Hereford Voice

Food Share - 12 Noon at Belmont Community Centre, Hereford Share supermarket food that otherwise will be thrown away, do not let this food go to waste. Every Friday from 12 noon, everyone welcome. This is not something new, we have been promoting this fantastic incentive for a long time with thanks to our friend Cllr Kevin Tillett and our long term sponsors at Belmont Community Centre Also Monday at Hunderton Scout Hut on Blackmarston Road at 11am followed at St Martins Church at 12noon.

Herefordshire Council is asking residents for their views on the introduction of measures to enforce moving traffic regulations. This includes stopping in yellow boxes at junctions, ignoring no-entry signs, making banned turns, contravening ‘access only’ routes and parking on yellow zig-zag lines outside schools. Traffic regulations act to make the roads safer for all users and to help keep traffic flowing in busy areas. Changes in Government legislation (implementation in full of Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004) mean that councils in England will have control of enforcement powers for moving traffic contraventions, previously held by the police. Measures to enforce moving traffic regulations include the installation of cameras and the issuing of penalty notices.Councillor John Harrington, Cabinet member transport and infrastructure said: To view the consultation, let us know more about the impact of driver behaviour, and for views on proposed locations for camera enforcement, please visit our website at: www.herefordshire.gov.uk/moving-traffic-consultation

Herefordshire Council is supporting an outbreak of avian flu on the Eastnor Castle Estate. The council is working with the APHA, DEFRA and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) West Midlands to respond to the incident. Immediate steps were taken by the APHA to limit the risk of the disease spreading. The council is working with the APHA and DEFRA to further limit the spread, with officers visiting properties in the surrounding area to inform and engage with residents who keep birds, to assess and report any risks that might exist. An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) in in place countrywide and it is now a legal requirement for all bird keepers to keep their birds indoors and to follow strict biosecurity measures. The national Avian Influenza Prevention Zone means that it is a legal requirement that bird keepers across the country must: House or net all poultry and captive birds to keep them separate from wild birds Cleanse and disinfect clothing, footwear, equipment and vehicles before and after contact with poultry and captive birds – if practical, use disposable protective clothing Reduce the movement of people, vehicles or equipment to and from areas where poultry and captive birds are kept, to minimise contamination from manure, slurry and other products, and use effective vermin control Thoroughly cleanse and disinfect housing on a continuous basis Keep fresh disinfectant at the right concentration at all farm and poultry housing entry and exit points Minimise direct and indirect contact between poultry and captive birds and wild birds, including making sure all feed and water is not accessible to wild birds Bird keepers should visit the gov.uk website for full details of the AIPZ and updated biosecurity guidance. Do not touch or pick up any dead or sick birds that you find. If you find dead swans, geese or ducks or other dead wild birds, such as gulls or birds of prey, you should report them to the DEFRA helpline on: 03459 33 55 77 Keepers should report any suspicion of disease to Animal and Plant Health Agency on: 03000 200 301.

A planning application has been submitted for the Installation of a new 1.03km closed circuit cycle track with associated external works including perimeter fencing, learn to ride areas, skill based off road areas and perimeter lighting at Hereford Racecourse. The installation of a social hub comprising of three individual reused shipping containers with associated outdoor seating area. The Hereford Cycle Track Facebook member have now raised just over £1,400,000 towards the project and would like to say a huge thank you to our funding partners: - Hereford City Council - Herefordshire Council - Sport England & British Cycling - Stronger Hereford

📣 Knife Angel | The National Monument against Violence and Aggression is now at Worcester Photo courtesy of WCCYIT If you missed the Knife Angel Hereford when it was on display at Hereford Cathedral last Summer, you now have another chance to visit this awesome thought-provoking statue in Cathedral Square Worcester from 1st - 31st March 2022. ❤️ Hereford Voice was so proud to have been able to promote and support the Knife Angel Hereford project and are delighted to be able to continue to support this legacy.

I was coming into the Council Offices this morning listening to the news from Ukraine, reflecting on the statements being made nationally and wondering what response was appropriate from us in the Council. We have real connections with Ukraine. For many years Herefordshire has relied upon workers from Eastern Europe, Ukraine included, to work here. Some have stayed and are bringing up their families here. Many of us travel internationally and might have visited Ukraine. We have a strong global presence in the security industry and there are workers from Herefordshire in Ukraine providing services. Given the seriousness of war breaking out in Europe today for the first time in over 80 years It is appropriate for me, on behalf of the Council, to send a message of solidarity and sympathy to all democratically elected representatives of the government and of councils across Ukraine and to the people of Ukraine whom they all serve and represent. The fabric and freedom of their society is under threat and our support, thoughts and prayers are with them all at this difficult and distressing time. On behalf of the Council I want to reach out to Ukrainians living in our County. Our thoughts are with you and our residents who have friends and family in the region. If we are able to support you, please let us know. #HerefordVoice | #HerefordNews | #Herefordshire

The Government wants to increase the supply of new housing and for Herefordshire, this means 850 dwellings per year over the next 20 years. Give your view on housing distribution across the county by Feb 28 here 👉 https://orlo.uk/626X4

♥️ In Loving Memory | We lost our friend Jamal Haider last weekend and Hereford will never be the same without him. Jamal's funeral is taking place now (12 noon) at the Ghamkol Sharif Mosque in Birmingham. Hereford Voice will fall silent for the remainder of the day as a mark of respect to Jamal. Please take a moment to think about Jamal and his family sometime today and feel free to share your fond memories of this absolute gentleman with us all. ♥️ RIP Jamal

HRH The Prince of Wales (The Duke of Cornwall), Patron of Hereford Cathedral Perpetual Trust, made a visit to Hereford Cathedral today (Tuesday 22 February) while visiting The Duchy of Cornwall Estate in the county. It was the first opportunity that His Royal Highness has had to meet the new Dean of Hereford, the Very Revd Sarah Brown. ‘It was wonderful to welcome His Royal Highness to Hereford Cathedral’, said the Dean. ‘His Royal Highness first visited the cathedral in the 1980s and has supported our work throughout that time. It was a pleasure to be able to talk to him about our future aspirations.’ During the visit The Prince visited a number of projects which have been supported by the Perpetual Trust. These included the restoration of the Choir House and Old Chapel as part of the recently completed Eastern Cloister Project and he learnt about the developments in the music department, the restoration of the Cathedral Close and the installation of Ascension, the memorial to the SAS. He also had the opportunity to view the ‘All Things Bright’ exhibition, which highlights a thousand years of metalwork from cathedral and diocese, on display within the Mappa Mundi and Chained Library. ‘His Royal Highness has always been a very supportive Patron of the Trust.’ said Nat Hone, the Chair of the Perpetual Trust, ‘He has visited and has hosted events for us. It was a pleasure to be able to show him some of the projects we have funded, to talk about the importance of building an endowment to secure the cathedral’s long-term financial future and to be able to discuss Dean Sarah’s vision for our future ministry.’ ‘We were very touched by His Royal Highness’s visit. Like so many other organisations, due to Covid, we were not able to commemorate the Trust’s 25th anniversary last year and His Royal Highnesses visit has given us an opportunity to celebrate.’ During the visit, The Prince had the opportunity to hear about projects from Robert Kilgour, the Cathedral Architect and the current Chair of the National Cathedral Architects Association; Glyn Morgan, the Chief Executive of the Perpetual Trust, who has been involved with the charity for 25 years; and Mr Edward Harley, recently appointed as the Receiver General of the Duchy of Cornwall as well as being the Lord-Lieutenant of Herefordshire and an Honorary Canon of the cathedral. The visit lasted almost an hour and His Royal Highness also took the opportunity to meet visitors to the cathedral including children taking part in half term activities. Photos by Gordon Taylor, Hereford Cathedral.

The River Wye is Hereford is expected to peak this evening at 5.5 metres, check out the LIVE panoramic views of the Victoria Bridge and the River Wye in Hereford via our LIVE Webcam - LIVE FEED https://hfd.news/k17 Hosted by our lovely friends at The Pavilion, Castle Green Hereford.

Tributes being paid across Herefordshire and on Social Media this morning following the sad passing of our friend Jamal Haider. Local people have already started placing flowers as a mark of respect to this much loved gentleman at Jamal’s take-away in Bridge Street Hereford. Jamal was a personal friend and our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this difficult time

Hereford Voice are pleased to announce the launch of our latest 'HEREFORD LIVE' HD Webcam streaming 'LIVE' 24/7 from the heart of our fabulous city! LIVE Stream https://bit.ly/3GMjj8h Check out the Panoramic view of The Old Bridge and River Wye in Hereford, hosted by our good friends at The Left Bank Village. Hereford Voice are part of the Skyline network of high definition panoramic webcams scattered around the world with the sole goal of promoting tourism, art and culture! Statistics | You will be able to see how many people are online as well as how many visitors there have been viewing our fantastic city. Web | www.herefordlive.uk Host | https://theleftbankvillage.co.uk Check out the river levels and they rise and fall during the seasons, especially this time of year when we often see floods in Herefordshire. Follow Hereford Voice to keep up to date with all the latest news and events in Herefordshire

Here is a sneak preview taken this morning of the view from our New 'Old Bridge' HD Webcam due to go live later this week and hosted by our good friends at The Left Bank Village. Now you can view the Old Bridge and River Wye levels 24/7 Web | www.herefordlive.uk Host | https://theleftbankvillage.co.uk Follow us at Hereford Voice for more exciting news coming soon about our fabulous city!

Following a period of public consultation held in the Autumn of last year, two full rounds of Scrutiny by the council’s three committees and Cabinet agreement, the proposals were today (11 February) approved by Council. The budget includes a council tax increase of 2.99%, made up of: A 1% adult social care precept which is ring-fenced to support the delivery of adult social care services A 1.99% increase in core council tax which will fund all other areas of council service This will increase the band D equivalent charge to £1,701.70 representing an increase of £0.95 per week (£4.12 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 it is a difficult time for many local households. This is why we have ensured that the discount on the council tax reduction scheme for any struggling family which qualifies will remain at 100% for the coming year – irrespective of the price banding of their home. “We will also almost triple the budget made available to fund the council tax discretionary hardship scheme from £272,000 to £772,000. 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.” 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 on 4 March. More information and advice on reduction schemes and allowances can be found on the council's website: www.herefordshire.gov.uk/counciltax. The proposed budget 2022/23 was approved with one agreed amendment, to delay the inflation uplift of 10p per hour on parking charges planned for 2022/23 and instead to implement an inflation uplift to parking charges in 2024/25. Cllr Harrington, Cabinet member for Transport and Infrastructure, said: “I am pleased that we have been able to find additional funds to delay the proposed inflation linked increases in car parking charges. I expect we shall soon be able to offer wider choices for reliable alternatives to travel for residents and visitors who travel within the county and between Herefordshire and our neighbouring areas.”

FREE cracking offer and goodie bags for the first 100 customers! 🙌🤸‍♂️ Hereford Voice were kindy invited to the opening today, so check out the fabulous new facilities below! While Gloden wait for the power upgrade to be completed, they will be initially operating with just a selection of cabins open and slightly reduced opening times. Check out the following on offer 👇 💛Fully automated spray tanning by Mystic Kyss 💚Lie down sunbeds including the Ergoline Lightvision! 💜Stand up sunbed featuring collagen red light facial panels Opening Times; 10am - 7pm Monday - Saturday - 10am - 4pm on Sundays. There is no need to book an appointment, just pop down. Find them at unit 4, 109-111 Belmont Road, Hereford, HR2 7JR. There's plenty of free parking right outside. Hereford Voice first published the original planning application details for the tanning studio in the former Greggs unit back in April 2021 👉 https://hfd.news/vfo. We would like to wish our new friends good luck for the future!

A one-off government grant reflecting housing growth in Herefordshire may be used to support insulating the county’s extensive stock of leaky homes making them warmer and healthier. Herefordshire’s Coalition councillors will argue on Friday that the New Homes Bonus, a grant of £1.33 million, should be used as part of the county’s Climate Reserve to support county residents in insulating their homes and keeping warm. ‘Limiting the amount of energy we have to put into our homes, and the amount we are losing out of them is crucial at a time when energy costs are rocketing,’ said Coun Liz Harvey, who will argue that developing the insulation opportunities will benefit everyone in the county and help them to keep their energy bills down. Speaking on the day that BP announced profits of £9.4 billion while householders are struggling to pay energy bills, Coun Harvey said that advice, skills and support for householders in making their homes energy efficient would ‘pay you back every day’. ‘We will use the government bonus payment for new homes that have recently been built in Herefordshire to help householders living in all the homes that already exist to deal with the energy crisis that we are facing. It is the right thing to do for residents and for the environment. Not only will this impact current generations, but future home-owners and occupants for generations to come,’ said Coun Harvey. ‘Things are only going to get worse with energy supply and the easiest and quickest thing we can all do at a local level is to cut down on the energy we use.’ Councillors in Herefordshire will vote on the budget on Friday and it is anticipated that the New Homes Bonus will be an area of contention as some councillors may fail to see the benefits of using the grant to support this sort of action here in Herefordshire. Coun Ellie Chowns said: ‘We already know that there are 87 000 homes leaking heat in Herefordshire. For the sake of the people living in those leaky homes we must address this issue and help residents save money, keep warm and do the right thing for the environment. Insulation and retrofit has enormous potential for residents and businesses in the county – as a responsible authority we must invest in it.’ Insulating Herefordshire’s properties is one of the key issues raised by the Citizens’ Climate Assembly held in January 2022 as a consequence of a unanimous vote by councillors back in 2019 to create a forum to look at environmental issues and solutions in the county. The Coalition is maintaining a Climate Reserve to ensure that important projects addressing climate and ecological issues can access funding when necessary. #HerefordVoice | #HerefordNews | #Herefordshire

Building work has already began in the former 'Fancy Pants' unit in Bridge Street to transform this shop into a new premises for The Little Cypriot who will be offering traditional Fish and Chips as well as authentic Greek and Mediterranean Deli. We're looking forward to this one!!

Temple Records are moving from their former home in Bastian Mews to their new home in Bridge Street. The new signage is looking fantastic! Web | www.templeofbass.co.uk Hereford Voice wish them good luck for when they open in their new location.

Beryl, the UK’s leading provider of shared micromobility schemes, has teamed up with Google, Apple and transit data experts Ito World to help make two-wheeled travel even easier and more accessible for customers. As a result, all 721 Beryl bays now also appear as points of interest on Apple Maps, highlighting the number of bikes and docks available as well as useful information such as weblinks and customer service contact details. To enable this, Ito World added the Beryl general bikeshare feed specifications (GBFS) - real time data feeds that are available in a uniform format online to aid analysis, comparison and decision making - into their global bikeshare product. Doing this makes the feeds accessible to journey planners such as Apple and Google, allowing them to integrate the data within their own apps and products. By making the feeds available under an open data licence, Apple were able to highlight the 721 Beryl bays currently installed across seven schemes, including Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Isle of Wight, Norwich, Watford, Hereford, Greater Manchester and Hackney. Beryl CEO, Phillip Ellis, said: “We want to encourage people to try our micromobility schemes, which are a fun, cost-effective and easy-to-use alternative to the car that help reduce congestion while improving air quality and public health. “They are meticulously planned in conjunction with local authorities and local people to ensure they are as convenient and easy to use as possible. “In fact, in some of our schemes, up to 90% of the people living within the service area are just five minutes (or less) walk from a Beryl bay. “By developing strong working partnerships with trusted service providers such as Ito World, Google and Apple, we are working to take accessibility and convenience to the next level and make micromobility an even more positive experience for users.” For more information on Beryl’s innovative e-scooter and bike share schemes, please visit beryl.cc

Her Majesty’s Accession Day statement. The Queen wants Camilla to be 'Queen Consort' when Charles becomes King. Yesterday, on the eve of the 70th anniversary of her Accession to the throne, The Queen wrote a message thanking the public and her family for their support, and looking forward to 'Platinum Jubilee' celebrations over the coming year.

The Chapter of Hereford Cathedral has announced today that it will be welcoming girls to join the internationally-renowned Hereford Cathedral Choir. Hereford Cathedral Choir in the Cloisters (2021/2022) The choir, which has been in existence for many centuries, has until now consisted of boy choristers ranging from ages 7–13, together with the adult professional singers who provide the alto, tenor and bass parts of the choir. This year, for the first time in its history, girls of the same age as the boys will also be invited to audition for the choir and to receive a full musical education as choristers in the beautiful surroundings of Hereford Cathedral. Choristers receive valuable scholarships from the Chapter to attend Hereford Cathedral Junior School and Hereford Cathedral School. In cases of financial need these scholarships can be increased to 100% of the school fees. Applications to join the choir are welcome from potential choristers, whether or not they are currently pupils at Hereford Cathedral Junior School. There will be a Chorister Open Morning on Saturday 12 March which will give prospective girl and boy choristers and their families an opportunity to learn about the life of a cathedral chorister, to meet members of the cathedral’s music department and to hear the current choristers sing. Places for the Open Morning must be booked in advance via the cathedral website. Canon Geraint Bowen, Director of Music, said: ‘We are very excited to be starting the search for the chorister class of 2022: these boys and girls will make history in Hereford as our choir begins this new phase of its centuries-old existence. We are looking for girls and boys who enjoy singing and being part of a team. It is not necessary for them to have had any previous choral experience or to play an instrument, although that is certainly an advantage: when we select choristers, we are looking for musical potential. It is the training they receive at the cathedral and their commitment and dedication which produces the results.’ The Revd Canon Andrew Piper, Precentor, said: ‘For many years the Chapter has wanted to make it possible for girls to sing in our cathedral choir, but we were not able to do so in a financially stable way that would offer equal opportunities for both boy and girl choristers. Thanks to a generous anonymous donation, we are so pleased to be able to make this announcement today. The introduction of a mixed top line will allow us to increase the number of choristers within the choir and to maintain our regular pattern of daily services as girls and boys sing alongside one another. This welcome development is really good news for the cathedral as well as for our music department.’ The Very Revd Sarah Brown, Dean of Hereford, said: ‘Hereford Cathedral has a long and rich history of offering music in the worship of God and our choir’s singing greatly enriches the daily services. Alongside a full musical education, our choristers develop lifelong skills and have the opportunity to travel widely with the choir, bringing their music to congregations and audiences across the UK and abroad. We are delighted to be expanding these opportunities by increasing our number of chorister places and welcoming girls to join us this year.’ Dr Michael Gray, Headmaster of Hereford Cathedral School, said: ‘Hereford Cathedral School was originally founded in the thirteenth century, or perhaps even earlier, for the purpose of educating the cathedral choristers and it is wonderful that this exceptional musical and educational opportunity is now going to be offered to girls as well as boys, further enhancing the cathedral’s offering of worship as well as the school’s sector-leading reputation for music.’ Hereford Cathedral Choir has an international reputation through its radio and television broadcasts, critically-acclaimed recordings and overseas tours (including France, Italy, South Africa and six visits to the USA), but its primary task remains the singing of the daily services at the cathedral. In a recent issue of the BBC Music Magazine it was included in a list of ‘20 choirs you must hear this Christmas’, and it has also featured on Radio 3’s high-profile programme In Tune. The choir regularly broadcasts Choral Evensong live to a large audience on Radio 3, and in 2017 the cathedral’s Easter Day service was broadcast live on BBC1. In 2018 the choir took part in a concert at Buckingham Palace in the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales, and also visited Rome, where it sang at a Papal Mass in St Peter’s Square, as well as giving a concert in the Sistine Chapel. In 2019 the choir travelled to Normandy to sing in the 75th anniversary commemoration of the D-Day Landings, which was broadcast live on television worldwide, and later in the year gave a concert in Bologna at the invitation of the British Embassy in Rome. Hereford Cathedral’s Chorister Open Morning will take place on Saturday 12 March. Booking is essential and more details can be found here: www.herefordcathedral.org/chorister-open-morning-2022 Prospective parents are welcome to contact the Director of Music, Geraint Bowen, for an informal discussion about their child’s potential for a choristership at Hereford Cathedral. He may be contacted at organist@herefordcathedral.org or 01432 374238 The choir sings up to eight services per week in the cathedral during school terms and in the days leading up to Christmas and Easter.

Oh yes! Following our news about the Hereford Edition of Monopoly, below is an earlier game with a similar theme with names and places such as Chadds, Browns BMW, BAM Services, Gilbies, Jessons, Heggies Butchers to name just a few, check it out below Hooked On Hereford Made in 1991 it is one of a series of Monopoly style board games developed by local YMCA's in the UK to generate funds for their activities. 📸 Herefordshire Museum Service See our original topic here https://hfd.news/d29 #HerefordNews | #Hereford | #HerefordVoice

La’De Kitchen will be opening up their new restaurant in Hereford, serving selected Mediterranean dishes from Turkish, Greek and Italian cuisines. The family-owned local restaurant aims to present the true hospitality of its Anatolian roots to its guests. The name ‘La’De’ is made up of two parts, derived from the names of the owner’s two children. Using fresh and local seasonal ingredients, chefs at La’De Kitchen take great care in presenting guests with deliciously made dishes. Anatolian hospitality and warmth can be felt immediately as soon as guests step foot into La’De Kitchen, with its complimenting glitzy and buzzy decor. The Restaurant will be an ideal place to mark important occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries. The easy-going vibe and cool atmosphere make first dates more memorable. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options are also available. Website | https://www.ladekitchen.com/ #HerefordVoice | #HerefordNews | #Hereford

HEREFORD WINS FIRST PRIZE IN WEST MIDLANDS BEAUTY CONTEST Hereford has seen off 24 other places from across the West Midlands – including Warwick and Leamington Spa – to land its’ very own official MONOPOLY board, it will be announced later this morning (Wednesday 2nd February 2022) at Hereford Cathedral. How cool is this! 🔹Hereford Mayor Cllr. Paul Stevens will be amoung guest at the official annocement scheduled for 10am, Wednesday 2nd February 2022. Hereford Cathedral, Broad Street entrance from 9.45am. “Hereford is blessed with great landmarks which will get to replace the famous classic MONOPOLY streets like Mayfair and Park Lane,” says Ella Gibbs from the makers of the new game Winning Moves UK. The new unique game will see the multi-coloured property squares all themed around Hereford – with Chance and Community Chest cards customised too. So Hereford Cathedral, tipped to feature prominently in the game, could be yours to own for just a few hundred MONOPOLY dollars, whilst getting stuck in traffic on the medieval Wye Bridge could see players sent ‘Back Three Spaces’. Castle Green could feature on a green square. Hereford Town Hall may land on the Whitehall space. “But everything is up for grabs,” adds Ms Gibbs, Custom Games Executive at Winning Moves UK, makers of this unique edition under official license from Hasbro. “We expect to be wonderfully spoilt for choice putting this game together.” At today’s announcement that Hereford has landed the honour of its very own customised MONOPOLY game, the public will be invited to suggest landmarks to feature on the board. “The game will reflect the flavour and feel of these suggestions,” adds Ms Gibbs. “The public consultation process will last for three weeks.” The property sets will be themed: from heritage to shopping, culture to leisure – and more. The train station quartet set that features on the classic original MONOPOLY will be handed over to a travel theme for the new Hereford edition. That’s because Hereford doesn’t have a multitude of main line stations to select from like in the London MONOPOLY original. Hereford Town Hall could get to land on the famous Whitehall square from the game’s classic original. “There’s synergy there,” adds Ms Gibbs. For the same reason a very old building could get to land on Old Kent Road. “As regards the board’s most expensive exclusive square, Mayfair, that could go to Hereford’s most prized crown jewel,” adds Ms Gibbs. “We look forward to hearing from the public.” Bosses at Winning Moves UK say a variety of factors were used in deciding Hereford from across 25 cities and towns in the West Midlands and western Midlands. These factors include ‘pride’, ‘landmarks’, ‘beauty’ and ‘sense of family’. Hereford has seen off 24 West Midlands cities and towns to land the MONOPOLY honours for this year. There is a famous Community Chance card in the original MONOPOLY version which says: ‘You have won Second Prize in a Beauty Contest’. Well Hereford has very much won FIRST prize! In all 30+ Hereford landmarks and favourites will be showcased in the game. Over the last 25 years Winning Moves UK has produced official versions of MONOPOLY .. from Dubai to Dublin and Palm Beach to Plymouth. Now the dice is rolling upon Hereford. The game will hit the shops this October (2022) - in time for Christmas - but before it goes into production the public is being invited to suggest Hereford landmarks and cards to feature in the game, via these three ways: 1. By email to: hereford@winningmoves.co.uk . 2 Via the official Hereford MONOPOLY Facebook page. 3. Or by post to: Hereford MONOPOLY, Winning Moves UK, 7 Praed Street, London W2 1NJ. Polling starts at 10am on 2nd February and closes at 23.59pm on 22nd February (2022). #HerefordVoice | #HerefordNews | #Hereford

Herefordshire Council’s Cabinet has agreed the proposed 2022/23 budget which will now be put forward for recommendation to Full Council on Friday 11 February 2022. Following a period of public consultation held in the Autumn of last year, and after two full rounds of Scrutiny by the council’s three committees, the proposals were yesterday (31 January) agreed by Cabinet. The proposals include a total council tax increase of 2.99%, made up of: A 1% adult social care precept which is ring-fenced to support the delivery of social care services A 1.99% increase in core council tax which will fund all other areas of council service This would increase the band D equivalent charge to £1,701.70 representing an increase of £0.95 per week (£4.12 a month). The proposed increase is needed to support the continued delivery of vital services across the county and our priority is to get the best possible value for every pound we spend on the people of Herefordshire. 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. Cabinet also proposes to almost triple the budget made available to fund discretionary housing scheme payments for families just failing to qualify for CTR from £272,000 to £772,000. Additionally, some residents will continue to pay no Council Tax at all, such as young adults who have left care and also all the council’s Foster Carer families. 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 on 4 March. Residents on a low income may be eligible for help to pay their bill through the Council Tax Reduction scheme. More information and advice on reduction schemes and allowances can be found on the Herefordshire Council website at www.herefordshire.gov.uk/counciltax