Gloucestershire Constabulary are appealing for witnesses to come forward after a man sadly lost his life in an accident on the A40 in the Forest of Dean yesterday (Monday 31 May)

In a statement the police wrote;

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"We sorry to report that a motorcyclist has died following a collision on the A40 in the Forest of Dean yesterday afternoon (Monday 31 May).

The incident, which happened close to Dursley Cross Farm, Longhope at around 4.20pm, involved a motorbike and a car towing a caravan.

Emergency services attended and a man in his 70s from Hampshire was declared dead at the scene. The driver of the car received minor injuries and the passenger was unhurt.

The road was closed for around seven hours.

We are now appealing for any further witnesses or anyone with dash-cam footage to come forward.

A number of people stopped to offer help following the collision and we'd like to thank them for their support.

Anyone with information can submit this to police online by completing the following form and referencing incident 216 of 31 May: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/

Crews from Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service quickly extinguished a small fire at a The Golden Galleon chip shop in Commercial Road this evening. No reports of any injuries.

Controlling groups merge to form new alliance

Two of the groups which control Herefordshire Council have strengthened their alliance by combining to form a new political group.

Herefordshire Independents and It's Our County will now be known as Independents for Herefordshire.

The two parties formed a coalition with the Green Party after the elections in 2019 to run the authority.

Councillor John Harrington will chair the new group and described it as "practical and progressive".

He said they will work together to fight the next council elections in two years time.

Multiple crews from 10 fire stations with appliances from Evesham, Gloucester, Warwickshire, Upton, Pershore, Malvern, Redditch, Ledbury, Leominster, Hereford and Ross are tackled a large fire at an industrial unit at Broadway yesterday.

Photograph courtesy of Leominster Fire Station

Councillor Paul Stevens reopens the Hereford Museum of Cider as his first engagement as the new Hereford Mayor.

The museum has been closed for over a year because of the pandemic and during that time also suffered from a flood.

Photographs courtesy of the Museum of Cider

The Mayor was accompanied by former Mayor Cllr Kath Hey and they were welcomed by museum director Elizabeth Pimblett.

Also attending the reopening were craft cider makers from the Three Counties Cider and Perry Association, Fenella Tyler trustee and CEO of the National Association of Cidermakers, conservator Catriona Ward and Councillor Diana Toynbee.

Full details can be found here 

We were invited to a sneak preview of the new En BBQ Hereford at Hereford Old Market Shopping Centre

Their will be a 'Soft Opening' from Wednesday 2nd June in the evenings until 6th June then will be full days. (Closed Mondays and Tuesdays for staff training)

#SupportLocal and visit Hereford's latest new eatery - book your table here 👉 www.enbbq.co.uk

Hereford Voice would like to thank Peyman and Pampi for their kind 'sneak preview' invitation in the week and wish them the very best of luck with their new business!

More Positive #HerefordNews

Herefordshire Council teams have recently completed a programme of resurfacing and drainage works on the C1059 - Common Farm Bungalow - Holloway Common Farm, Hampton Charles, Herefordshire. 

Herefordshire Council teams have recently completed a programme of resurfacing and drainage works on Church Road, Stretton Sugwas Herefordshire.

West Mercia Police are appealing for witnesses following criminal damage in Hereford.

At around 4.45am on Thursday 20 May five young people are believed to have attempted to break into in a building on the Holme Lacy Road industrial estate.

The offenders were all described as being aged between 15 and 17-years-old.

Three of the offenders are described as;

A white boy around 5ft 5ins of a stocky build, with short brown curly hair with shaved sides, wearing grey joggers and a hoody.

A second white boy with short brown hair, black padded jacket, black backpack, black skinny jeans and white trainers.

A girl was described as white with long dark brown or purple hair, of a slim build and wore a black coat with a fur trim and black trainers.

There were a further two offenders but there are no descriptions at this time and we are keen to speak to anyone who has more information or may have witnessed the incident taking place.

Anyone with information is urged to call 101 quoting incident 00249 of 20 May. If you have information you want to report anonymously you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or via their website. 

Herefordshire Council teams have recently completed a programme of resurfacing and drainage works on Castle Road, Richards Castle, Herefordshire.

Update | Police officers searching for a missing 47-year-old man can confirm that a body was recovered from the River Wye in Hereford on Tues. Formal identification confirms that it is sadly Steven Tattum from Hereford. The death is not being treated as suspicious, the Coroner has been informed.

Our thoughts go out to Steven's family and friends at this difficult time.

Officers are growing increasingly concerned for Steven Tattum who is missing from Hereford.

He was last seen at around 2.40am Wednesday morning (19 May) near to Greyfriars Bridge Hereford but has not been seen since.

Steven, aged 47, is described as white, with brown and grey hair. He is around 5ft 8in tall and was believed to be wearing a grey tracksuit and a blue coat.

Anyone who believes they may have seen Steven is asked to please call 101 immediately quoting incident 40i of 19 May.

West Mercia Police Update

Following an incident on Sunday 2nd May at The Spread Eagle pub n Hereford a man has been charged with assault and threatening behaviour. He will appear before Herefordshire Magistrates Court in June

There is a wide load stuck on the traffic lights on the A49 Ross Road (northbound) Hereford.

Hereford Police have a new toy in the form of an eco-friendly electric vehicle 

Photograph courtesy of West Mercia police 

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Here it is. Our all new 100% Electric vehicle. You'll see us out and about in the City from today!!

Today marks the 30th anniversary of Midlands Air Ambulance Charity first mission.

"A woman suffered a fall on the mountainside in Hay on Wye and needed emergency pre-hospital care. The flight crew rushed to the scene, and stabilised the patient before airlifting her to hospital in just six minutes!"

Photograph courtesy of Midlands Air ambulance Charity  

Congratulations on the 30th anniversary of your first of many life saving flights! Such a brilliant charity!

Donate Here 

Another vehicle seized by Hereford Cops (Hereford Rural North SNT), this time in Withington, Herefordshire

Photograph courtesy of West Mercia Police

Driver had no insurance and was a provisional licence holder.

This is the Second time police have seized a vehicle from same driver in a month!

Homes and businesses in Ross-on-Wye will soon benefit from gigabit capable broadband.

Wholesale broadband provider, Full Fibre Limited, will build new Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) network across the town, providing access to some of the fastest broadband in the country. 

Fibre to the Premise (FTTP) known as ‘full fibre’ is the newest form of fibre broadband and is considered more future proof as it can deliver gigabit download speeds (1,000Mbps). 

The rollout is thanks to a small grant project to connect businesses in the Alton Road area that still require a superfast connection. Fastershire’s Marches & Gloucestershire business broadband grant is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and has enabled Full Fibre Limited to establish a foothold in Ross-on-Wye from which they will expand their network into the rest of the town using their own investment.

Full Fibre Limited CEO, Oliver Helm, said

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“Full Fibre’s investment in Ross-on-Wye, enabled by Fastershire, will deliver world class, gigabit broadband across the town.  Ensuring that everyone in the town has access to fast, reliable broadband will fuel economic recovery, boost homeworking productivity, and level up communities.”

Market towns have previously been left behind, but within the next few months our teams will start to build this new infrastructure across Ross-on-Wye.  We’ll deliver connectivity to homes, business, community groups and schools, and provide the infrastructure to support better mobile networks.  Our ISPs will offer excellent, competitive services, that will ensure people never have to think about or be limited by their broadband connectivity again.”

Councillor Paul Symonds, said,

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“It is wonderful news, both for the businesses I’ve spoken to on the Alton Road that will soon have the broadband they need but also for the rest of Ross-On-Wye.

As our demand for the internet grows beyond superfast speeds, Full Fibre Limited’s rollout of gigabit capable broadband across the town will help ensure the long term viability for our local businesses and community.”

Over 93% of Herefordshire properties can access a superfast connection of 30mbps or greater, according to ThinkBroadband’s figures, with over 35% mainly in rural areas able to access a gigabit capable full fibre connection, well above the national average of only 21%. 

Councillor Ellie Chowns, the Cabinet member for environment, economy and skills at Herefordshire Council said,

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“Ross-On-Wye is a perfect example of how a council project can be used to stimulate commercial investment. 

Fastershire has been working to increase superfast access, but has been quick to promote new gigabit capable full fibre connections.  Supporting providers like Full Fibre Limited and others to provide gigabit capable access in our market towns and rural areas, Fastershire is helping to ensure that Herefordshire has the broadband infrastructure that can support our communities for years to come.”

To find out if your property can access faster broadband, visit www.fastershire.com.

Embrace Hereford | Fabulous news that Hayley at CULT Vintage opened her new store in Maylord Orchards yesterday!!

Most pubs, wine bars, hotels, and restaurants reopen to welcome customers back inside from tomorrow.

Saxtys Bar & Club is opening this month and they are taking bookings NOW!! www.saxtys.co.uk

If you're looking for some brilliant entertainment a visit to Matrix Hereford is an absolute must! Check out 'Mad Dogs' Axe Throwing 🪓

The Children's Bookshelf - Specialists in Children's Books have a new store also in Maylord Orchards and they have a provisional opening day of 29th May

Let us celebrate Hereford and all the good things that our wonderful city has to offer.

Hereford Voice will also be announcing some exciting news soon!

Please share our positivity it's become 'contagious'

Shop local and visit some of our fabulous local independent retailers including all those lovely shops, cafes and boutiques in The Independent Quarter and Hereford Butter Market

We have a new a nail salon, mobile phone shop and the new tasty Yorkshire wrap! A new pizza restaurant, as well as some fabulous coffee bars, take-aways, bistros, wine bars and pubs and the all new outside seating!

Outdoor markets and events in the city centre are very popular and bring vibrancy, together with some unique products and produce from many independent traders.

New eateries offering Korean BBQ at your table and Amazing Asia all coming soon to the Hereford Old Market Shopping Centre and we have some superb hotels too and let's not forget Saxtys Bar & Club which is reopening in this month!!

June brings Knife Angel Hereford to the Hereford Cathedral and Hereford Voice is proud to be a 'working partner' with this fabulous charity.

We also have some wonderful new planters with seats and trees in the city centre which will look beautiful once they fully blossom.

Take a walk along the River Wye and maybe enjoy a coffee by the Victoria Jubilee Bridge or just relax on the Castle Green.

We love our city and county and we like to shout about it and promote everything POSITIVE. It's all too easy to moan but we are truly privileged to live in such a beautiful part of the World.

Hereford Voice will continue to promote local business and encourage people to visit Hereford and Herefordshire.

Look out for our continuous and 'contagious' headlines

EMBRACE HEREFORD | POSITIVE HEREFORD | POSITIVE NEWS

The lockdown has been a very challenging time for people and businesses alike but there is light at the end of the tunnel..

Join us in our campaign and 'BE POSITIVE' about this fabulous city of ours. 'Positive Hereford' ❤️ 'Embrace Hereford'

Follow our latest hashtags #embracehereford #positivehereford