Hereford & District Angling Association have submitted a planning application for the proposed construction of 28 fishing platforms along the banks of the River Wye, west of New Bridge in Hereford.

Above is a map detailing the proposed locations for the fishing platforms.

Above is a photograph of an existing fishing platform already in situ along the riverbank.

Ecological Appraisal 

The proposed work at Belmont will involve installing 28 new timber fishing platforms on the banks of the River Wye (SAC). Minimal vegetation management will be required to create an access route to the pegs.

No trees will be removed as part of the works.

The ecological appraisal was undertaken on behalf of the Hereford & District Angling Association to give an outline of the ecological receptors on site and identify and protect species or habitat constraints.

Full appraisal attached.

BiodivRpt_2.pdf

Plans have been submitted for the proposed repair and replacement of timber-frame infill panels and both externally and internally at the Black & White House Museum in Hereford city centre.

The Black & White House Museum, formerly the Old House Museum, is a Grade I listed, timber-framed merchants house, constructed in 1621, and situated in its original location in High Town, Hereford.

Its external and internal fabric has experienced several phases of change over the preceding centuries with the most comprehensive changes occurring in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Further maintenance is now required.

Misc.pdf

Disturbing seeing rubbish being left on the hills, commons & car parks of Malvern Hills Trust land. 

If you can't leave it the way you find it then politely consider staying away and not spoiling it for others. 

Malvern Cops spotted a few youths having a BBQ and made to tidy up.

More people were also removed from Gullet Quarry yesterday.

Details of those breaking Malvern Hills Trust bylaws taken for potential enforcement. 

The owners of the disgusting amounts of rubbish left behind couldn't be identified.

What is wrong with some people?

First of all people shouldn't be having BBQ's particularly with all of their dry weather we have been enjoying these past few months and it is forbidden on Malvern Hills Trust land. 

There are been many field and bush fires reported recently across the county by Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service including another one just today!

Crews from Evesham, Ledbury, Pershore, Tewksbury and Worcester have extinguished a barn fire at Bredon near Tewksbury involving 50 hay bales. 

Hillside Care Centre opens to health and social care patients but Herefordshire Council have their locations mixed up.

ℹ️ According the the press release from Herefordshire Council, this was the site of the former Hillside Ballroom however, this is not the case! That site that the Council is referring to we knew it as the 'Flamingo' or it was more commonly known as the 'Hostel'. This venue was in Mayberry Avenue nearer to the top and NOT at this location where the Council have re-opened the Hillside Care Centre.  

Council press release below: 👇 👇 

Former music venue site re-opens to support the NHS through the coronavirus outbreak.

The site of a former Herefordshire music venue that has hosted some of best known bands in the 60s has been brought back into use by Herefordshire Council and is now open as a care and rehabilitation facility for health and social care admissions.

Owned and managed by the council, the 22 bed unit at Redhill has undergone a complete refurbishment to the highest standard.  The Hillside Centre will provide patient care and rehabilitation services to some of the county’s most vulnerable residents and will help to relieve the pressure on the NHS during the current Covid-19 pandemic.

The Hillside site has a sentimental attachment for many local residents due to its musical history. Before being rebuilt as an NHS community hospital, it was once home to the ‘Hillside Ballroom’ which hosted some of the music industry’s well known faces during the 60s, including the Rolling Stones, The Who, The Kinks, Jerry Lee Lewis and Status Quo.  Cult star, Screaming Lord Sutch, is also known to have made a lasting impression with his performance at Hillside, long before he formed the Monster Raving Loony party.

Bringing the building back into use as a care facility is just the first positive step for the future of Hillside, as the council continues to explore further redevelopment options for the centre. 

The council is looking to create a specialist facility that focuses on long term care for older members of the community who are living with aged related conditions, including individuals diagnosed with dementia.  The project also includes plans for a sensory garden for dementia patients, in memory of the popular Herefordshire councillor and Greyfriars GP, Dr Robin Andrews, who lost his battle with cancer in 2001.

Councillor Pauline Crockett, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Wellbeing said:

Quote

 

I’m extremely pleased that this important asset to the county is now open and will offer health and social care services to recovering hospital patients. 

I know that local residents are extremely fond of the Hillside site due to its musical history and the council’s investment means that it has been brought back to life and will now provide care and support for the most vulnerable members of our community.

I have visited the centre myself and I was extremely impressed with the high quality of the facilities and this is down to the hard work of council staff and the Balfour Beatty Living Places contractors who have carried out a complete refurbishment programme in 6 weeks. 

I look forward to seeing the plans progress and for the centre to become a facility to support people living with dementia in the future.

 

McDonalds drive-thru on Belmont Road Hereford is due to re-open at 11am today.

There are some changes in place ie; No breakfast Wraps or Shakes.

• Limited menu and reduced staff levels.
• Maximum of £25 where possible using contactless payment
• Reduced opening hours 11.00-22.00

Noticed this weekend (just gone) that there's a large pothole, inbound, on the Barrs Court side of the metal bridge. Went over yesterday (Monday) and it's got 50% bigger and deeper in a couple of days ... So be careful if you are using that bit of road! If you hit it full on there's a potential to do some damage! 

Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service attended a fire at Kingstone.

Upon arrival they were faced with a double garage with two vehicles well alight and the fire had spread to the roof space of the adjoining house with crews quickly bringing the fire under control using hose reels and BA.

Six pumps and a water carrier together with crews from Hereford, Peterchurch, Eardisley and Ewyas Harold fire stations all attended the scene.

As can be seen from the photo the garage and two cars were completely destroyed.

Crews were left on scene dampening down hot spots with an inspection organised later in the evening.

All persons were accounted for with no injuries reported.

West Mercia Police have confirmed that sadly a body believed to be that of Chris West has been found at the Bromyard Downs.

Chris, who was 44 years-old, went missing from Bromyard on Friday 29 May.

Detective Constable Andrew Curson said:

Quote

We are sad to report that Chris was found on Sunday 31 May and has now been formally identified. His family has been informed and specially trained officers are supporting them at this tragic time.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the public who shared our appeals and helped in our search for Chris.

Chris’ death is not being treated as suspicious.

Rachel Jones has been appointed as the Assistant Chief Constable for Local Policing and Operations at West Mercia Police and will join the force in the middle of June 2020.

Rachel’s first twelve years’ service were in Gloucestershire Constabulary, where she undertook a wide range of uniformed, detective and business related roles, as well as tactical firearms, public order and major incident command, including Gold Control for the 2007 floods and subsequent loss of water to 350,000 people for two weeks. Culminating in the positon of Director of Intelligence, as South West Regional Lead for Intelligence, she oversaw the creation of the then South West Regional Intelligence Unit prior to transferring to West Midlands Police in 2008.

Working in Local Policing, Programme Change and Child Protection in her first few years in West Midlands Police, in 2012 Rachel was appointed Head of Professional Standards where she led the development and implementation of the Force Integrity Programme.

Rachel became Local Policing Commander for the North of Birmingham in 2013. Reframing the role of the Partnership Team, she worked with partner agencies and communities to uplift services to vulnerable people. She also led on delivery of the Troubled Families Programme and proposals for broader adoption of early intervention and prevention practices across the Force and partner agencies regionally. This resulted in her appointment in 2016 to lead the West Midlands Combined Authority Public Service Reform Programme with responsibility for developing the framework for more joined-up working across the public sector. She also held complementary positions of Force Intervention and Prevention lead and Commander for Corporate Integrated Offender Management.

As Head of Force Criminal Investigations Department, Rachel delivered a change programme which brought all investigative functions, from Homicide to those previously delivered by Local Policing Commands, into a Force-wide investigative model and saw the creation of additional disciplines focusing on harm prevention, diversion and vulnerability. Later as Temporary ACC for the Crime Portfolio, Rachel had responsibility for Forensics, Criminal Justice Services; Force CID; Public Protection and Intelligence.  

Most recently, Rachel has been working for the NPCC on police pay and conditions, pay reform and the Police Uplift Programme. 

Rachel lives in Worcestershire with her partner and young daughter.

Herefordshire Council leaders have agreed in principle to spend £4.5m on buying Maylord Shopping Centre in Hereford

Council officers say the purchase would give them the opportunity to develop the site in line with their plans to grow the county’s economy.

They expect the rental income from the property to cover maintenance and running costs, leaving a surplus cash return for the council to meet its key priorities.

According to council documents the cost of purchasing the premises and paying stamp duty amounts to £4.25m while the purchasing costs and legal fees amount to £200,000 and £50,000 respectively.

The council’s decision report says it will need an agent to manage the site who would provide a fully managed service dealing with the rental and the maintenance requirements.

They say an agent would provide them with the expertise for managing the commercial elements of the site.

They believe the management company’s fees would be covered by the rental income.

However, a number of councillors are concerned about purchasing properties at such an uncertain time for the economy when the valuation at present and immediate future is questionable.

The decision to purchase the freehold premises is subject to the chief finance officer being satisfied that appropriate heads of terms have been agreed, due diligence has been completed and the purchase provides value for money.

The director economy and place, in consultation with the cabinet member commissioning, procurement and assets, has been authorised to complete the acquisition and to take all operational decisions necessary to appoint a management company.

Source: Sunshine Radio

As you now have to pay for most things in life it comes as no surprise that the Internet is now a cash cow. Companies which once put information and news into the public domain to attract business from potential clients now expect you to pay up front to tell you they can help you. I have always said that before the internet if you were interested in something, you went out of your way to specifically find out more information or purchase the item. Now the marketing pattern has evolved in that these businesses now throw everything at you and you have to waste more time sifting through a tsunami of irrelevant matter which you have no interest in. The pressure to take out subscriptions and register means that we now have to be particularly discerning onto what we log on to. Having gone to so many sites with articles masked out and increased pop up ads, I now only bookmark about half a dozen sites and these will most probably be censored in the coming year as these corporations working with the government regulators/agencies only allow sites to promote their own narratives. It won't be long before we will watching sponsors' programmes with possibly some news or entertainment thrown in. Everything will be presented by celebrities, with political leanings, to inform us what is proper and correct - even the BBC is showing a lack of impartiality through its news reporters and commentators.

The BBC is holding interviews for a new Director General, supposedly this coming month, with four applicants on the interview list. I predict that one applicant looks highly likely to get the job - Will Lewis, the outgoing chief executive of the publisher of the Wall Street Journal. In 2010, following his time at the Telegraph, Mr Lewis became group general manager of News Group Newspapers (NGN), the publishers of the News of the World and the Sun, and was there at the height of the phone hacking scandal. Today he is accused of aiding the concealment and destruction of millions of emails relating to phone hacking at the News of the World and the Sun. It is ironic that News Group newspapers is owned by Rupert Murdoch who has shown interest in "taking over" the BBC and Mr Lewis could be the man to help achieve his. Ironically the government also has a say in who can be appointed to the BBC. So maybe we will be subscribing for individual programmes authorised by our government.

Mr Lewis, while editor of The Daily Telegraph, did expose the Expenses Scandal in 2009 when a person unknown in a government office copies an entire terabyte of data from a classified computer to a portable hard drive, which is then whisked away from under the noses of colleagues and security alike and ­spirited out of Westminster. That hard drive contains revelatory material – all the expense claims made by 646 members of parliament over the last five years. Two million documents in all, including copies of expense claim forms, handwritten comments scrawled in margins, even attached sticky notes. 

That the person who gave the files to The Daily Telegraph in 2009 had connections with Hereford shows that there are people who are willing to expose a system, rotten to the core and able to expose the corruption. Whether they do it for purely moral/ethical reasons or for personal gain is not important. In the future we are less likely to get real news and the truth behind government and corporations financial motives.

So it does look true that no news is good news. 

Well done to the Herefordshire Council street cleansing teams who have been making the most of the lower levels of traffic on the network on the A40. In just 3 days, 4.5 tonnes of litter and road debris was removed by their sweepers and litter pickers. 

Please help keep it this way, take your litter home!

The NPCC National Speed Operation is now in full swing for the next 2 weeks.

West Mercia Police aim is to educate people on the dangers of speeding to reduce the amount of people dying on our roads.

Please, watch your speed.

McDonalds Drive-Thru Reopening Next Week. 🍔🍟🥤

We have been reliably informed that the Belmont Road 'Drive-Thru' could reopen from as early as Monday or Tuesday, initially offering a limited menu. 

This follows the news that KFC will reopen in Hereford next Wednesday.

Have you missed your fast food in Hereford and which is your favourite?

Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service crews called to a large barn fire at Lawton near kingsland. 

6 pumps from 3 brigades worked through the night to stop the fire spreading. Crews will remain on site today.

A huge thank you to everyone at Covid-19 support in Herefordshire. You have given local people across our county a invaluable service for the past 10 weeks.

Give yourselves a massive round of applause 👏👏👏

📄 A statement on their page reads; 👇

Quote

It's been a great privilege supporting those in need within Herefordshire during the COVID-19 pandemic but unfortunately we are suspending our services from Sunday 24th May.

Don't worry, for anyone still in need of cooked meals please contact Meals on Wheels, Herefordshire by Bake and Create.

We will be sending out menus and information flyers with tomorrows delivery so PLEASE READ!!!

We have delivery around 4480 cooked meals, desserts and approximately ,plus’s 400 food packages to people in need!!!

So a big thank you to all those that have donated produce, money and time to the cause over the last 10 weeks.

All the best COVID-19 Support in Herefordshire Volunteers!

Light Aircraft Crash Landing Near Kingsland.

Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service with crews from Kingsland, Leominster, Hereford fire stations all attended the light aircraft incident, near Shirl Heath, Kingsland.

Crews from Droitwich and Malvern stood down en route when the scale of incident was assessed by initial crews.

The incident involved light aircraft crash landing on field. One person self rescued prior to arrival, uninjured thankfully.

Aircraft has been made safe.