Hereford Voice

Damien Lucas, 36, of New Street in Leominster was sentenced to 92 months in prison at Hereford Crown Court on Tuesday 23 May when he pleaded guilty to eight charges of:

1: Attempt to arrange / facilitate the commission of child sex offence - rape / assault by penetration of child under 13 (26/10/2022)

2: Make indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child (23/06/2021) Particulars: 114 Cat A images

3: Make indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child (23/06/2021) Particulars: 58 Cat B images

4: Make indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child (23/06/2021) Particulars: 270 Cat C images

5: Make indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child (28/02/2023) Particulars: 85 Cat A images

6: Make indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child (28/02/2023) Particulars: 101 Cat B images

7: Distribute an indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child (26/10/2022) Particulars: 1 Cat B image

8: Make indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child (28/02/2023) Particulars: 279 Cat C images

Detective Inspector Matt McNelis said: “The strength of this 7 year sentence sends a strident message to online child sex offenders across the country. The possession, making and distribution of indecent images of children and the grooming of children to provide opportunities to commit contact offences are abhorrent crimes that we are fighting hard to prevent every day. Damien LUCAS pleaded guilty to having hundreds of images including 199 Category A images. Each of these depicts the rape and / or torture of a child. The possession and sharing of these images and videos re-victimises each child in perpetuity and we continue to work with partners, including Lucy Faithfull Foundation and Family Matters, to stamp out this vile trade in human misery.”

If you have been affected by child sexual abuse, you can contact police on 101 and speak to a police officer in confidence.

We recognise that not everyone has the confidence to speak to police, but there are support services available that can help you if you are a victim of abuse.

Anyone who has experienced abuse in childhood or is concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC helpline confidentially on 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk. Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111.

Karen and Alex wrote to us today;

"Hi Colin,

We are the newest bar on bridge street situated between the Left Bank Village and The Tipsy Kat, lovely out door seating area with garden bar that opens over summer period, we offer free event hire (subject to conditions).

Perfect for hen, stags , parties , weddings , christening , wakes .

We have a small indoor play area to keep little ones entertain and offer a meal deals to keep the cost down. 

Open Monday to Sunday and later nights on a Friday and Saturday 

Thank you" 

Great to see the former unit previously occupied by The Den to be open again with this new and exciting business. 

Call in and say hi and on a gorgeous day like today try the ICE CREAM!! 🍧🍨🍦

Hereford Voice wish Karen and Alex all the very best and look forward to sampling that ice cream for ourselves! 

Hereford has some superb restaurants, pubs, bars and venues and this is another welcome addition to our fantastic city! 

The decision was made in March 2022 and was published by Herefordshire Council yesterday. 

The £130,000 contract was awarded to local builders S C Joseph Ltd.

Decision Title

Award a contract to carry out building improvements including window frame repairs, localised rainwater good repairs and works to the external canopy at Governor’s House, Hereford, up to a value of £130,000

Decision Made

This decision is to award the contract to S C Joseph to carry out these works to the Governor’s House, Hereford, following the completion of a successful tender, evaluation and moderation process.

Works to include carrying out building improvements including window frame repairs, localised rainwater good repairs and works to the external canopy

To approve the works expenditure of up to £130,000 which includes £9,400.75 contingency and £14,101.13 for professional fees.

Responsibility for delivering works to be carried out by the Capital Senior Project Manager within the spend budget of the Capital Building Improvement Programme

Reason For Decision

These works are part of the Capital Building Improvement Programme 2022/25.

The required improvement works have been assessed and prioritised based upon select criteria which covers health & safely, operational need/impact and lifecycle/value

Full details HERE

Full Council yesterday announced how Herefordshire Council will be governed in the 2023/24 municipal year.

Councillor Jonathan Lester has been elected Leader of Herefordshire Council,

Councillor Roger Phillips is Chairperson of the Council and Councillor Stef Simmons is Vice-Chairperson of the Council.

Full Council also appointed Herefordshire Council’s committee chairpersons, confirmed as:

Audit and governance committee
Chairperson: Councillor David Hitchiner
Vice-Chairperson: Councillor Aubrey Oliver

Children and young people scrutiny committee
Chairperson: Councillor Toni Fagan
Vice-Chairperson: Councillor Liz Harvey

Connected communities scrutiny committee
Chairperson: Councillor Ellie Chowns
Vice-Chairperson: Councillor Ed O’Driscoll

Employment panel committee
Chairperson: Councillor Jonathan Lester
Vice-Chairperson: Councillor Ellie Chowns

Environment and sustainability scrutiny committee
Chairperson: Councillor Louis Stark
Vice-Chairperson: Councillor Helen Heathfield

Health, care and wellbeing scrutiny committee
Chairperson: Councillor Pauline Crockett
Vice-Chairperson: Councillor Kevin Tillett

Planning and regulatory committee
Chairperson: Councillor Terry James
Vice-Chairperson: Councillor Clare Davies

Scrutiny management board
Chairperson: Councillor Liz Harvey
Vice-Chairperson: Councillor Jenny Bartlett

Licensing sub-committee
Chairperson: Councillor Polly Andrews

Herefordshire Council have recently introduced QR codes displayed at over 500 bus stops across the county, providing instant information on the next bus due at your stop.

Much of this will be in 'real time' so you can see exactly when your bus is on its way!

Happy retirement PD Stevie! 

This one took 4 minutes ...

Photo: SWNS

Judge Nicholas Cole at Worcester Crown Court this afternoon slammed the farmer for his 'outrageous behaviour' but reduced his sentence by 2 months down to 10 months.

The farmer from Kingsland was sentenced to 12 months in jail by a district judge last month following the destruction of 1.5km of the protected River Lugg in 2020

Photograph courtesy of Jon Simpson

Following a 'Freedom Of Information' request made by Hereford Voice we can now outline the costs the Showman's Guild (May Fair) pay to Herefordshire Council (flat fees) for the duration of the May Fair in both 2022 and 2023 Hereford and Leominster;

• Hereford - £43,000
• Leominster - £7,000
• Total £50,000

The prices are paid are for each year 20220/2023 - £100,000 in total.

The Showman’s Guild do not pay for the removal of street furniture.

In 2022 the costs for the temporary relocation of street furniture and their return was £8,331.88. The costs of this for 2023 are not yet known at the time of writing. The cost associated with the removal of street furniture is always paid via the Public Realm contract. 

West Mercia Police are appealing for witnesses following a collision between a car and pedestrian at Hereford Country bus station yesterday afternoon.

At around 4.45pm yesterday (Monday 15 May) a grey Ford Mondeo collided with a pedestrian at the junction of Union Walk and the exit of the bus station.

The pedestrian, a 76-year-old man, was taken to hospital with injuries which are not believed to be life-threatening.

We’re keen to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time and may have seen the collision or have dash-cam footage.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Insp Darren Godsall on 07976939109 or darren.godsall@westmercia.police.uk quoting incident reference 376i of 15 May 2023

Herefordshire Council and its partner, Balfour Beatty Living Places (BBLP), are working together this spring and summer to maintain roadside verges in a way that will ensure the safety of road users while improving local biodiversity.

Road verge flora is deteriorating in many parts of the UK, with the decline, in part, down to the way we cut and manage verge habitat. Across the UK, cutting generally begins in the spring and is repeated in the summer so that few plants have a chance to set seed before the mowers return.

Combined with the practice of leaving cut vegetation to rot down in situ, this has caused a decline in roadside species and an increase in weed species such as nettles, cow parsley and hogweed, which is bad news for wildflower numbers and diversity.

It is also bad for populations of bees, beetles and butterflies that rely on these plants for food, and for the birds that eat these invertebrates.

A rural county like Herefordshire has the opportunity to value our verges by encouraging the verge to become a natural habitat for a wide range of plants, flowers, insects and other animals.

Ross Cook, Herefordshire Council Corporate Director of Economy and Environment, said: “The council and BBLP have been working with the group Verging on Wild for a number of years to improve how we manage our roadside verges. We first and foremost need to keep our roads safe, but it’s possible to do this in a way that also promotes biodiversity.”

You can report overgrown verges that are affecting visibility via the council website or by calling 01432 261800.

Details can be found on the Government website HERE

The new Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) will have the capacity to do 38,000 tests, examinations, and scans annually will open in Hereford later this year, the Government has confirmed.

Six new community diagnostic centres to deliver more than 500,000 lifesaving checks a year.

New CDCs to open in regions across the UK, adding to the 106 centres already up and running and helping to cut NHS waiting lists.

Tens of thousands of patients across the country are set to benefit from six new community diagnostic centres (CDCs) opening this year – with the ‘one-stop shops’ due to deliver more than 500,000 additional tests, checks and scans a year.

Cutting waiting lists is one of the government’s key priorities and the six new CDCs will offer patients a wider range of diagnostic tests closer to home, reducing the need for hospital visits and getting them the care they need sooner.

Regions including the East of England, Midlands and the South East will benefit with all new centres open to patients before the end of the year – with the government investing £2.3 billion to deliver up to 160 across England by 2025.

The new centres include:

• North Lincolnshire CDC – situated in a car park in Scunthorpe town centre, the facility will offer more than 146,000 additional checks a year. This will include ultrasound checks, blood tests and CT and MRI scans.
• Pitsea CDC – opening in the next few months it will provide up to 46,000 tests, checks and scans a year. Located in a retail park, it will boost the number of endoscopy rooms in the regions for cancer patients and offer potentially life-saving CT and MRI scans
• Ilkeston Community Hospital (Walton) CDC – providing more than 100,000 tests, checks and scans per year It will be based at Walton NHS Community Hospital and give patients access to ultrasound checks, X-rays and cardiology and respiratory diagnostics.
• North Solihull CDC - Set to open in Winter 2023, the new CDC will be based on a commercial retail site in Chelmsley Wood, North Solihull. It will offer access to MRI, CT and X-ray scans, along with cardiology and respiratory diagnostics – delivering 116,000 tests, checks and scans a year.
• Hereford City CDC – opening in winter, the new CDC will be based on an NHS community hospital site in the city. It will offer MRI, CT and X-ray scans, alongside ultrasound and respiratory checks, alongside blood tests – delivering 38,000 tests, checks and scans a year.
• Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley CDC - the facility, a refurbishment of Livingstone Community Hospital in Dartford, will offer access to ultrasound checks, blood tests, along with CT and MRI scans. Opening in Autumn 2023, it will deliver over 96,000 tests, checks and scans.

Following a referral from a GP or consultant, patients will be able to get their symptoms checked much closer to home and receive a diagnosis for a range of conditions such as cancer, heart or lung disease, rather than travelling to hospital. This is not only more convenient for patients, it is also more efficient for staff and will free up clinician time to help further cut the waiting lists.

So far, 106 community diagnostic centres are open across England, including three temporary sites, in a variety of settings including shopping centres and university campuses, and the CDC programme has delivered over 3.8 million additional tests, checks and scans since July 2021. 32 other facilities are due to open before the end of the year.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

“I have pledged to cut waiting lists and these new Community Diagnostic Centres will do exactly that. By offering checks, tests and scans closer to home, we can speed up the diagnosis of illnesses like cancer and heart disease and ensure patients get their treatment quickly.

“These centres revolutionise the way the NHS delivers care and crucially, they are saving lives.”

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

“We know early diagnosis and treatment leads to better outcomes for patients, which is why these centres are so vital.

“Based in the heart of communities, they are making it easier for people to access life-saving checks and cutting out unnecessary hospital visits.

“They have already made a huge difference, delivering nearly four million tests, checks and scans since the programme started in July 2021, helping to deliver on the government’s commitment to cut waiting lists.”

Dr Vin Diwakar, NHS Medical Director for Transformation, said:

“The NHS delivered a record 2.3 million diagnostic tests in March, up more than 128,000 on the previous monthly record, thanks to the hard work and dedication of our staff.

“These new CDCs will continue to increase access to care by providing vital scans, X-rays, endoscopies and blood tests closer to patients’ homes, building on the progress we have already made to drive down the longest waits and diagnose cancer earlier.”

As a result of this, and wider measures, the government successfully met the first target in its Elective Recovery Plan to virtually eliminate waits of over two years and has cut 18 month waits by over 91% from the peak in September 2021.

Further action to cut waiting lists and offer patients quicker access to healthcare include the government’s publication of its Primary Care Recovery Plan which will get rid of the 8am rush for GP appointments, enable patients to get prescriptions and medication directly from a pharmacy without a GP appointment, free up around 15 million GP appointments over the next two years and improve patient access to their own medical records through the NHS App.

Area Commander Sam Pink, Hereford Station Commander Alex Hustwayte and Watch Commander Ady Morris with the plaque.

There was not an empty seat anywhere! 

The Cathedral was packed full of people for the memorial service of David Morris and John Davies who died in a factory fire in the city almost 30 years ago. 

Jon Pryce Chief Fire Officer & Chief Executive for Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said following the service;

"An incredible privilege to speak tonight at Hereford Cathedral to commemorate the installation of a permanent memorial to David Morris and John Davies who lost their lives fighting a fire in Hereford city 30 years ago. Thanks to all who worked so hard to arrange this service"

Chief Fire Officer Jon Pryce with the plaque in the Lady Arbour.

Mark, Stuart and Paul representing Leominster Fire Station at the presentation of a memorial plaque to John Davies and David Morris at Hereford Cathedral. A heart felt address given by CFO John Pryce remembering the sacrifice given at Sun Valley on 6th September 1993.

Photographs courtesy of Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service.

'Thank You For Your Service'

Two men have been sent to prison for an assault that happened in 2018

Darren Sutton, 30 years-old, of Dry Thistle Close in Bromyard in Herefordshire was sent to prison for four years.

Samuel Walker, 27-years-old, C/o HMP Hewell - formerly of Kenwater Close in Leominster in Herefordshire was sent to prison for 30 months.

Both men were both found guilty at Worcester Crown Court on Wednesday 26 April after a 7-day trial.

The court heard how the two men attacked the victim at his house in Leominster in the early hours of 4 September 2018, during the attack they kicked the victim to the head and body leaving him unconscious with a fractured eye socket and ribs and heavy bruising to his whole body.

Investigating officer Police Constable Stefan Hawes, Hereford Safer Neighbourhood team said: “This has been a long and drawn-out case with delays due to covid and other extenuating circumstances, so we are pleased to finally close this case. This was a violent attack that caused serious injuries to the victim. We are pleased that these two dangerous individuals have now been put before the court for these charges. Incidents like this have no place in society and we won’t hesitate to apprehend and seek prosecution those responsible and, in this case, however long it takes!”

After the unexpected Herefordshire election result, everything changed at the top.

Following yesterday's (May 4) elections, the Conservatives defied the national trend to become the largest party in Herefordshire, but they still lack a general majority in the county.

In the 53-seat council, the party gained 21 seats, up from 14, but fell short of the 27 needed for an absolute majority.

🟩 Ledbury West ward - Justine Haslewood: GREEN GAIN
🟩 Leominster South ward - Mark Woodall: GREENS RETAIN
🔷Three Crosses ward - Jonathon Lester: LOCAL CONSERVATIVES RETAIN.
🔷 Leominster West ward - Allan Merlyn: CONSERVATIVE GAIN
🔷 Kings Acre ward - Robert Geofrey Charles Williams: CONSERVATIVE GAIN.
◽ Ledbury North ward - IT'S OUR COUNTY INDEPENDENT RETAIN
🔶 Red Hill ward - Dan Powell LIBERAL DEMOCRATS GAIN
🔶 Widemarsh ward - Polly Andrews: LIBERAL DEMOCRATS RETAIN.
◽ Tupsley ward - Jim Kenyon: INDEPENDENT RETAIN
🔶 Newton Farm ward - Jacqui Carwardine: LIBERAL DEMOCRATS GAIN 
🟩 Ledbury South ward - Stef Simmons: GREEN GAIN
🔷 Bromyard West ward - John Stone: CONSERVATIVE RETAIN
◽ Stoney Street ward - David Hitchiner: INDEPENDENTS RETAIN 
🔶 Ross East ward - Ed O'Driscoll: LIBERAL DEMOCRATS GAIN.
🔶 Ross West ward - Louis Stark: LIBERAL DEMOCRATS RETAIN.
🟪 Whitecross ward - Dave Boulter: IT'S OUR COUNTY RETAIN.
🔷 Hampton ward - Bruce Allen Baker: LOCAL CONSERVATIVES GAIN.
🔷 Weobley ward - Nicholas Mason: LOCAL CONSERVATIVES GAIN.
🔷 Penyard ward - Harry Bramer: LOCAL CONSERVATIVES GAIN.
◽ Hagley ward - Ivan Glenn James Powell: INDEPENDENT RETAIN.
🔷 Golden Valley North ward - David Phillip Price: LOCAL CONSERVATIVES GAIN.
🟩 Leominster East ward - Jenny Bartlett: GREEN PARTY RETAIN
🔷 Kerne Bridge ward - Simeon Wood: CONSERVATIVE GAIN.
🔶 Saxon Gate ward - Aubrey Oliver: LIBERAL DEMOCRAT GAIN.
◽ Golden Valley South ward - Peter Charles Jinman: INDEPENDENT RETAIN.
🔷 Old Gore ward - Barry Alan Durkin: LOCAL CONSERVATIVE RETAIN 
🔷 Mortimer ward - Carole Gandy: LOCAL CONSERVATIVES RETAIN.
🟩 Hope End ward - Helen Ruth Heathfield: GREEN PARTY GAIN.
🔷 Llangarron ward - Elissa Jane Swinglehurst: LOCAL CONSERVATIVES RETAIN
🔶 College ward - Ben Proctor: LIBERAL DEMOCRAT GAIN
◽ Credenhill ward - Bob Matthews: INDEPENDENT RETAIN
🔷 Castle ward - Robert Arnold Highfield, LOCAL CONSERVATIVES GAIN.
🟩 Greyfriars ward - Diana Toynbee: GREEN PARTY RETAIN.
◽ Eign Hill ward - Elizabeth Mary Foxton: INDEPENDENT RETAIN.
🔶 Belmont Rural ward - Mark Eden Dykes: LIBERAL DEMOCRATS GAIN.
🔶 Ross North ward - Chris Bartrum: LIBERAL DEMOCRATS RETAIN.
🔷 Bircher ward - Dan Hurcomb: CONSERVATIVE GAIN.
🔷 Bromyard & Bringsty ward - Peter John Stoddart: LOCAL CONSERVATIVES RETAIN.
🟩 Bishops Frome & Cradley ward - Ellie Chowns: GREEN PARTY RETAIN.
🔷 Backbury ward - Graham Russell Biggs: CONSERVATIVES GAIN.
🔷 Wormside ward - Richard John Thomas: CONSERVATIVES RETAIN.
🟩 Central ward - Catherine Ruth Gennard: GREEN PARTY RETAIN.
🟥 Aylestone Hill ward - Adam Spencer: LABOUR PARTY GAIN.
◽ Bromyard West ward - Clare Davies: NO POLITICAL PARTY RETAIN.
🔶 Hinton & Hunderton ward - Kevin Tillett: LIBERAL DEMOCRATS RETAIN
🟩 Birch ward - Toni Anne Fagan: GREEN PARTY RETAIN.
🔷 Dinedor Hill ward - David Eirian Davies: CONSERVATIVE GAIN
🔷 Holmer ward - Frank Cornthwaite: CONSERVATIVE RETAIN 
🔶 Bobblestock ward - Robert Charles Owens: LIBERAL DEMOCRAT GAIN
🔶 Kington ward - Terence Morgan, James: LIBERAL DEMOCRATS RETAIN.
🔷 Roger James Phillips: CONSERVATIVES RETAIN.
🔷 Peter Bryce: CONSERVATIVE RETAIN

A 36 year old man has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 18 years for the murder of his friend in Ross-on-Wye in October 2022.

Kestutis Lekunas, 36, of Bluebell Close, was sentenced today, Thursday 4 May at Worcester Crown Court.

He was found guilty of murdering Nerijus Liukpetris on 28 March 2023.

On 2 October 2022, Lekunas stabbed his friend, 40-year-old Nerijus Liukpetris, on Bluebell Close in Ross-on-Wye following a disagreement.

The pair had been at a party at Lekunas’ house that evening and after stepping outside became involved in an argument.

Following the argument, an altercation took place where Nerijus assaulted Lekunas. Lekunas then went back into the house and came back outside with a knife, where he delivered the fatal stab wound to Nerijus’s neck.

Senior investigating officer, Detective Inspector Steve Cook, said: “I’m pleased that the case has concluded today and that Lekunas will now pay the price for his actions on that night back in October.

“This case is a devastating example of the consequences which can come from a split-second decision when tensions are high.

“Our thoughts remain with Nerijus’s family at this difficult time.”

A Ludlow man has been sentenced to 32 months in prison after the court heard how he deliberately gave amphetamine to a disabled 9-year-old boy who had been left in his care.

Leon Daniel Weaver, 40-years-old, of Middleton Sidings in Middleton appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court on Wednesday 26 April and pleaded guilty to the charges of Cause assault, ill treatment, neglect, abandonment of child/young person to cause unnecessary suffering/injury and possession of a controlled drug of Class B.

The court heard how the offence became known when Weaver had been filmed covertly due to suspicions he had been cheating on his partner. In the video shown in court he is seen dropping amphetamine into a can of drink before shaking it and saying to the boy “Do you want some of this little man?”

On handing Weaver a prison term Judge David Hale said: “To deliberately give amphetamine to a nine-year-old, grossly disabled child is unforgivable. I expect that you now are horrified that you did it and cannot understand how you could come to do it or what you were thinking. But you did it. “It was a deliberate disregard for his welfare. It is beyond belief. It really was unbelievable conduct.”

The boy’s mother Terri Smith, 38-years-old of Wheat Common in Ludlow also appeared in court and pleased to guilty to charges of Assault, ill treatment, neglect and abandon a child/young person to cause unnecessary suffering/injury. The court heard how she did not take the boy to hospital until the next day.

Smith was sentenced to a community order for 18 months which, as part of its terms, included completing 6 months of alcohol abuse treatment and completing 20 days of rehabilitation which will involve completing various activities set by the Probation Service.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Karena Evans, Protecting Vulnerable People team, said: “This was a horrifying incident and hard to comprehend that someone would do something so awful to a disabled child. Thankfully, the little boy has survived his ordeal and he has now been safeguarded.”

West Mercia Police are looking for a key witness to come forward after a little girl was assaulted in Hereford.

At around 7.15pm on Saturday 29 April police were called to an incident of public order near to the Tesco store in Bewell Street in Hereford.

A man was arrested for drunk and disorderly and assault and remains in police custody.

During the incident a little girl aged 4/5-year-old, who we believed was with her father, was assaulted. We are appealing for this man who intervened in the incident to please come forward and speak to us or anyone who was in the area at the time who saw what happened to contact us.

Anyone with information is asked to please contact PC Thomas Henry on 07773 052979 or by email Thomas.henry@westmercia.police.uk

If you have information but do not 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 I.P address. You can contact them online or by calling 0800 555 111.

District ward and parish, town and city council elections take place on Thursday 4 May 2023

Polls open on Thursday 4 May 2023 for the local government elections.

Councillor elections for all 53 district ward seats which make up Herefordshire Council will take place.

Thursday will also see elections for Herefordshire’s parish, town and city council elections.

Due to the number of contested district and parish elections, counting of the votes will be on Friday 5 May 2023. The district election vote count will be completed in the morning, followed by the parish council vote count in the afternoon.

Local government elections select councillors who are responsible for making decisions on running services in your local area. These include housing, education, transport, highways, planning, social care and waste management.

Polling stations open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday 4 May 2023. All polling stations in Herefordshire are accessible and polling station staff are trained to help in any way they can. A magnifying glass, a blind selector device and a copy of the ballot paper in large format are available in every polling station. These elections will be the first time that voter ID will be required to be shown by all voters at a polling station. This has been introduced under the Elections Act 2022.

Postal votes must be received by 10pm on Thursday 4 May 2034. If you miss the post, you can hand it in to the electoral team at Hereford Town Hall or at any polling station in the electoral area before 10pm on Thursday 4 May 2023.

Find out who is standing for election in your ward or parish on the Herefordshire Council website www.herefordshire.gov.uk/elections-1/elections-4-may-2023

Further information about voter ID can be found at www.herefordshire.gov.uk/voterID

This was obviously an April Fool Joke, hope you enjoyed..

18 hours ago, Adrian Smith said:

Hotel now at capacity with young single males apparently.

Yes this is also our understanding.

In the first major success for the innovative Phosphate Credits scheme, planning permission has been granted for the development of 8 new ‘nutrient neutral’ homes in the River Wye & Lugg catchment area. This means that, when built, no additional phosphate will be added to our rivers.

In a world-first, the council is in the process of creating a number of Integrated Wetlands specifically for the purpose of removing phosphates before they reach our rivers, which will enable the damaging ban on development in a large area of the county to be lifted. The wetlands will create ‘Phosphate Mitigation Credits’ for developers to use.

The new Phosphate Credit Trading system enables developers to buy credits generated by the reduced pollution from operation of the wetlands. This will mitigate the phosphate generated by new developments. In this way it is possible to ensure that the overall effect of new development is what’s called ‘nutrient neutral’

The Wetlands are not just about helping new development. Twenty percent of the reduction has been reserved for river betterment. The Council still expects all polluters to meet their fair share of reductions and is working with statutory partners and the agricultural industry for the right tools and regulatory arrangements to enable this to happen.

The development of 8 new self-build homes to the West of the B4361, Luston, was submitted by the award-winning local construction company, Border Oak, and will be the first such ‘credit-based’ approval.

As well as being nutrient neutral, the development will be built from natural, low carbon materials, and have super high insulation values, with additional water conservation and efficiency measures. Air source heat pumps, underfloor heating and electric charging facilities will also be provided. The project also includes a new native orchard, made up of locally historic varieties of fruit trees, the provision of additional habitat features including native hedges, new trees, wide grass verges and wild spaces – designed to support wildlife and integrate the scheme into its edge of village location.

Merry Albright, Creative Director at Border Oak, said: “Border Oak are thrilled to be the first scheme to pay for the wetland credits and are very proud of the local construction industry who have always been willing to pay for the wetlands in their entirety. We are also delighted to support a nature based solution that delivers wider ecological benefits for biodiversity and carbon and thank all those who worked on this proposal over many years.

“We support the council’s work to find more meaningful actions to reverse the failing catchment by tackling the larger sources of pollution but appreciate the release of some housing while this work takes place.”

The Cabinet Commission for the Restoration of the Wye is also continuing to work closely with neighbouring counties and partner organisations to help develop a long term plan to reduce nutrient pollution and restore the county’s rivers.

Natural England and Environment Agency see justice delivered for nature as landowner sentenced for destruction of part of the River Lugg in Herefordshire.

• Natural England and the Environment Agency welcome the sentencing of John Price for the destruction of 1.5km of the protected River Lugg in 2020
• Habitats of otters, kingfishers, trout and salmon were among those destroyed
• The damage is the worst case of riverside destruction seen by the organisations and could take several decades to be fully restored
• This is the first prosecution under Farming Rules for Water

Natural England and the Environment Agency have today welcomed the seriousness with which the Court has treated the severe and lasting damage to the River Lugg, which destroyed habitats and wildlife on a stretch of one of the country’s most unspoiled rivers.

John Price appeared today at Kidderminster Magistrates Court where he was sentenced to 12 months in prison. He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £600,000 and disqualified from being a director of a limited company for three years. In addition, a Restoration Order under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 was imposed requiring Mr Price to carry out a number of actions to restore the river.

The sentence is the result of legal action launched last year by Natural England and the Environment Agency following a joint in-depth investigation into environmental harm caused by the work in 2020 and 2021.

The River Lugg before destruction by the landowne

Mr Price used heavy machinery including bulldozers and excavators to dredge and reprofile a 1.5km stretch of the River Lugg at Kingsland, Herefordshire, destroying the riverbed and banks. The unconsented works were in breach of several regulations, including the Reduction and Prevention of Agricultural Diffuse Pollution (England) Regulations 2018, also known as the Farming Rules for Water; and operations prohibited in the notification of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which persisted despite Mr Price being issued with a Stop Notice.

After destruction of area

Due to the exceptionally high diversity of wildlife, the River Lugg is a designated SSSI, with 121 river plant species that live in the river and provide habitat for invertebrates, fish and birds. The damage to the river and banks removed the habitats of hundreds of these species including otters, kingfishers and salmon as well as destroying trees, aquatic plant life and invertebrates. It is predicted to take decades to re-establish mature trees to provide the stability, cover and shade to restore the diversity of the river. Fish, plants, native crayfish and birds may take years to make a gradual return to previous populations.

In sentencing Mr Price, the Judge noted that neither the Environment Agency nor Natural England did anything to encourage these works.

Speaking after the verdict, Emma Johnson, Area Manager for Natural England said:

“The destruction of this section of the River Lugg was devastating for the abundance and range of species which thrived in this river. The River Lugg is one of the most iconic rivers in the UK and to see this wanton destruction take place was devastating. This is why we have used our powers as regulators to see that justice was done and to act as a stark warning to others that we will take the strongest action against those who do not respect the laws that protect the environment and wildlife we all cherish. “We want to ensure that Mr Price now takes the necessary actions which we hope, in time will restore this much-loved stretch of river to its former condition.”

Martin Quine, Environment Agency Place Manager for Herefordshire added:

“We welcome the outcome of this prosecution for the unconsented works on the River Lugg.

“The Environment Agency is working hard to restore the health of our rivers. It is a complex task that can only be achieved in partnership with landowners. We provide advice and guidance but will impose sanctions or prosecute where appropriate to protect the environment and ensure those who breach regulations are held to account. The vast majority of landowners and users fully cooperate with this process.

“While Mr Price’s justification for the works was to help prevent flooding to local properties, his actions did not have any flood prevention benefit. The destruction of river banks is not appropriate flood management. It is important that the Judge recognised that the works significantly weakened flood prevention measures rather than improved them.“We urge landowners never to take extreme measure such as this and instead to always work closely with the Environment Agency around river management to agree the best solutions for both landowners and the environment.”

As a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), the Lugg is afforded the highest level of environmental protection. Works to SSSIs or any watercourses must be done in such a way that protects the environment and does not cause any impact on flooding. Such works can only be undertaken after securing permits from the Environment Agency.