council to assess the benefits and determine which of these extra projects should be taken forward.”

“This is a truly exciting time for us all as a county and a once-in-a-generation opportunity to get things right.”

Herefordshire Council fixed 2,927 potholes across the county during May 2021, If you see it, report it.

Their pothole app makes it quick and easy to report potholes as well as other issues 👉 http://orlo.uk/Txjqh 

To follow the progress of road resurfacing, drainage and repairs click here #hvroads

Following on from our original discussion which began on our forums back in 2017 here ➡ https://hfd.news/k6f we are asking the question "Should Cyclists Be Insured?" particularly when we see ridiculous manoeuvres like this one which must be difficult for any decent cyclist to justify

#HerefordVoice #HerefordNews #Hereford

Another RTC on the Widemarsh Street - Link Road traffic lights this afternoon with a car with Children in ending

up on its side.I can see a death happening here unless something is done.Removal of traffic lights and the installation of a roundabout with 20mph all the way down Widemarsh Street & Link Road would be a start.0

Herefordshire Council would like to apologise to parents for the short notice of the public meeting regarding the Westfield Sixth Form consultation. 

This was an administrative error and we would like to reassure parents that the consultation runs until Tuesday 20 July, so there is time to provide feedback. We will host another public meeting on Friday 16 July at 3pm. Details of how to join the virtual meeting and the online consultation can be found on our website

Herefordshire Council is consulting about the future of Westfield School Sixth Form in Leominster, which provides high quality education for the young people between the age of 16 and 19 with severe, complex, multiple and profound learning difficulties. In recent years, the school has had approximately 12 pupils within its sixth form phase across the three year groups (Year 12, 13 and 14).  

Herefordshire Council proposes to commission all sixth form places for young people with severe, complex, multiple and profound learning difficulties at a new specialist sixth form college in Hereford City, called the Beacon College. The opportunity to build the new college arose in 2017, when we successfully bid to the Department for Education for the funding. The Beacon College opens in September 2021, and will be run by the Accordia Academies Trust (formerly Barrs Court Trust). 

It is anticipated that within three years of opening, Beacon College will offer sixth form education to approximately 60 students with specialist needs. The new college has been built to be able to provide sufficient places for all young people in Herefordshire requiring a specialist sixth form place, including those few pupils who may wish to attend from neighbouring counties.

You can find more information and complete the consultation questionnaire on our website www.herefordshire.gov.uk/consultations

Just when we thought we had seen the best of the Knife Angel Hereford images our good friend Jon Simpson comes up when this fabulous photograph

The 'Partnership and Sponsors' board looks fabulous in the Cathedral Close and we are looking forward to the arrival of this brilliant sculpture in Hereford on Monday!

Hereford Voice is proud to be supporting Knife Angel Hereford.

Monday, June 21 - today the UK will enjoy 16 hours and 38 minutes of daylight.

The sun will rise at 4.52am and set at 9.26pm

During the celestial annual journey of the Earth round the Sun, the Summer Solstice is the moment when the Sun is at its furthermost point north of the Equator.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the 2021 Summer Solstice is on 21 June, at 03:32 GMT.

What is a solstice and why does it happen?

The Summer Solstice takes place when one of the Earth’s poles has its maximum tilt towards the sun, offering the longest period of daylight. In the Northern Hemisphere, that is when the North Pole is tilted towards the sun. 

In winter we tilt further away from the sun, and the winter solstice takes place when the North Pole is tilting its furthest away. The shortest day of the year will be December 21.

Dates for equinoxes and solstices in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres are the same, but in opposite seasons. For example, the Summer Solstice north of the Equator is mirrored south of the Equator by the Winter Solstice.

Find below precise solstice and equinox dates and times for the Northern Hemisphere, for 2021.

• Date & Time of Solstices & Equinoxes in 2021
• Vernal Equinox (Spring) March 20 2021 09:37 GMT
• Summer Solstice (Summer) June 21 2021 03:32 GMT
• Autumnal Equinox (Fall) September 22 2021 19:21 GMT
• Winter Solstice (Winter) December 21 2021 15:59 GMT

Regrettably there will be no formal Armed Forces Day events in Herefordshire on Saturday 26 June 2021

However, as is usual for the Monday of the week before Armed Forces Day, Flag Raising events have been held. The formal County event was held this morning at the Cathedral and a Flag was raised at Wye Valley Trust Hospital. Here is a photo of the flag raising at the hospital. Flags were also raised in the market towns.

In Herefordshire we continue to be proud of and to honour all those who serve in our military, those who have previously served and all their families. Not only do our military protect us they have also been invaluable during these unprecedented times. 

More pictures can be seen on https://www.facebook.com/HerefordshireAFD

Recycling Reminders

waste_collection_guide.pdf

Below is a photograph of what 400 tyres looks like.

This week Llangattock litter pickers were alerted to fly tipping of more than 5 times what's is in this photo.

Over 2,000 lorry and car tyres were dumped in a quarry in the Brecon Beacons. The group are leading on and working with the landowner and other organisations to bring about their removal. 

Herefordshire Council teams have recently completed a programme of resurfacing and drainage works on the C1081 - Gorsty Corner to Lower Green, Bearwood in Herefordshire 

Hereford Council teams have recently completed a programme of resurfacing and drainage works on the C1091 - Venmore Lane, Dilwyn in Herefordshire.

Cyclists on Footpaths!

Should cyclists be allowed on footpaths?

I ask the question because this morning I was walking along Belmont Avenue and a chap on a bike knocked into me from behind and almost knocked me to the floor as he came speeding past me on along the footpath on his bike. He turned around and shouted sorry pal but to be honest it not only startled me but I will probably have a bruise on my arm. I could have easily lost my balance and fallen into the road.

I thought riding a bicycle on a footpath was illegal? I appreciate that some people do not like riding on the roads and most of the councils in the country are implementing cycle lanes where they can but if the roads are narrow in the first place it makes it very difficult. I always remeber growing up that the police would tell you to get off your bike and walk on footpaths but that does not appear to happen anymore.

I have just seen this article on Sky news

News | Pleasance & Harper Jewellers & Watch Specialists had a stunning swarm of bees arrive at their store today

They called out our dear friend Laura from Hey, Honey to see the most beautiful bee swarm hanging from one of their baskets outside the shop.

Please be aware that there are still bees in the area (scout bees returning looking for their Queen) so if you are allergic to bee stings best to avoid the immediate area.

Hey, Honey have now rehomed them in one of their hives on the The Green Dragon Hotel roof but there will still be some stragglers about for a while so people please take care.

#HerefordVoice #HerefordNews #Hereford

If you travel just a little further out of the City you can find some stunning Countryside with spectacular views.
Two of our families favorite places to visit are in the Brecon Beacons national park.
Llyn y Fan Fach & Fawr in the Black Mountains & the four falls walk ,Ystradfelte.

Today we welcome the awesome thought-provoking Knife Angel Statue to Hereford Cathedral and it looks fantastic!

Hereford Voice is so proud to have been able to promote and support the Knife Angel Hereford project for many months leading up to the arrival of the statue in Hereford today and wish Alison Davies, Meryl Cain and the whole team behind this fabulous event a very successful month ahead.

Hereford Voice have drawn up a complete and comprehensive list of interactive medical workshops and creative activities, venues, dates and times etc https://hfd.news/em9

Donate to support Knife Angel Hereford https://hfd.news/u4c

Meryl Cain, Alison Davies and Colin James from Hereford Voice