Here is one of our first drone images, capturing Hereford Cathedral during mist and fog, makes it look even more mystical!  

This is one of our favourite images and now time to buy a drone of our own! 

The official launch of a new Community Health Hub took place on Wednesday 18 December, attended by senior representatives from the Healthcare sector. These included leaders from NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire, Wye Valley NHS Trust, Healthwatch Herefordshire and the Herefordshire Councillor for Adult Health and Wellbeing, Carole Gandy.

Photo courtesy of Taurus Healthcare

Attendees heard from Dr Nigel Fraser, GP and Chairman of Taurus Healthcare, the GP Federation for Herefordshire. Dr Fraser outlined the vision behind the new Centre and the innovative way in which it had been financed (a mixture of Nat West Bank, Lombard Finance credit and the Federation’s own cash).

Dr Fraser said:

“The financing model we have used to purchase the premises is already attracting national interest due to its reduced reliance on public finance. Perhaps more importantly, by consolidating our operations under one roof, we are generating significant annual savings in premises costs.”

The Hub is located at Nelson House on Whitecross Road, close to Aldi and Sainsbury’s Supermarkets. It brings together partners from across Herefordshire’s healthcare system, enabling more collaboration and improved relationships, leading to better patient services and greater efficiency.

Teams from Wye Valley NHS Trust’s Community Response Hub, including the Urgent Community Response Service, and Healthwatch Herefordshire have been operating from the building for several weeks. The Out of Hours GP Service (which provides urgent GP support through NHS111 when surgeries are closed) also now operates from Nelson House, having moved here at the end of November.

Taurus purchased Nelson House earlier this year and the building has since undergone significant refurbishment. This includes the creation of a self-contained clinical unit with eight consulting rooms, conference and training facilities, meeting rooms and social spaces. Its corporate team is now based at the building, together with colleagues from Herefordshire General Practice and Herefordshire’s health and care system.

Simon Trickett, Chief Executive at NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire, said:

"The new centre is a great credit to the team – I know the work that must have gone on behind the scenes to get to this point.

“We are really committed across the whole system to integrate care more for patients and so that we can make accessing care more straightforward and understandable for Herefordshire residents. The new centre, based on a prominent junction at Whitecross Road, is a tangible demonstration to people that progress is being made towards this goal.”

After an official ribbon cutting ceremony conducted by three of the Federation’s longest serving members of the Out of Hours GP Service team, visitors were invited to tour the new facilities.

Jill Rowberry, Operational Shift Manager for Taurus (and one of those who performed the ribbon cutting ceremony), said:

"It’s so nice to have our own self-contained clinical space. The fact that we’re co-located with the administrative offices also really helps with joining up the care we provide.”

Additional teams and services are expected to move into the premises in the new year, including NHS Health Checks, diabetic eye screening and seasonal vaccination clinics.

On Friday 13th DECEMBER 2024, Leominster Safer Neighbourhood Team, along with colleagues from Hereford Safer Neighbourhood Team, Immigration and Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service conducted a joint operation at a disused warehouse on the Croft Business Park in LEOMINSTER.

Immigration had been conducted enquiries that had raised concerns to suggest that renovation work taking place at the site was not conforming to Health and Safety Regulations, that working conditions were poor, working hours inappropriate, safety for workers poor and potential living conditions poor also. Furthermore, information suggested that those persons undertaking the work may not have full legal status to do so.

Officers from Immigration and police had to force entry onto the site before conducting a thorough search of the large warehouse and associated buildings.

Several workmen were located on the premise along with another person of interest suspected to be associated to them.

Enquiries made at scene by Immigration and Police resulted in 8 persons being arrested on suspicion of immigration offences and 1 person being arrested in connection with Modern-Day Slavery Offences. Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue conducted a detailed examination of the site in respects of Health and Safety Regulations and Fire Safety Regulations with their findings being forwarded onto the appropriate support agency to progress.

I want to remind the community how important it is to raise any concerns you may have to the police or joint partner agencies.

Though there are matters above that are being investigated, the key message that comes out of this, is about challenging those that seek to control vulnerable people that want to make a better life for themselves and about upholding the high standards of safety, work and living conditions that most are all accustom too but not all can achieve.

This operation will have offered several people, help, support, and a chance to talk to authority which previously they may not have had or not known how too. At this time, an investigation is ongoing by Police and Immigration into the matters found at the location and I am sure you will understand that the nature of this is complex. I am therefore unable to offer any further update currently.

MandM, UK’s leading off-price retailer is proud to celebrate a remarkable 20-year partnership with Teenage Cancer Trust. Since 2005, MandM has provided unwavering support and donations to Teenage Cancer Trust through event sponsorship, staff fundraising, and corporate donations. This collaboration has reached an incredible milestone, with over £3 million raised to support young people facing cancer.

Mike Tomkins and Honorary patron Roger Mike Tomkins and Honorary patron Roger Daltrey CBE. Frontman of The Who

MandM’s contributions have been instrumental in providing critical resources, including the equivalent of funding 100,000 hours of expert care from Teenage Cancer Trust nurses. These nurses are trained to meet the unique clinical, social, and emotional needs of young people undergoing cancer treatment, helping them navigate one of the most challenging periods of their lives.

The funds raised through MandM’s ongoing initiatives have enabled Teenage Cancer Trust to provide vital care and services. Honorary Patron of Teenage Cancer Trust, Roger Daltrey, emphasised the impact of these contributions: "The work Teenage Cancer Trust does is life-changing and life-saving. Thanks to the unwavering support of partners like MandM, teenagers and young adults treated in Teenage Cancer Trust wards see significantly increased life expectancy. MandM’s dedication over two decades has helped ensure that young people get the specialist care they deserve, at a time when they need it most.”

Reflecting on this longstanding partnership, Mike Tomkins, Chairman of MandM, said: "It’s an honour for MandM to be Teenage Cancer Trust’s longest-standing corporate partner. Reaching the £3 million fundraising milestone is an incredible achievement for everyone and is a reflection of the passion and dedication of our employees, customers, and event participants who have supported this cause over the years. As we approach the 20th anniversary of our partnership, we are more committed than ever to supporting the charity and ensuring that young people with cancer have access to the expert care they need.”

MandM’s support extends beyond financial contributions. The company donates branded performance tops for Teenage Cancer Trust challenges, such as major running events and treks, helping thousands of participants proudly represent the charity. Staff members also enthusiastically participate in these events, embodying the company’s commitment to the cause.

Kate Collins, Chief Executive at Teenage Cancer Trust shared her appreciation for the partnership: "MandM has been an incredible partner to Teenage Cancer Trust over the last 20 years. Their dedication has had a profound impact, enabling us to provide essential services to thousands of young people across the UK. As we mark this milestone, we’re deeply grateful for their commitment and look forward to continuing our journey together.”

MandM’s contribution to Teenage Cancer Trust has allowed the charity to fund important projects and continue providing services that ensure young cancer patients receive the highest level of care. The £3 million raised is vital in helping the charity reach more young people and support them through their cancer journey.

As both organisations look ahead to the next chapter of their partnership, they remain focused on expanding their impact and continuing to support young people across the UK who are living with cancer.

A tractor driver has been arrested after being filmed driving through deep floodwater in Tenbury on Sunday, sending large waves crashing into businesses along Teme Street. The incident sparked outrage on social media. The 57-year-old driver was detained on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving but has since been released on bail.

In the video, the tractor appears to strike something, causing it to jolt, to the surprise of onlookers. Reports suggest the waves created by the tractor damaged windows and compromised flood defences.

A spokesperson for West Mercia Police said:

“I’d like to thank everyone who brought this incident to our attention, and to the local community for their co-operation and support yesterday while we carried our initial enquiries. I understand the upset and anger that the incident caused, and I hope that the arrest we made yesterday evening offers reassurance that we are actively investigating it. Officers will continue to be out and about in Tenbury in the coming days to assist the local community and our partner agencies with recovery efforts following the flooding.”

Herefordshire CAMRA, organisers of the popular Beer On The Wye Festival, have announced the event will not be running in 2025. The annual riverside festival, that has taken place in a marquee at Hereford Rowing Club since 2005, was due to take place next July.

Mark Haslam, Chair of the festival’s organising committee and original creator of the festival, had this to say:

“It is regrettable that this decision has had to be made, and I appreciate a lot of people are going to be disappointed: not just the many visitors who enjoy coming to the festival, but our small army of volunteers who work so hard to make it happen each year. However, it was difficult to see an alternative with so many changes and challenges that the festival currently faces.

“Over the next few months a number of significant changes are to be made to our site as part of improving the facilities at the festival’s Rowing Club home. Whilst the organising committee are comfortable that these alterations will not prevent us from running the festival in the future, we can see great merit in waiting for the works to be completed. This will then allow us to organise with 100% certainty based on with what is actually ‘on the ground’. It is vital to minimise all risks to the event, particularly as it involves a considerable financial outlay to stage.

“More significant is the fact we need more people to step-up and get involved in planning and organising the event. It’s ironic that over 130 unpaid volunteers were recruited to work at the festival this past summer, but we do not have enough bodies on the organising committee to do all the necessary planning in the months beforehand. We have now arrived at a situation where we have too few people trying to do too many tasks. An appeal has now gone out to our members and past festival volunteers to persuade more of them to get involved, and it is hoped that this will bring the ‘new blood’ that is needed onto the organising committee.

“With all these changes in the pipeline, it is also considered that now is the right time to undertake a thorough root and branch review of the festival. Such an exercise is long overdue, and to achieve this aim it is essential to stop the treadmill of monthly planning meetings, so as to provide the time and space for those on the organising committee to devote themselves to this important process.”

It is anticipated that Beer On The Wye Festival will return in July 2026.

Beer on the Wye takes place each July in a marquee adjacent to Hereford Rowing Club, HR4 0BE.

It is run by the Herefordshire Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) with the help of unpaid volunteers.

Next July’s event would have been the nineteenth Beer on the Wye festival.

In July 2024 it attracted in excess of 5,200 visitors, who between them consumed nearly 20,000 pints of beer, cider and perry.

The Beefy Boys Are opening In Bath! This is their 4th restaurant.

This is fabulous news following the boys recent success in the USA their Dirty Boy Burger was judged the 4th Best Burger In The World! (Although we think it's the best burger in the World )

The boys wrote of the Facebook page:

"IT'S OFFICIAL! We're firing up the grills at our 4th location! The worst-kept secret since dipping fries in milkshakes became a thing

Stay tuned for opening day details and exclusive launch surprises!"

Looking for the ideal Christmas Gift? They have their brilliant Cook Book and lots of other goodies - https://thebeefyboys.com

Great to see the boys continued success, good luck with the new store opening in early 2025!

𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗥𝗘 𝗙𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗗𝗦 | Flood water across Herefordshire begins to subside after storm Bert.

BBLP crews are prioritising the clean-up effort.

One of the crews are in Orleton clearing mud and debris before the road can be safely opened to the public.

• Thank you to the staff and everyone involved in the challenging work clearing it all up. 👏

Sad To See But Some Excellent Progress By Wye Valley Demolition

Half of the garden rooms have been demolished

Boiler Room gone! 

Full demolition work is expected to be completed by late January 2025.

Herefordshire Council has sent a clear message that repeated anti-social behaviour and environmental crime will not be tolerated, with the successful prosecution of a fly-tipper for breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO).

Mr Zackery Biddle was originally convicted of fly-tipping in 2022. Evidence presented in court showed that Bromyard Household Recycling Centre experienced repeated boundary fence damage between December 2023 and February 2024, allowing unauthorised entry. CCTV footage identified Mr. Biddle on-site with another individual carrying bolt cutters, a key factor in securing his conviction.

Charles Yarnold, Herefordshire Council’s Head of Regulation and Technical Services, said: “This conviction sends a strong message that Herefordshire Council will not tolerate persistent offending or anti-social behaviour. Criminal Behaviour Orders are crucial in holding repeat offenders accountable and reinforcing our commitment to a safe and clean community for all residents.”

Councillor Barry Durkin, Cabinet Member for Transport and Regulatory Services, added: “Our message is clear - persistent offenders who disregard the rules will face serious consequences. Herefordshire Council is fully committed to ensuring that anti-social and environmentally harmful behaviour is dealt with robustly. We will continue to take every step necessary to protect our communities and keep Herefordshire a safe place to live and work.”

Herefordshire Council’s Community Protection Team works proactively to investigate fly-tipping incidents and hold individuals accountable for waste-related crimes.

Residents are encouraged to report fly-tipping online at www.herefordshire.gov.uk/flytipping or by calling the council’s hotline 01432 261761

A man from Hereford who was jailed for producing cannabis has been ordered to pay back the proceeds of his crime or face more time in prison.

On the 8 June 2023, officers executed a warrant at Hereford Coach and Commercial Refinishers at Glebe Farm and discovered cannabis being grown within the premises. 270 cannabis plants were recovered with a value of £93,700.

The owner of the business, Andrew Mannion, of Orchard Meadow, Lower Eggleton, entered a guilty plea to 2 counts of being concerned in the production of cannabis and on the 25 August 2023, he was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment on count one and 6 months to run concurrently on count two.

At a Proceeds of Crime hearing at Worcester Crown Court on Tuesday 19 November, the 62-year-old was instructed to payback the proceeds of his crime amounting to £97,009.44. If he doesn’t, he was told he would receive another 2-year custodial sentence.

Detective Inspector Dan Fenn, from the Economic Crime and Cyber Unit, said: “I hope this is a strong message to those who think being involved in the production of drugs that we will be relentless in pursuing illicit funds that have been made from illegal activity.

“I would like to commend the financial investigator who worked tirelessly on this investigation. It is a good example of how our team will not leave any stone unturned and will continue to protect our communities from further harm”.

Thank you to Mark and all the team at Sunshine Radio and Hereford City Council for giving us full back stage access to today's fabulous show.

Check out some of these fabulous photographs of the show, and all you lovely people who turned up in their thousands despite the rain! Can you spot yourself?

Thank you to the girls from Eternal Group for your kindness and lovely hospitality, we even managed a selfie!

What a great show!!

Can someone please explain who planned out these traffic lights in Hereford they make no sense to be honest especially the pedestrian crossing near Asda they are going to cause traffic to plow in to traffic. The pedestrian lights should be either a pelican crossing or built further round the corner going towards Macdonald's. There are a few lights destinations take your pick very dangerous.

Hereford Voice understands that retailer Matalan will be opening a new store in the Old Market Hereford.

Re-fit works are planned to begin as soon as next week with the new store scheduled to open in October.

Matalan is a leading UK and international omnichannel fashion and homeware retailer, on a mission to be the first choice for outstanding family value.

With a large store network in excess of 270 UK and international stores and an integrated e-commerce platform, Matalan is a trusted brand which puts its customer at the heart of its business and delivers unrivalled product choice and exceptional style and quality to 11 million loyal shoppers every year.

Matalan is famously committed to offering a compelling value focused fashion and home offering, that continues to help millions of UK household budgets go further.

Matalan’s locations, late night openings, convenient parking, 'everything under one roof' offering and free click and collect service are just some of the reasons why our customers love shopping at Matalan.

𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗜𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁!

Companies are not connecting with their customers/clients at all on the phone. It so easy, just pick up the phone when it rings - No not some recorded message telling you are in a never ending queue or telling you to visit their website which doesn't contain the information you are looking for. Strange that when you need to make a payment you get straight through at once. Wait till we are connecting with AI robots when the local staff are sacked and offices closed and we are all floating around in the ether!

The jobs of more than half of the workforce at the DIY chain Homebase are at risk after the retailer's owners called in administrators following a failed attempt at a sale.

Homebase have a branch in Ledbury.

Its owner Hilco had been looking to sell the struggling retailer, but has not managed to find an outright buyer.

The owner of homeware chain The Range is buying up to 70 stores and the brand, safeguarding about 1,600 jobs.

This leaves 49 stores without a buyer, and thousands of jobs at risk in the stores and head office. Administrators Teneo declined to say which stores were at risk of closing at this stage.

Three Counties Hotel Demolition Latest Images

The demolition contractor is Wye Valley Demolition Ltd and the work is expected to be completed by late January 2025.

Admiral Taverns told me yesterday that the Broadleys is being sold. They wouldn't say any more. Does anyone know who to? I cannot find it listed for sale anywhere. It has now been removed from Admiral Taverns website.