Hereford Voice

We also broke the news in March 2021 that Herefordshire Council were unsuccessful in their first bid for e-scooter trials however, all is not lost because the Council have been advised that they are still being considered for any expansion of the trials, an option that could be with Beryl, who are already trialing e-scooters in various cites across England.

West Mercia Police Officers are appealing for witnesses following a fatal collision on the A465 Aylestone Hill. The collision happened around 11.45am on Monday 30 January, between a silver ford mondeo and a black bmw near to the junction with Bodenham Road. An 82-year old was taken to hospital following the collision. On Wednesday (15 February), we were informed he had sadly passed away due to his injuries. PC Lee Palmer, Operations Policing Unit “This is a very sad update to what initially appeared to be a non-serious injury, our thoughts are very much with the family of the man who has died.” Our appeal now is for anyone who witnessed the collision or has any information or dash-cam footage which may help with the investigation to call me on 101 extension 772 2068 or email lee.palmer@westmercia.pnn.police.uk

This evening we received a phone call about two broken down vehicles in Hereford causing some significant delays during rush hour. This time it took just 7 minutes to almost copy us word for word..

The Courtyard is delighted to announce it has been shortlisted for the FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards 2023 in the West Midlands in the Sustainability category. FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) is a non-profit organisation and the UK’s leading business campaigner, making real change happen for its members and the wider small business community. The awards celebrate the achievements and contributions of small businesses and the self-employed across the UK. “We are absolutely thrilled to be shortlisted for an award that recognises our hard work in this field.” Says Courtyard Operations Manager Phil Pearcy, “Art and culture are at the forefront of generating awareness to the Climate Emergency, and we plan to use our experience to help accelerate other small, local businesses on their own journeys to net zero.” In 2018 The Courtyard joined forces with other arts and cultural organisations in the UK and Herefordshire Council to declare a Climate and Ecological Emergency. The arts venue pledged to work with and support local communities, council, and stakeholders in urgently tackling this Climate Emergency, and call upon others to do the same. The Courtyard has also been working alongside Julie's Bicycle and is part of their initiative working with Arts Council England to develop plans for greener, cleaner, more sustainable arts projects across the country. Over the past 12 months, The Courtyard has improved its waste management, working with Pedicargo to ensure greater separation for recycling and maintain zero to landfill. The venue has also installed solar panels on the roof which now generates 20% of its own electricity, rolls out green riders to visiting companies, installed additional sustainable transport facilities and has partnered with Beryl Bikes to encourage cycling to the venue. In spring 2022, The Courtyard joined ‘30 for 2030’ an initiative that forms part of the Greener Footprints campaign launched by the Herefordshire Climate and Nature Action Partnership. The initiative saw 30 private, public and third sector employers in Herefordshire pledge to track their progress and achievements along the way to net zero emissions by 2030. The Courtyard works with its staff, stewards, and audience members to explore ways of decreasing its carbon footprint, through an Eco Group, staff training, Carbon Literacy and initiatives such as Good Journey. For more information about The Courtyard’s commitment to environmental sustainability, visit courtyard.org.uk/ the-courtyards-eco-declaration. The finals of the FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards for the West Midlands will be held on Wednesday 22 March 2023, where the winners will be announced.

Plans have been submitted by Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service for Leominster Police Station Proposal Proposed single storey extension to the existing police station to create additional vehicle garages and the construction of a new 2 storey specialist fire training area with associated works including at-grade external training area, hard and soft landscaping, car parking and cycle storage facilities. View from North West View from North East 📷 Bond Bryan

Vandals have decimated soon to blossom apple trees on the corner of the Herdsman Pub in blue School Street in what the Hereford Business Improvement District (HBID) describes as a “pointless act of sabotage”. Planted by the HBID team in 2021 and maintained on a regualr basis, Mike Truelove, Chief Executive of HBID said “sometime between Friday 3rd February and early Saturday morning our crab apple trees were pulled from their planters and broken into bits. It is such a shame when local businesses funded them to make the area look nice for visitors - they were quite established and about to blossom in the coming months’’. Discovered by Chris Wood, manager for HBID’s planting and street enhancement operations, Chris quickly went about repairing and replacing the trees that sit inside the four cedar wood planters lining Blue School Street, another investment by HBID in 2021 and 2022 . Chris said “one of HBID’s top priorities now is to get the city ready for Spring and we wouldn’t let something like this get in the way”. HBID is currently preparing for the arrival in May of over 450 hanging baskets and planters that will be given to HBID members who fund the company. Mike added “this year has been a challenge with rising prices and our previous fantastic supplier who sadly folded. Whilst the bar was set high, we have sourced a great product that I am confident will showcase the city and our businesses who invest to make Hereford the attractive place to visit and shop that it is”.

They are slacking a little bit as this one took them 15 mins..

The council has agreed the 2023/24 budget Following a period of public consultation held in the December of last year, and consideration by the Scrutiny Management Board, and Cabinet agreement, the 2023/24 budget proposals were today (10 February) approved by Council. The budget includes a council tax increase of 4.99%, made up of: A 2% adult social care precept which is ring-fenced to support the delivery of social care services A 2.99% increase in core council tax which will fund all other areas of council service This will increase the band D equivalent charge to £1,786.61 representing an increase of £7.08 a month. Councillor Liz Harvey, Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services, said: “It continues to be a challenging climate locally and nationally, and the pressure on Local Authorities across the country is as intense as ever. Council Tax makes up around a third of the Council’s budget, so this increase is needed to support the continued delivery of vital services across the county. “Our priority is to get the best possible value for every pound spent, but we acknowledge that with substantial increase in the cost living it is a difficult time for many local households. This is why we have ensured that the discount on the council tax reduction (CTR) scheme for any struggling family which qualifies will remain at 100% for the coming year – irrespective of the price banding of their home. “Additionally, some residents will continue to pay no Council Tax at all, such as young adults who have left care and also all of the council’s Foster Carer families, and we have allocated a further £1.7million to provide other forms of support to hard up households.” The final setting of Council Tax, which will include the precepts for all the county’s parishes plus Police and Crime Commissioner and Hereford & Worcester Fire Authority charges, will take place at the Full Council meeting on Friday 3 March 2023. Residents on a low income may be eligible for help to pay their bill through the Council Tax Reduction scheme and household hardship schemes. More information and advice on reduction schemes and allowances can be found on Herefordshire Council’s website at www.herefordshire.gov.uk/counciltax

Well done Evie, Amira, George and Caiden. A few weeks ago, we shared a good news story after four children came to the police at South Wye Police Station These children informed officers of a knife they had found in a play park on Woodward Avenue, Hereford. On Friday, South Wye Safer Neighbourhood Team, Inspector Ashton, PC Yarwood, PCSO Marsh and PCSO Warne attended Riverside Primary school to thank the children for their courage and bravery. Evie (10), Amira (10), George (10) and Caiden (9) were praised for their quick thinking and courage during their morning assembly. They were each provided with a certificate of thanks from West Mercia Police. We are delighted that these children knew what the right thing was to do, and we cannot thank them enough. Their act has kept our community safer. A special thanks to all the children at Riverside Primary School who were very welcoming, enthusiastic and really engaging with us; lots of high fives all round!

UK government allows ‘emergency’ use of banned bee-harming pesticide just days after EU tightens protections 🐝 Last week (23 January 2023), the government has announced that for the third year in a row, it will permit the use of the banned pesticide thiamethoxam - a type of neonicotinoid - on sugar beet in England in 2023. A single teaspoon of neonicotinoid is enough to deliver a lethal dose to 1.25 billion bees. This comes just four days after the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) declared that providing emergency derogations for expressly prohibited neonicotinoid-treated seeds is not in line with EU law. [3] This emergency authorisation comes a month after the UK government was advocating for a global pesticide reduction target at the UN COP15 biodiversity talks in Montreal. Despite a global pesticide target being significantly watered down in the final deal signed at COP15 [4], UK negotiators supported more robust action. It is disappointing that the same approach is not being taken when it comes to domestic pesticides. Three neonicotinoids (NNs) including thiamethoxam were banned for outdoor agricultural use in the UK and the EU in 2018 due to their devastating impact on bees. [5] Despite UK guidance stating that emergency applications should not be granted more than once, last year the government handed the industry a second approval, ignoring the advice of its own expert body which cited potential impacts on adult honeybees, other pollinators and aquatic organisms as reasons that the application should be rejected. This year the UK Expert Committee on Pesticides (ECP) once again advised against allowing thiamethoxam to be used and likewise were again ignored by the government. Despite significant public interest in the plight of bees and other pollinators, the process for emergency authorisation has been shrouded in secrecy, with no opportunity to scrutinise the application [6]. This authorisation is another example of the government failing to follow their warm words with meaningful action when it comes to pesticides and biodiversity. This latest move is completely at odds with the stronger pesticide reduction targets the UK advocated for at COP15, as well as the Leader's Pledge for Nature it signed in 2020, which sought to raise global ambition on reversing biodiversity loss. It highlights the growing discrepancy between government words and action on pesticides in particular and broader environmental issues. This latest authorisation also raises wider concerns over whether the government will maintain existing restrictions on neonicotinoids and other harmful pesticides, or whether they may be overturned as part of a forthcoming bonfire of regulations that protect nature, wildlife and communities as part of the Retained EU Law Bill [7]. The Pesticide Collaboration, a coalition of health, environmental, farming and consumer groups, academics and trade unions - including organisations such as Breast Cancer UK, Unite and Friends of the Earth - says that the government's decision to approve its use for the third consecutive year is a total failure of responsibility to protect vital species, and shows a lack of urgency in reducing pesticide use for the sake of human health and the environment. Joan Edwards, director of policy & public affairs at The Wildlife Trusts, said: “Just last month, the Secretary of State Thérèse Coffey committed the UK to halving the environmental impact of damaging pesticides by 2030. However, today she has incompatibly authorised the use of a banned neonicotinoid, one of the world’s most environmentally damaging pesticides, defying the advice of the Government’s own Expert Committee on Pesticides for a third year in a row. “Only a few days ago, the EU’s highest court ruled that EU countries should no longer be allowed temporary exemptions for banned, bee-toxic neonicotinoid pesticides, putting half of all such derogations to an end. Yet this Government deems it acceptable to allow the use of a toxic pesticide that is extremely harmful to bees and other insects, at a time when populations of our precious pollinators are already in freefall. This is unacceptable when the Government should be implementing fast, meaningful support to help farmers move away from a reliance on toxic pesticides.” Amy Heley, Public Affairs and Media Officer at the Pesticide Collaboration said: “In previous years, Defra insisted that the sugar industry must make progress in finding alternatives, but we are yet to see any outcomes of this. The Pesticide Collaboration is deeply concerned that this emergency derogation is simply another example of the government failing to follow through on their own pledges to improve the environment and protect human health.” Anabel Kindersley, Co-owner of Neal's Yard Remedies said: “Many businesses beyond farming benefit from the UK’s track record of high standards on environmental protection, including manufacturers, brands and retailers with a British agricultural supply chain, as well as hospitality and tourism businesses based in the British countryside. It is challenging for businesses to maintain a reputation for quality, if they are linked to activity that is destroying nature. We believe that by acting against the advice of its own scientific advisors, the government is putting the UK’s well-deserved reputation at risk.” Sandra Bell, campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: “It’s incredibly brazen to allow a banned bee-harming pesticide back into UK fields mere weeks after the government talked up the need for global ambition on reducing pesticides at the UN biodiversity talks in Montreal. “This is the third consecutive year that the government has gone directly against the advice of its own scientific advisors with potentially devastating consequences for bees and other vital pollinators. “The health of us all and the planet depends on their survival. The government must fulfil its duty to protect wildlife and keep pesticides off our crops for good – that means supporting farmers to find nature-friendly ways to control pests.” Information on the Pesticide Collaboration: The Pesticide Collaboration brings together 83 health and environmental organisations, academics, trade unions, farming networks and consumer groups, working under a shared vision to urgently reduce pesticide-related harms in the UK, for a healthy future. For further information please contact Amy Heley at amy@pan-uk.org / 07753241803 PETITION We have written to our MP Jesse Norman and have signed the petition below https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/631948

Henry Grain, who is 20 years-old and from Worcester Road, Leominster, has been sentenced to two years in a youth offenders’ institution after he assaulted a paramedic so severely, he broke their jaw. During the incident, which happened at around 9.00pm outside Shooters Bar in Leominster on Friday 4 March 2022, Grain also damaged the ambulance that was sent to take him to hospital. As a result of his damaging the ambulance, it was taken out of service to be repaired. Grain pleaded guilty to the charges of grievous bodily harm and two counts of criminal damage and was sentenced on Tuesday 31 January at Worcester Crown Court. The incident was the first time that body worn camera footage was provided to the police by the West Midlands Ambulance service as part of an investigation into an assault of a member of the ambulance service. PC Harriet Wilson-Hill said: “The outcome of this case should serve as a reminder that assaulting an emergency service employee will not go unpunished. I welcome Grain’s sentence and I hope that it reassures our community of our how seriously we and the Court take this type of crime and that they will hand down a custodial sentence representative of the severity of the offence.”

More plastic finding its way into our waterways and on our streets.

A new Air Quality Monitoring Station for Leominster at Bargates is now operational. Air pollution is associated with a number of adverse health impacts, and particularly affects the most vulnerable in society, including children and older people, and those with heart and lung conditions. It is recognised as a contributing factor in the onset of heart disease and cancer. In Herefordshire, there are two Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) due to higher levels of nitrogen dioxide, exceeding national standards (40μg/m3). Herefordshire Council’s automatic monitoring station at Victoria Street, Hereford was updated last year, and now the new Monitoring Station in Leominster is operational, providing real time data of NO2 levels which can help identify actions to improve air quality and provide additional data on other pollutants. The new station was supplied by Enviro Technology Services Ltd including all project management, installation & commissioning, together with a 3-year fully inclusive service & data collection contract. Cllr Ange Tyler, Cabinet member for Housing, Regulatory Services and Community, said: “Herefordshire's air quality problems are mainly related to traffic. There are many methods we use to address the issue of air quality, including encouraging behaviour change through investment in our active travel network, expanding the county’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and adopting local transport plans to improve not only air quality but also accessibility, safety, and the easing of congestion. “By allowing more accurate measuring of air pollution, the new monitoring station will help us to identify areas of concern, improve the success rate of grant submissions, and ensure there is robust data on which to base medium to long term decisions and assess the impacts of our various initiatives.” Cllr Trish Marsh, Mayor of Leominster, added: “It will be hugely helpful to have live data showing the pattern of pollutants at Bargates junction on the busy A44 through Leominster, showing its steep morning and evening peaks. This will allow people to plan their journeys to reduce congestion and encourage us all to try out different ways of travelling into our historic town, with its great range of independent shops and services like banking.” The Council produces an annual air quality status report which considers all new monitoring data and assesses the data against the national Air Quality Objectives (AQO). It also considers any major changes in the county that may have an impact on air quality and reports on the progress of measures to improve air quality. More information can be found on their website.

Hereford Voice were the first local Social Media platform in Hereford to start the debate on e-scooters, here is one of our original topics here 👉https://bit.ly/hfde-scooter. We also broke the news in March 2021 that Herefordshire Council were unsuccessful in their first bid for e-scooter trials however, all is not lost because the council have been advised that they are still being considered for any expansion of the trials, an option that could be with Beryl, who are already trailing e-scooters in various cites across England. E-scooters are popular all over the World and if used properly could be another option to help reduce congestion... Did you realise that there are actually over 50 cities in England currently trailing the use of e-scooters? see the current list of cities below; 1 Middlesbrough 2 Milton Keynes 3 Hartlepool 4 Redcar 5 Northampton 6 Birmingham 7 Coventry 8 Stafford 9 Newcastle-under-Lyme 10 Norwich 11 Cheltenham 12 Redditch 13 Liverpool 14 Gloucester 15 Cambridge 16 Slough 17 York 18 Yeovil 19 Salford 20 Nottingham 21 Bath 22 Bristol 23 Taunton 24 Aylesbury 25 High Wycombe 26 Derby 27 Isle of Wight 28 Basildon Spin 29 West Bromwich 30 Kettering 31 University of Warwick 32 Chester 33 Scunthorpe 34 Bristol and Bath 35 Chelmsford 36 Colchester 37 Newcastle 38 Oxford 39 Corby 40 Wellingborough 41 Rushden & Higham Ferrers 42 Clacton 43 Portsmouth 44 Southampton 45 Crewkerne 46 Chard 47 Canterbury 48 Brentwood 49 Whitehaven 50 Braintree 51 Great Yarmouth 52 Sunderland 53 Rochdale 54 Barnstaple

Concerns were raised with Gloucestershire Constabulary regarding a female using an e-scooter to transport a young child on a daily basis. scotterhv.mp4 Officers attended and observed a 4year old being transported in this way and vehicle was seized. A police spokesperson said; "Thanks to the public for making us aware"

Police appealed to find the owner of this burnt out car in the County earlier today, notice that they posted at 11:11am this morning, so we waited.. The new made our post below at 13:51 Now let's guess who happened to post the very same topic just a 9 minutes after us? 🤔 See below 👇

Reports of a stolen 7ft Christmas Nutcracker was not the usual type of crime West Mercia Police expected to receive. Sadly, for families doing Hereford City Life’s Nutcracker Trail, one was stolen outside All Saints Church on Christmas Eve, meaning hundreds of families struggled to complete the popular event. Mike Truelove, CEO for the Hereford BID and organisation behind Hereford City Life said, “from what we understand, it appears that the 7ft Nutcracker was cut from it’s position outside All Saints church and abandoned nearby before two passers-by picked it up and loaded it into a mini before driving off on Christmas Eve”. Mike continued, “In the great scheme of things, this was not a serious crime, however, a theft did occur and the Nutcracker damaged, meaning many families enjoying the trail struggled to continue. Thankfully, most went on to complete the trail which ended at the Tourist Information Centre in St Owen Street. It meant a lot to us to have the item returned and we are enormously thankful to both Herefordshire Council’s CCTV service and West Mercia Police for diligently locating the missing Nutcracker and returning it back to our office – we know how busy these services are, doing vital work to protect the Herefordshire public”. The Nutcracker Trail saw approximately 1200 people hunt for the statues with happy children receiving a toy for their efforts. Hereford City Life hope to bring this back again for 2023 along with other Christmas attractions to lure shoppers into the city. Hereford City Life is a consumer brand of Hereford Business Improvement District, run on behalf of BID members. Hereford BID is a non-profit private company (limited) funded by 500 businesses in the city centre. The organisation has 3 core strands underpinning its business plan, a document based on feedback from its member businesses on what they want to see happen, these are: i) High Profile Hereford - Marketing and Events ii) The Hereford Experience – Safe and Clean iii) Business Voice – Lobbying & Support. The company is run by up to 15 board directors who are also levy paying members.

Assaulted On London Underground - Man Arrested following footage of a man harassing Matt Hancock earlier this week in London Matt Hancock confronted on London underground by Geza Tarjanyi-HhOiifikV9w-480p-1654805130150.mp4 No one should harass or assault Politicians like this! This behaviour is completely unacceptable. People have every right to be angry and frustrated with Matt Hancock and other MP's and decision makers over some of their unpopular handling of Covid and lockdowns but we defeat the policies that we disagree with using arguments based on facts, evidence and our values, not with intimidation or violence. A 61-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly assaulting former health secretary Matt Hancock on the London Underground. British Transport Police said in a statement: ‘We received a report of a man being assaulted and harassed at Westminster Underground station at 8.47am yesterday morning. ‘A 61-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of common assault and a public order offence and remains in custody.’ Mr Hancock was accompanied during the video by a London Underground worker, who calls for calm during the footage. Video footage was posted online clearly showed a man shouting and following Mr Hancock through Westminster station and onto a train. We understand that Mr Hancock was not thought to have been hurt in the incident - described by his spokesman as an "unpleasant encounter". Hereford Voice covered a similar local story last August where local Cllr Gemma had to take leave from her council work due to constant threats and abuse, that article can be found here 👉 https://hfd.news/j_Cs

❄️ IMPROVEMENT OF WINTER RESILIENCE The purchase of eight gritters is to replace its current fleet. In addition, a further £180,000 will be spent on renewing and updating weather monitoring and forecasting stations across the County as well as £62,000 to be spent on new flood warning sensors including installation and management. Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Transport Councillor John Harrington confirmed the decision at a meeting last Tuesday. Full details here 👉 https://bit.ly/8gritters

West Mercia Police Update A spokesperson for West Mercia Police has confirmed however a formal identification hasn’t yet taken place but Shane’s family have been informed. 45-year-old Shane has been missing from Hereford since 30 November 2022. A body was discovered shortly after 11am yesterday morning by a member of the public. The road was closed and a scene guard put in place while initial investigations took place. The road re-opened shortly before 6pm. The death is currently being treated as unexplained.

UPDATE: “The path is currently closed after the body of a man was discovered near Escley Drive, Redhill, Hereford. The death is currently being treated as unexplained, a cordon is in place while police carry out further enquiries.”

The GWW (Lines) has been cordoned off by Police between the Iron Bridge and Escley Drive in Redhill Hereford following the discovery of a body. A West Mercia Police spokesperson told Hereford Voice this afternoon.

Queenswood Country Park & Arboretum have shared an update for visitors, with improvement works taking place this month. In an article shared on social media, Queenswood Country Park & Arboretum said; “As part of celebrating 70 years of Queenswood Country Park & Arboretum, improvement works have started at ‘The Viewpoint’ with the kind assistance of the Hoople Group. “All being well, the work will be completed early next month.” The rest of the park remains open as normal. Queenswood Country Park & Arboretum is a 47 Acre Arboretum with a collection of over 500 rare and exotic tree species. 123 Acres of woodland and visitor facilities.

Landmark Levelling Up Fund to spark transformational change across the UK. More than 100 projects awarded share of £2.1 billion from Round 2 of government’s flagship Levelling Up Fund to create jobs and boost the economy More than 100 projects awarded share of £2.1 billion from Round 2 of government’s flagship Levelling Up Fund Projects will benefit millions of people across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and create jobs and boost economic growth £672 million to develop better transport links, £821 million to kick-start community regeneration and £594 million to restore local heritage sites Successful bids include Eden Project North in Morecambe, a new AI campus in Blackpool, regeneration in Gateshead, and rail improvements in Cornwall Landmark levelling up funding will breathe new life into more than 100 communities, with up to £2.1 billion awarded today to transformational projects across the United Kingdom. These include Eden Project North visitor attraction in Morecambe, a new AI campus in Blackpool, a new rail link in Cornwall, and a major regeneration scheme in Gateshead that will create jobs and grow the economy. Major government investment will benefit millions of people across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland and spread opportunity to historically overlooked areas - with £672 million to develop better transport links, £821 million to kick-start community regeneration, and £594 million to restore local heritage sites. A total of 111 areas have been awarded funding from the second of the government’s flagship Levelling Up Fund, providing greater investment in communities that will create new jobs, drive economic growth, help restore people’s pride in the places where they live, and spread opportunity more equally. Secretaries of State will be visiting winning projects across the UK to see how local leaders will deliver for local people. This will drive forward the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy by levelling up and provide the foundations for building a better future in communities across the UK. By working as one United Kingdom, the country is better able to collectively tackle the individual challenges faced by every region and nation across the country. The government has also confirmed there will be a further round of the Levelling Up Fund, providing more opportunity to level up places across the UK. Levelling Up Fund Round 2 successful bids (ODS, 21.5 KB) Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: Through greater investment in local areas, we can grow the economy, create good jobs and spread opportunity everywhere. That’s why we are backing more than 100 projects with new transformational funding to level up local communities across the United Kingdom. By reaching even more parts of the country than before, we will build a future of optimism and pride in people’s lives and the places they call home. Projects awarded Levelling Up Fund money today include: Eden Project North will receive £50 million to transform a derelict site on Morecambe’s seafront into a world class visitor attraction. It will also kick-start regeneration more widely in Morecambe, creating jobs, supporting tourism and encouraging investment in the seaside town. Cardiff Crossrail has been allocated £50 million from the fund to improve the journey to and from the city and raise the economic performance of the wider region. Blackpool Council and Wyre Council will receive £40 million to deliver a new Multiversity, a carbon-neutral, education campus in Blackpool’s Talbot Gateway Central Business District. This historic funding allows Blackpool and The Fylde College to replace their ageing out-of-town centre facilities with world-class state-of-the-art ones in the heart of the town centre. The Multiversity will promote higher-level skills, including automation and artificial intelligence, helping young people secure jobs of the future. Nearly £27 million has been guaranteed for a new roll-on, roll-off ferry for Fair Isle in the Shetland Islands. The service is a lifeline for the island, supporting its residents, visitors and supply chains, and without its replacement the community will become further isolated. A total of £20 million is going towards the regeneration of Gateshead Quays and the Sage, which will include a new arena, exhibition centre, hotels, and other hospitality. The development will attract nearly 800,000 visitors a year and will create more than 1,150 new jobs. A £50 million grant will help create a new direct train service, linking 4 of Cornwall’s largest urban areas: Newquay, St Austell, Truro, and Falmouth/Penryn. This will level up access to jobs, skills, education, and amenities in one of the most economically disadvantaged areas in the UK. There is £5.1 million to build new female changing rooms in 20 rugby clubs across Northern Ireland. The UK government will also today launch an interactive map online so people can see which projects in their area are receiving Levelling Up Fund investment. This will be available at https://levellingup.campaign.gov.uk/. Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said: We are firing the starting gun on more than a hundred transformational projects in every corner of the UK that will revitalise communities that have historically been overlooked but are bursting with potential. This new funding will create jobs, drive economic growth, and help to restore local pride. We are delivering on the people’s priorities, levelling up across the UK to ensure that no matter where you are from, you can go as far as your talents will take you. Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said: This is a major down payment on local jobs, growth and regeneration, all part of our mission to level up opportunity across the country. To unlock more growth right across the country, we are making it easier for locally-elected leaders to make things happen without banging on a Whitehall door by extending devolution deals to all areas of England that want them by 2030. The successful bids announced today follows the allocation of £1.7 billion to 105 projects from Round 1 of the Levelling Up Fund in 2021. The government confirmed last year that Round 2 funding would match Round 1 but increased this by more than £400 million after receiving a high number of transformative bids – taking the total allocated so far from the fund to £3.8 billion. Today’s allocations also come on top of significant action already taken by the government to level up communities across the country. This includes opening 7 freeports, signing 6 devolution deals, connecting 740,000 homes and business with gigabit broadband, and helping 70 community groups take ownership of their cherished pubs, clubs and local landmarks at risk of closure. The Towns Fund has been providing funding of up £25 million, to 101 towns in order to boost local economies outside of big cities and deliver vital infrastructure. Developing better transport links More than £670 million from the Levelling Fund has been allocated to 26 projects across the United Kingdom to improve transport links. This includes £40 million for the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to transform its bus services, especially in areas of deprivation and for communities who do not have access to a car. The North East Combined Authority will receive nearly £20 million to buy more than 50 new electric buses. This will provide more than 3,000 seats for passengers, improve air quality, reduce congestion and support businesses in the region. Belfast International Airport will receive £2.3 million to purchase an electric bus fleet, which will have significant benefits for travellers and local people with better air quality and reduced noise. Nearly £27 million has been guaranteed for a new roll-on, roll-off ferry for the Shetland Fair Isle in Scotland, providing a lifeline for the community, visitors and vital supply chains. Revitalising towns and cities Over £760 million is being provided to regenerate towns and cities and unlock thousands of new homes. This includes £20 million to regenerate Accrington town centre, which will see the renovation of the Grade II listed Accrington Market Hall into a bustling food hall and trading space and the refurbish of the vacant and dilapidated Burtons Chambers and Market Chambers into band-new office spaces. There is £18 million for a transformation of Cleethorpes seafront, including the historic market square and regenerating Pier Gardens. The construction of Willenhall Garden City in Walsall will be accelerated by a £20 million grant, which will unlock a £210 million regeneration plan, enabling the delivery of new homes, parks, and a railway station. More £17 million will level up Leek Town Centre through a refurbishment plan that will upgrade the old market halls for new business use, upgrade the public library and museum, and create a swimming facility as part of wider town centre regeneration. Restoring local heritage £545 million will restore local landmarks and protect them for generations to come. This includes nearly £18 million to transform the Grand Pavilion in Porthcawl, one of the most recognisable buildings in South Wales, which is currently deteriorating after years of piecemeal refurbishments. There is £20 million to restore the Grade II listed Haigh Hall in Wigan, which will rejuvenate the area and make the site a popular destination for culture, community, events and hospitality. All areas were invited to bid for Round 2 by August 2022.

Here is a nice 'Thank You' message from our local Police.