Hereford Voice

Resurfacing works scheduled to take place between Wednesday, 16 December and Friday the 18 December along Green Croft, Redhill Hereford have now been postponed. 

The works have been rescheduled to take place during the school half term week of Monday, 15 February 2021.

Congratulations to the The Stagg Inn at Titley it's good to see you in the new The Good Pub Guide for Herefordshire Dining Pub of the Year once again. Keep up the great work!

Congratulations to all of this year’s winners!

#goodpubguide #herefordshire #positivehereford

Lawful owners of certain weapons can begin to surrender them to the police from today as part of a three month scheme launched by the Home Office.

The weapon surrender scheme runs from today, Thursday 10 December 2020 until Tuesday 9 March 2021, where those owning particular weapons can hand them over to police and submit a compensation claim from the Home Office.

The Offensive Weapons Act 2019 contains measures to make it unlawful to possess certain offensive weapons– including rapid firing rifles and specific types of knives such as flick knives and zombie knives.

West Mercia Police will be accepting offensive weapons – those detailed in the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 - at front counters at the following police stations; Kidderminster, Redditch, Worcester, Hereford, Telford and Shrewsbury.

Those with legally held firearms that are affected are being contacted directly by the Firearms licencing unit with specific instruction on surrender and compensation.

Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Jones said: “Supporting this Home Office initiative is part of our commitment to tackling violence together with our partners and the public. It is only by working together that we will reduce violence including street violence and domestic abuse.

“For those weapons that are not detailed in the Offensive Weapons Act, there will also be knife bins at every station so they can be deposited safely.”

If you have information about someone you suspect to be in possession of an illegal weapon, you can contact West Mercia Police through the 101 number or via our website. Any information received is always dealt with in the strictest confidence.

If you have information but don’t want to speak to police, then you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or by visiting their website Crimestoppers-UK.org They are 100% anonymous and totally independent of the police. They never ask your name, they cannot trace your call or I.P address and no one ever knows that you’ve passed on information.

Young people can find advice by visiting Fearless.Org Full details on the Home Office surrender scheme can be found here.

Massive congratulations to our good friend Giovanni Calandra who is today celebrating 10 years of trade in Church St, Hereford with his fabulous store Calandras Menswear.

Calandras Menswear Church Street Hereford.

In Giovanni's own words;

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'Here’s to the future and many more years of trade in the greatest city on earth Hereford'

We couldn't have said it any better!!

Now is the perfect time to pop in if you're looking for that special gift for Christmas..

A huge congratulations to firefighter John Nicholls. This week he was presented with his 30 year service award.

John joined Kingsland fire station in June 1990 and has given 24 hour “on call” availability throughout his long career.

A fantastic achievement. Well done John

#herefordnews #positivehereford

ha ha that brought a smile to us this morning 

Joe William Stafford pleaded guilty to being over the legal limit with 89 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath (legal limit is 35) when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford this week.

Police were called after receiving reports that a motorist had driven the wrong way along a one-way street and had crashed into the Central Bakery in Leominster before fleeing the scene back in November which we reported here.

We have been advised that Mr Stafford had sent the bakery and a letter of apology along with a cheque for £500.

Magistrates in Hereford disqualified Stafford from driving for 18 months and fined him £326 with costs of £135 and a £34 victim surcharge which he must pay.

Hannah Lewis who is a director of the bakery has been in touch with us and she has informed us that the police have not been in touch to inform her of the court case and merely took a statement over the phone. A police officer arrived the following day (5th of November) asking her to sign her statement but she is very disappointed not to have heard back from the police since.

Hannah also told us that she had received a letter from Mr Stafford along with a cheque for £500 and has repeatedly asked for advice from the police about this but is very disappointed that she has yet not received a single reply.

Joe William Stafford pleaded guilty to being over the legal limit having 89 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath (legal limit is 35) when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford this week.

Police were called after receiving reports that a motorist had driven the wrong way along a one-way street and had crashed into the Central Bakery in Leominster before fleeing the scene back in November which we reported here.

Mr Stafford had sent the bakery a cheque for £500 the court was told.

During an interview with Police, Stafford said he had been drinking wine while driving and was guilty as charged but had drove into the bakery shop front purely by accident while he was reaching to pick something up in his car.

Magistrates in Hereford disqualified Stafford from driving for 18 months and fined him £326 with costs of £135 and a £34 victim surcharge which he must pay.

Police are appealing for witnesses following a collision at Moreton-on-Lugg, Hereford, where a woman sadly died.

At around 1.50pm on Tuesday 8 December a Nissan Micra was travelling along the C1120 towards the A49 when the collision occurred.

Police Sergeant Andy Wortley said: “The vehicle was travelling along the road when it was in collision with a bridge which crosses over the River Lugg.

“While investigations are on-going to establish the circumstances surrounding this incident, we are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collision or has dash cam footage to come forward.”

Sadly, the driver, who was in her 80s and the only occupant in the vehicle, died at the scene and our thoughts are with her family and friends at this very difficult time.

Anyone with information or footage is asked to report it here on the West Mercia Police website or call 101 quoting incident 301i of 8 December or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

It may be the season of good will but please consider that everything may not be as it seems.

In recent weeks Hereford Cops (Hereford city SNT) has seen an influx of Romanian Nationals who are begging and claiming to be homeless and hungry.

On making enquiries the Police have established that these individuals are part of a travelling group of beggars from South Wales.

Police have also today removed 3 Romanian nationals from the City Centre again claiming to be homeless and begging.

CCTV tracked these individuals to a waiting vehicle where they were spoken to and established they are all housed in Boston, Lincolnshire and have travelled to Hereford to beg.

Please!!!! If you want to give money to the homeless please consider doing so through a registered charity otherwise you should consider that your “donation” to some of those on the streets may not be used for the purpose it was intended.

Source: Hereford Cops

Emergency services responded to reports of a serious accident in Moreton-on-Lugg early this afternoon.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Ambulance Service said:

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"We were called at 1.41pm to a bridge near the railway crossing on Moreton on Lugg.

"An ambulance, paramedic officer and a Mercia Accident Rescue Service (MARS) BASICS emergency doctor attended and arrived to find a car which had collided with a bridge.

"The driver, a woman, was being given CPR by an off-duty nurse.

"Sadly nothing could be done to save the woman and she was confirmed dead a short time later on scene."

Herefordshire is one of the first area's outside of hospitals to offer the vaccine as part of the national roll out.

Bridge Street Sports Centre in Leominster will initially receive 975 doses next Monday with the elderly and vulnerable being vaccinated first. Those people will be invited to attend for their inoculation either by letter or text message.

Once people have had their first vaccination, they will make an appointment to return for their second dose around 3 weeks later.

The Government have today issued the following press release:

Extensive damage reported on Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) area of River Lugg in Herefordshire.

Natural England, the Environment Agency and the Forestry Commission mount joint investigation into damage reported on SSSI area of the River Lugg in Herefordshire. Legal notices were served and officers have attended the site to gather evidence.

Natural England, the Environment Agency and the Forestry Commission mount joint investigation.

Natural England, the Environment Agency and the Forestry Commission have joined forces to investigate a series of unconsented works on the river Lugg at Kingsland in Herefordshire. The area has SSSI status due to its environmental importance.

With the support of West Mercia police, officers from Natural England, the Environment Agency and the Forestry Commission came together on the scene last week with officers from Herefordshire Council, to investigate and seek formal evidence for the alleged offences.

A legal notice requiring the works to stop immediately was served on the landowner by Natural England last week, while the Forestry Commission issued a stop letter requiring an end to any further felling work. The Environment Agency also requested no further works to be carried out on the river last week.

Emma Johnson, Natural England area manager, said:

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I’m shocked by the destruction I’ve seen to this very special river.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest represent our finest places for wildlife and geology and Natural England is responsible for ensuring their protection, working with landowners and managers to achieve this. We have regulatory powers to prevent damage taking place to SSSIs but when this does occur we can take appropriate enforcement action, including prosecuting offenders.

The river Lugg is a very special place due to the ecology of the river and surrounding area. Natural England and our partners are working together to take strong action to ensure a wide-ranging and thorough investigation is carried out.

The three agencies came together to jointly investigate last week following reports of activities including dredging, illegal felling of trees and profiling of the river banks. The works have the potential to cause significant, long term ecological harm to nearly 1.5km of the river.

Keith Jones, area director for the Forestry Commission said:

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I’m appalled at what has happened. Trees are a precious natural resource, which is why anyone wishing to fell them must ensure they comply with the Forestry Commission’s felling licence requirements.

Dave Throup, area environment manager for the Environment Agency, added:

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This is a beautiful part of the world. To see the changes from last week to this is terrible. We’re working closely with our partners to ensure this is thoroughly investigated.

Further information:

• Natural England is responsible for ensuring the protection of SSSI areas, the Forestry Commission is responsible for issuing and regulating tree felling permits and the Environment Agency is responsible for flood risk management, fish and spawning and the way rivers function.
• Natural England has regulatory powers to prevent damage taking place to SSSIs and to take appropriate enforcement action, including prosecuting offenders where damage occurs.
• Felling trees without the authority of a felling licence issued by the Forestry Commission, where one is required, currently carries a penalty upon conviction in a magistrates’ court of £2,500 or twice the value of the timber felled.
• In certain circumstances, the Forestry Commission is empowered to serve a Restocking Notice upon anyone committing an illegal felling offence, either with or without having secured a conviction, which compels the individual served to restock the land with trees. Failure to comply with the notice may result in a separate offence being committed, which already carries a penalty of an unlimited fine.

Source

In future the council will need to provide a food waste collection. Will this reduce your household waste?

Herefordshire Council need to know your views on what the future of rubbish & recycling collection looks like to you in the county:

Take the survey

Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service have been at the scene of the fire at Special Metals in Holmer Road Hereford since late this afternoon with support from Leominster Fire Station crews.

Vehicle failed to stop for Police and a pursuit commenced, after some handy work from Leominster Police and the bed of nails it soon came to an abrupt end! Both occupants arrested.

International singer Feargal Sharkey most widely known as the lead vocalist of punk band The Undertones in the 1970s and 1980s, and for solo works in the 1980s and 1990s has condemned the recent work carried out along the banks of the River Lugg in Herefordshire and has urged the Environment Agency and others to prosecute the perpetrator in a Tweet.

In another Tweet, Sharkey challenges the Environment Agency (Midlands) asking them why didn't they act after the were alerted to the work that was taking place at the River Lugg.

Environmental campaigning

Sharkey is a lifelong fly fisherman and has campaigned against the pollution of British rivers. 

We reported on this story and in a follow up article earlier this week and now many questions are being asked even though there are some local people who are pleased with the work that has been done.

What are your thoughts?

One of the Renaissance wall paintings at Church House Farm in Herefordshire. Photograph: Courtesy of John Stevenson

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A discovery of exceptional Renaissance wall paintings at a Herefordshire farmhouse has prompted a leading expert to warn that the chances of such treasures surviving in domestic settings in Britain are falling because owners are destroying them by modernising their homes.

Stephen Rickerby, who is a consultant to the Getty Conservation Institute and works closely with the Courtauld Institute and English Heritage, was taken aback by the “stunning and extremely high quality” of paintings dating from the late 16th and early 17th centuries that have been uncovered at Church House Farm in Wellington.

Although the Herefordshire discovery was made in 2018, it has taken until now to expose the full scheme of paintings, as well as to consult historians, including specialists from Historic England, and to plan its conservation.

The owners have had to move out of their bedroom into a spare room. The coronavirus lockdown has delayed plans to apply for a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund as it could involve up to £20,000 for painting restoration.

Article: The Guardian 5th December 2020

It's not only rivers that are at risk with this urge to modernise and improve for the natural beauty of things to disappear.

Statement:

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Kingsland Parish Council is aware of the recent work done on the banks of the Lugg at Kingsland.

The parish council has had a dialogue with the Environment Agency, and officers have attended online meetings in recent months.

A site meeting with the Environment Agency in September 2020 identified issues near the bridge and the Environment Agency subsequently wrote that “the left hand bank directly upstream of the bridge could do with some reprofiling due to bank slumping… to ease conveyance as it is currently partially obstructing the 3rd arch of the bridge and will look to the landowner to carry out these works”. Another issue highlighted by the Environment Agency was “a build-up of silt and growth mostly Himalayan Balsam on both the upstream and downstream sides”.

The parish council supports work to improve the Lugg that is undertaken at the direction and instigation of the Environment Agency and is in line with the appropriate guidelines, regulations and processes that may be applicable.

The landowner has given an interview in The Telegraph today 5th December. You can read it here

Starting to take shape now with the new furniture arriving today. 

Congratulations to the urology team at Hereford Wye Valley NHS for being the first users of the Ambu aScope 4 Cysto in the Europe!

A disposable flexible cystoscope. Improving a great service for their patients.

Following widespread condemnation of the eco vandalism on the River Lugg, the Environment Agency said;

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"We're mounting a wide-ranging investigation into reports of damage to the #RiverLugg, which is protected through SSSI status. We're treating this very seriously, working with Natural England and the Forestry Commission who have taken immediate action to prevent any further works at the site. 

We’ve used our powers of entry at the River Lugg #Herefordshire incident 14 specialist officers from the Environment Agency, Natural England, The Forestry Commission, West Mercia Police and Herefordshire Council are all now on site gathering information & evidence".

Herefordshire Wildlife Trust have highlighted this destruction to a section of the River Lugg, in Herefordshire. 

One of the most beautiful and important rivers in the UK, has been intentionally destroyed over a stretch of approximately 1.5km with huge repercussions for wildlife downstream.

Herefordshire Wildlife Trust has discovered that the river and its banks have been bulldozed, straightened and reprofiled into a sterile canal, with all bankside and riverside habitats completely obliterated.

The Lugg flows from its source in Powys through Herefordshire before meeting the River Wye just outside Hereford. Its riverbanks, gravels and beds of water crowfoot are home to crayfish, otters and salmon, lampreys and dragonflies and a host of rare river wildlife.

The river is so important for willdife that it is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in its lower reaches.

This should give it multiple layers of protection, with statutory agencies such as Natural England, the Environment Agency, Forestry Commission and Herefordshire Council all given a statutory duty to protect the river from harm.

Instead Herefordshire Council leaders have opted for an eastern river crossing between Rotherwas and Ledbury Road, with more investment for walking, cycling and public transport.

A new river bridge for Hereford are you in favour of this option?

The new extended farmfoods on Belmont Road Hereford opened today.

The expansion of the existing store into the former Bath Store unit next door has hugely increased the store size and farmfoods now dominate this small retail park taking up 70% of the units. This is great news for the local area and Hereford.