Hereford Voice

Having Your Say | Hereford Voice 'Councillor Sessions' Q&A Continued - Part 6 🔷Transport Strategy (Bypass Bikes, Bridges)🔷 These are divided up into 3 separate responses - part 2/3 At Hereford Voice our slogan has always been 'Having Your Say' and through our network we are going to give you the opportunity to ask your questions to some of our Councillors. Cabinet Member - Infrastructure and Transport Councillor John Harrington agreed to be put under the spotlight and to answer as many questions put to him in our first exclusive 'Councillor Sessions' series here https://hfd.news/eec Today in part 6 of our series Cllr Harrington responds to questions about the Transport Strategy Review part 2/3. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Cllr Harrington for agreeing to be the first of many councillors who will be engaging with you all this year as part of our 'exclusive' Hereford Voice 'Councillor Sessions'

Having Your Say | Hereford Voice 'Councillor Sessions' Q&A Continued - Part 6 🔷Transport Strategy (Bypass Bikes, Bridges)🔷 These are divided up into 3 separate responses - part 1/3 At Hereford Voice our slogan has always been 'Having Your Say' and through our network we are going to give you the opportunity to ask your questions to some of our Councillors. Cabinet Member - Infrastructure and Transport Councillor John Harrington agreed to be put under the spotlight and to answer as many questions put to him in our first exclusive 'Councillor Sessions' series here https://hfd.news/eec Today in part 6 of our series Cllr Harrington responds to questions about the 'Hereford Bypass' part 1/3. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Cllr Harrington for agreeing to be the first of many councillors who will be engaging with you all this year as part of our 'exclusive' Hereford Voice 'Councillor Sessions' #herefordvoice #herefordnews #herefordshire #hfdvcs

Hereford Voice understands that the new 'e-Bikes' will be coming to Hereford in the near future, would you also like to see the e-Scooters across the city? The new e-Scooters are already being trialled across the UK and have been well received by the pubic. In a news brief the company wrote; Since the very beginning of our company, we've focused everything we do on getting more people in cities on bikes. Today, we're really excited to be bringing the Beryl e-Scooter to the streets, and opening up another micromobility option to even more people. A new option in Beryl Bays Our network of Beryl Bays across our operating areas make it easy for riders to find bikes and e-bikes, while keeping pavements clear of clutter. Now, there'll be another option available in the bays - the Beryl e-Scooter, which uses the same geo-fencing technology as our bikes and e-bikes. Going for a longer trip with lots to carry? An e-bike might be the choice for you. Need to get somewhere quickly without breaking a sweat? Choose an e-scooter. Fancy an active journey around town? The classic Beryl pedal bike is there for you. New ways to get around With the COVID-19 pandemic restricting capacity on public transport such as buses, national and local governments have been working hard to find new ways to help people get around cities without getting in a car. Beryl e-Scooters are being launched as part of a trial run by the Department for Transport, to understand how they can safely and efficiently add to existing transport networks. We're excited to learn how our riders use scooters to get around, and to develop the scheme in partnership with local authorities to make sure there are bays located where they're most needed. We'll also be working closely with partners in the local community to educate users on how to safely and responsibly use scooters. Our operations team will be on hand to make sure scooters have batteries charged and ready to go, and to respond to reports from the community when scooters need to be moved or rebalanced to another location. Designed for a nice ride Since the beginning of Beryl (when we were still a small bike lights company called Blaze!) we've cared about good technology and good design. Our Beryl Bike has won many fans for being a quick and nimble ride, suitable for all type of riders. We wanted our e-scooter to be the same - a comfortable option to encourage everyone to choose micro-mobility over a car journey. Our e-scooter has 12" front wheels and front suspension forks for a comfortable and stable ride. An extra wide standing board makes it easy to ride and the "always on" lights keep you visible whatever the time of day or the weather. A truly multi-modal city Today, we launch Beryl e-Scooters in Norwich. They'll join Beryl Bikes and Beryl e-Bikes that have already been warmly adopted by residents, students and visitors alike to get around. All three will be available to hire from the same app and account, making it easy and convenient to choose the best option for your trip. We're looking forward to seeing the Beryl e-Scooter land in more cities throughout the UK and beyond - stay tuned for our next launch! Phtoto | Beryl e-Scooters are parked in marked Beryl Bays and parklets, keeping pavements tidy for everyone Photo | New Beryl e-Bike #herefordvoice #herefordnews #hereford

Sites set up across the county to give workers better access to COVID-19 rapid testing Essential workers across Herefordshire, who cannot work from home, are being urged to join an initiative to help drive down the number of COVID-19 cases by doing twice-weekly rapid tests (known as Lateral Flow Tests). Four council test centres for people without COVID-19 symptoms are now open for bookings in Herefordshire. They are in Hereford, Ross-on-Wye, Ledbury and Leominster, and critical businesses and essential workers who need to attend a workplace, are invited to use the testing facilities. In addition, tests for people without symptoms will also start to become available at selected community pharmacies across Herefordshire. The scheme is part of the Government’s Community Asymptomatic Testing Programme and is being run locally by Herefordshire Council. Around one in three people who are infected with COVID-19 have no symptoms so could be spreading the disease without knowing it. Broadening testing to identify those showing no symptoms will mean finding positive cases more quickly, and help break the chain of transmission. With its targeted approach, this programme aims to improve the detection of positive cases so people can isolate and prevent spreading the disease in the workplace and reduce the prevalence of the virus in some of the highest risk areas. It is being used in addition to the established testing venues, which are for anyone with symptoms of Covid-19 in Herefordshire. Eligible workers can book an appointment at a community asymptomatic test site by following the link on the Council’s website. The rapid tests produce a result in up to 2 hours and people are notified by text message or email. Anyone who does not receive their result within 12 hours, should take another rapid test. The rapid testing sites in Herefordshire are: Hereford City - ThePoint4, Venns Ln, Hereford, HR1 1DT Monday: 8am – 2pm Tuesday: 12:30pm – 6:30pm Thursday: 8am – 2pm Friday: 12:30pm – 6:30pm Saturday: 9am – 1pm Ross-on-Wye - Ryefields Centre, Grammar School Close, Ross-on-Wye, HR9 7QD Monday: 8am – 2pm Thursday: 12:30pm – 6:30pm Ledbury – The Master’s House, Bye St, Ledbury HR8 1EA Tuesday: 7:30am – 12noon Friday: 2pm – 6:30pm Leominster - Old Priory, The Priory, Leominster, HR6 8DA Monday 12:30pm – 6:30pm Wednesday 8am – 2pm The first community pharmacy currently offering rapid tests is: Westfields Walk Pharmacy, Leominster, HR6 8HD Book a community pharmacy test here. Herefordshire Consultant in Public Health Sarah Smith said: Health Minister Lord Bethell said: Baroness Dido Harding, Interim Executive Chair of the National Institute for Health Protection, said: To protect yourself and others, you must remember: Hands. Face. Space. Hands – wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water often, and as soon as you get home - use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available. Face – wear a face covering in indoor settings where social distancing may be difficult, and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet. Space – stay at least 2 metres away from anyone you do not live with, or who is not in your support bubble.

When Mayor of Hereford, Kath Hey, was invited to join the independent Town’s Fund board, she welcomed the chance to work towards an ambitious vision where Hereford’s unique rural heritage would complement sustainable future development. The Towns Fund board, called #StrongerHereford, is made up of local leaders, businesses and communities who have put forward a bid for £25 million to Central Government. The bid was the culmination of months of extensive engagement with people across Hereford and it was instrumental for the City Council to be part of that process to ensure a strategic and cohesive connection. “This is very much about future proofing the city for the next generation” said Kath. “The City Council is very much about being at the heart of our communities by connecting them, providing grants and an overall commitment to make sure they’re supported. But of course, our many communities are all different so there was a concerted effort to discover how we can make significant improvements whilst retaining what we love about Hereford.” The guidelines for the bid stipulated that projects needed to focus on improved transport, broadband connectivity, skills and culture. As Kath continues “Hereford needs to recover following Covid when the time is right. Too many people have lost their livelihood and young people have continued to migrate away from the city. Focusing on skills and growth seems particularly pertinent”. “The Towns Fund is all about levelling up so essentially making Hereford an even better place to live, visit and work in. The public were equally passionate as we were to embrace our rich heritage whilst improving quality of life.” January saw a milestone with the bid (called the Town Investment Plan) submitted to Central Government. It’s quite an ambitious plan which has evoked strong reactions across the city. But the plan is one that was created fairly and with a clear vision. “You’ll recognise that the plan features connectivity as a theme and it builds on the community transport legacy already in place” says Kath. “But when we talk about connectivity, we also mean people as well as transport links and that means having things to do.” The process wasn’t without its challenges and it’s no surprise about how passionate discussions on which projects to support were. What was absolutely clear was a mutual desire to create something that integrated all parts of the city. But what next for those projects that didn’t make the final cut? Kath says “This really brought to light how many dedicated people are doing inspiring things in the city. As a group we felt we can continue to support them, connect them to the right people and provide guidance on how to secure funding that’s a better fit”. “We had to continually refer back to our vision to put forward projects that have the best chance of successful funding. Each project is like a part of a puzzle and together they create something fantastic. But we were also conscious that there were so many projects that whilst not suitable for this funding, we didn’t want to forget.” Hereford City Council is actively looking to work with other partners that are working towards enhancing the city. Contact them for more information.

Let's hope they are occupied soon

Hereford City Council approved a grant of £1,510.38 for Hereford Canoe Club, which will go towards purchasing another two canoes for use of the club’s members. Hereford Youth Canoe Club is a voluntary club providing boat-loads of positive paddle-sport opportunities for the young people of Herefordshire. Vic Gamage, representing the Canoe Club, explained to City Councillors that the application covered the costs of two canoes large enough for their teenage members; the existing canoes simply cannot support the members and larger ones are needed. The Canoe Club has unfortunately lost much of their income over the last year due to the Covid-19 restrictions which have been in place, and so assistance was needed to cater to their members. Like many of our Youth Clubs, the Canoe Club has been fighting against the tide of uncertainty which the Coronavirus Pandemic has brought about. Mayor Kath Hey expressed her appreciation for the work the Youth Canoe Club does, and the importance of encouraging young people to undertake outdoor exercise and activity. City Councillors unanimously agreed to grant £1,510.38 for the purchase of two large canoes as stated in the application. For more information on Hereford Youth Canoe Club, visit their Facebook page. #herefordvoice #herefordcity #herefordnews #hereford

The council's public realm contract for providing services includes highways, public rights of way, parks and open spaces, street cleaning and street lighting. Balfour Beatty were awarded the contract in 2013 and the procurement for the contract set out to achieve the following objectives: 🔸Ensuring our roads, public open spaces and streets are accessible, safe, clean and well-maintained 🔸Maintaining the delivery of essential services 🔸Achieving value for money, facilitated by process improvement and transparency through open book accounting 🔸Achieving service delivery which is efficient and responsive to local needs and priorities and 🔸Contributing to the regeneration of the economy and social capital in Herefordshire At Hereford Voice our slogan has always been 'Having Your Say' and through our network we are going to give you the opportunity to ask your questions to some of our Councillors. Cabinet Member - Infrastructure and Transport Councillor John Harrington agreed to be put under the spotlight and to answer as many questions put to him in our first exclusive 'Councillor Sessions' series here 👉 https://hfd.news/eec Today in part 5 of our series Cllr Harrington responds to questions about the 🔸BBLP - 'Balfour Beatty Living Places' Contract🔸 We would like to take this opportunity to thank Cllr Harrington for agreeing to be the first of many councillors who will be engaging with you all this year as part of our 'exclusive' Hereford Voice 'Councillor Sessions' #herefordvoice #herefordnews #herefordshire #hfdvcs

Herefordshire Council’s project provides new state of the art facilities for pupils and staff at Marlbrook Primary School New state of the art facilities opened for pupils and staff at Marlbrook Primary School at Green Croft this week following a £6 million investment project by Herefordshire Council. The council funded sustainable scheme has provided six new classrooms, a new hall and a special hygiene and physio room. The school has also benefited from new netball courts and improvements to the car parking area. Local company, Morgan Sindall Construction, were contracted by the council to carry out the work which they completed in time ready for when pupils return to school after February half term. The school – rated Outstanding by Ofsted, has experienced a significant rise in pupil numbers in recent years and the council’s investment has enabled the size of the school to be significantly increased. Councillor Felicity Norman, Herefordshire Council Cabinet Member for Children and Families, and Councillor Gemma Davies, Cabinet Member for Commissioning, Procurement and Assets, said they were delighted that the scheme had been completed on time and within budget by a local construction company, using the council’s new project management system. Head teacher Tracey Kneale said the opening of the new facilities to pupils and staff was a much-needed boost to Herefordshire primary school education in the midst of the continuing coronavirus situation. Robert Williams, Area Director at Morgan Sindall Construction, added:

This gentleman of the sport once owned and had a financial share in The Temple bar in Ewyas Harold Herefordshire and can be seen in the pub in this photograph taken in May 1984. Professional snooker player Doug Mountjoy playing at the Temple Bar in Ewyas Harold. 03-05-1984. His last season on the tour was 1996/1997 and he then went on to coach in the Middle East for two years before coaching back in Wales. Doug Mountjoy was from Tir-y-Berth, Gelligaer, Glamorgan, Wales. He was on the professional snooker circuit during the sport's golden era of the late 1970s and 1980s, and remained within the top 16 of the world rankings for 11 consecutive years. He won both the 1978 UK Championship and the 1979 Irish Masters, and reached the final of the 1981 World Snooker Championship where he lost to Steve Davis. He also finished in second place at the 1985 Masters. Doug Mountjoy | Photo Credit: PA Sport Doug Mountjoy passed away on Sunday 14th February which was Valentine's Day - RIP

13 year old Frank has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Frank has osteosarcoma a rare bone cancer and is having intense treatment in Birmingham and Hereford Hospitals. Let's help Frank achieve his bucket list and give him and his family all the love and support that we can. https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/joanne-smith-659?utm_term=pEYkxxNAM Frank has already received some wonderful messages of support from celebrities and football starts including - Sir Kenny Dalglish, Matt Lucas, Phil Neville, Alan Shearer, Jamie Carragher to name just a few and the list is growing rapidly. More details and updates can be found on the Team Frank Facebook page. #herefordvoice #herefordnews #hereford

Having Your Say | Hereford Voice 'Councillor Sessions' Q&A Continued - Part 4 - Emergency Active Travel Measures across the county inc the closure of the Old Bridge in Hereford At Hereford Voice our slogan has always been 'Having Your Say' and through our network we are going to give you the opportunity to ask your questions to some of our Councillors. Cabinet Member - Infrastructure and Transport Councillor John Harrington agreed to be put under the spotlight and to answer as many questions put to him in our first exclusive 'Councillor Sessions' series here https://hfd.news/eec Tonight in part 4 of our series Cllr Harrington responds to questions about the Emergency Active Travel Measures across the county inc the closure of the Old Bridge in Hereford We would like to take this opportunity to thank Cllr Harrington for agreeing to be the first of many councillors who will be engaging with you all this year as part of our 'exclusive' Hereford Voice 'Councillor Sessions' #herefordvoice #herefordnews #herefordshire #hfdvcs

Hundreds of staff paid tribute to a much-loved colleague at Hereford County Hospital this morning. Theatres logistics manager Dave Morgan died in January after testing positive for Coronavirus. Members of the WVT family lined streets clapped in tribute as the cortege passed.

We have received a number of reports in the past few days advising that us that people were having problems trying to use Beryl Bikes in Hereford. We have been informed that both Wednesday and early yesterday morning there was a connectivity issue with Beryl Bikes in the city however, we have been assured by the team at Beryl that everything is now back to normal. In an email to us this morning Jack from Beryl Bikes wrote: #herefordvoice #herefordnews #hereford

Max and Simon in the Masons' Yard (2019) Simon Hudson, of Hudson Stonework Ltd based in the Cathedral Close, has been awarded 'The Master Craftsman Certificate' by The Worshipful Company of Masons in 2021. Simon in the Masons' Yard With over two decades of working as stone mason and carver in Herefordshire, Simon’s work can be seen not just at Hereford Cathedral but also many churches and heritage sites within the county and further afield. Hudson Stonework Ltd has been a resident of the Cathedral Close for ten years and its location means that the art of this traditional craft can be shared with all who pass by. The Masons’ Yard provokes much interest from visitors to the cathedral and it is not an uncommon sight to see Simon explaining his latest project or answering questions from those who have stopped to watch him at work. Alongside his work Simon has shared his wealth of knowledge, gained over almost 40 years, and trained two apprentices who have both received national recognition as a result of his mentoring. Alec Curtis and Max Cotterill received The Journeyman Certificate and The Apprentice Certificate respectively from The Worshipful Company of Constructors in 2019, making this latest award a hat trick of success for the company. l-r Simon Hudson, Alec Curtis, Mr Terry Withers FRICS & Max Cotterill c. Phil McCarthy receiving awards in 2019 The Revd Canon Andrew Piper, Precentor & Acting Dean at Hereford Cathedral, said, “The Chapter offers Simon our warmest congratulations on being awarded The Master Craftsman Certificate in recognition of his dedicated and exceptional work. It is a rare privilege for us to have such a skilled stonemason based in the Cathedral Close, and it is a pleasure to watch him practise and teach his craft on a daily basis. The work of Simon and his former apprentices can be seen on the cathedral and many churches across our diocese and beyond it: we all value their expertise, and we appreciate their friendliness and generosity in sharing their talent and enthusiasm with us. It is a delight to have Simon and his apprentices as part of our cathedral community.” The Worshipful Company of Masons is number thirty in the order of precedence of the Ancient Livery Companies of the City of London, as set by the Aldermen of the City in 1515. Their focus is to preserve and encourage the use of natural stone in the built environment, including supporting the training of craftsmen as well as the preservation and appreciation of iconic historic stone buildings. The Worshipful Company of Masons is at the forefront of supporting the craft of stonemasonry in education and preservation.

Having Your Say | Hereford Voice 'Councillor Sessions' Q&A Continued - Part 3 Hereford Transport Hub At Hereford Voice our slogan has always been 'Having Your Say' and through our network we are going to give you the opportunity to ask your questions to some of our Councillors. Cabinet Member - Infrastructure and Transport Councillor John Harrington agreed to be put under the spotlight and to answer as many questions put to him in our first exclusive 'Councillor Sessions' series here https://hfd.news/eec Tonight in part 3 of our series Cllr Harrington responds to questions about the Hereford Transport Hub We would like to take this opportunity to thank Cllr Harrington for agreeing to be the first of many councillors who will be engaging with you all this year as part of our 'exclusive' Hereford Voice 'Councillor Sessions' #herefordvoice #herefordnews #herefordshire #hfdvcs

Part 2 - B4224 - Fiddler's Green - Fownhope At Hereford Voice our slogan has always been 'Having Your Say' and through our network we are going to give you the opportunity to ask your questions to some of our Councillors. Cabinet Member - Infrastructure and Transport Councillor John Harrington agreed to be put under the spotlight and to answer as many questions put to him in our first exclusive 'Councillor Sessions' series here https://hfd.news/eec Cllr Harrington will do this in a series of short videos over the coming week, here is the second video in the series; Part 2 🔷 B4224 road from Fiddler's Green to Fownhope 🔷 We would like to take this opportunity to thank Cllr Harrington for agreeing to be the first of many councillors who will be engaging with you all this year as part of our Hereford Voice 'Councillor Sessions' #herefordvoice #herefordnews #herefordshire #hfdvcs

Staff at Wye Valley NHS Trust will stand shoulder to shoulder on Friday this week in honour of a colleague who sadly died recently. Dave Morgan, logistics team leader in the theatres team at Hereford County Hospital, died on Thursday, January 28, having tested positive for COVID-19. Dave Morgan - a much loved colleague at Wye Valley NHS Trust who will be missed by everyone His funeral is to take place this Friday, February 19, at Hereford Crematorium. The hearse bearing David’s coffin will drive along Stonebow Road and through the County Hospital grounds where staff will have the opportunity to line the pavements in honour of their popular colleague. Dave, 59, was born in Hereford and went to the local Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat School and Hereford Sixth Form College before joining the RAF where he worked as an Electronics Technician working on flight simulators. He had worked in Theatres at Hereford County Hospital since 2014 and was described as much loved and everyone’s “go to guy” at the heart of the Theatres’ team by colleagues. His knowledge of theatres, its equipment, cost and location was encyclopaedic and he was always ready with a kind word, a helpful nod or a funny story.Jane Ives, the Trust’s managing director, said: Dave’s wife, Penny, said: The funeral procession will pass along Stonebow Road to the mini roundabout and then turn right past the path labs and out of the hospital site via the rear access road onto Union Walk at 10am this Friday, February 19. Jane added:

Herefordshire Council are helping you to stay safe while casting your vote in this May's elections On Thursday 6 May residents in Herefordshire will go to the polls to have their say on who represents them at the Police and Crime Commissioners elections, plus various local by-elections and Neighbourhood Planning Referendums. While the elections are not until May, they’re already making plans to help you stay safe while casting your vote. There are a number of ways to have your say in the elections in May - you can vote in a polling station, by post, or by appointing someone you trust to vote on your behalf, which is known as a proxy vote. Colette Maund, Electoral Services Manager for Herefordshire said: Ailsa Irvine, Director of Electoral Administration and Guidance at the Electoral Commission said: Residents can visit the FAQ page on the Herefordshire Councils website at www.herefordshire.gov.uk/forthcomingelections to find out more about the elections on 6 May. The page will be updated with new information as it becomes available. Any residents who have questions can also contact their local elections team at elections@herefordshire.gov.uk or by phoning 01432 260107.

Herefordshire Council has now received its percentage of local authorities £500 million to fix potholes across England. Department for Transport (DfT) allocates £500 million to local authorities in England for highways maintenance funding will go toward ensuring potholes and other road maintenance issues across the country are fixed the equivalent of 10 million potholes could be filled in as a result of today’s allocations Councils across England have today (15 February 2021) been allocated their share of £500 million for highways maintenance, with the funding expected to fix the equivalent of 10 million potholes across the country. It is the second of 5 equal instalments from the £2.5 billion Potholes Fund, providing £500 million a year between 2020/21 and 2024/25, announced by the Chancellor in the 2020 Budget – and is part of wider funding the DfTprovides for road maintenance, totalling over £1.1 billion across England in 2021/22. With the average pothole costing around £50 to fill in, the funding will ensure that the equivalent of 10 million potholes can be rectified, making thousands of local roads both safer and easier to drive and cycle on. Transport Minister Baroness Vere said: The DfT has already invested heavily in pothole filling since 2015, including the £296 million Pothole Action Fund, which ran from 2015/16 to 2020/21. It also topped up highway maintenance investment in 2018 with a one-off £420 million boost to all highway authorities in England, including London. The government is committed to supporting motorists. Through Road Investment Strategy 2 (RIS2), the government is investing £27 billion in the biggest ever roads programme – with £10 billion of the record-breaking sum specifically for road maintenance, operations and renewals.

Cllr John Harrington has replied to your question Andy here 👉 https://fb.watch/3Fexn12GRQ/

The riverside railings were severely damaged during the floods of early 2020 and again this year. As you can see from these photographs the railings are clearly unsafe and look like they could fall into the river at anytime. The gap that has been exposed is clearly dangerous even though Herefordshire Council contractors have placed barriers across but this needs addressing as a matter of urgency and we will be pushing the Council for an answer this week on when the public can expect these railings to be repaired.

A woman suffered minor injures after an assault in Pamona Place Hereford on Saturday night. Police and Fire crews were called to the scene. West Mercia Police said;

The public riverside footpath which runs down alongside the Saracens Head Pub has bee closed to the public since February 2020. Rone Properties who own the Saracens Head from our understanding are responsible for the cellars underneath which support the footpath. Whilst the council has responsibility for the top layer of a footpath like this the sub base is the responsibility of landowner, in this case, the owners of Saracens Head. We understand that the landlords of the pub believed that the cellars were no longer their responsibility but Herefordshire Council disagreed. After a year of nothing being done we believe that the pub owners have now agreed to do some shoring up work beneath the footpath (between the underside of the footpath and the top of the old cellars) in order that the Council can then reinstate the footpath for public use once again. #herefordvoice #herefordnews #hereford

Sadly the Duck Pond has once again fell into disrepair, Balfour Beatty were handed the baton after many hours of hard work by a dedicated team of volunteers. Since lockdown measures have been implemented it has been impossible to organise anymore clean up days but hopefully later this year or next year we can try again. We are very disappointed that this area has once again been neglected.