Hereford Voice

Last night, Tuesday 1 September, West Mercia Police’s Herefordshire Rural Crime Team, recovered a stolen mini digger in Clehonger. The mini digger was believed to have been taken from farm land in Ewyas Harold in the early hours of Sunday 30 August.

Three arrests have been made relating to this incident and they remain in custody.

Rural crime can have a huge impact on the communities, business and the individuals we serve and West Mercia Police is committed to tackling it.Herefordshire Rural and Business PC Sarah Smith said:

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“We are so pleased for the owner that we have recovered the mini digger. This successful recovery of equipment would not have been possible without the help from our rural community.

 “Working closely with our rural communities is important to us and I’m really pleased that through projects such as We Don’t Buy Crime and work done by the whole rural and business team that we’re able to understand the issues that affect them and work with them to resolve these.

Over the next few months we will be visiting farms throughout the county offering them the opportunity to get involved with our latest initiatives to help make their land even safer.”

 

2 hours ago, twowheelsgood said:

They're still there, despite the statement from the Council that they would be removed by the end of the month. There's an interesting theory about this whole debacle and that is that it's deliberate malfeasance by senior officers who don't agree with the ruling political allegiances, who of course take the flak, whilst officers remain hidden.

They will be removed this week, we understand possibly Thursday (weather permitting) delay due to bank holiday.

Not sure what to do when you hear emergency vehicles appraoching? 

Here is a great video explaining exactly what to do.. 

🔹Please watch and share🔹

#HerefordVoice #BlueLightAware

As families gear up to send their kids back to school next week, West Midlands Railway is helping out with a selection of discounts on season tickets for this academic term.

Perfect for school, college or university students who regularly travel by train, the offers include 50% off season tickets for students aged 16 or over, and 25% off for students aged 15 or under. 

As well as helping parents make considerable savings, purchasing a season ticket saves students having to buy a ticket each day and reduces their social contact at the station. 

Helping passengers to travel safely and comfortably, West Midlands Railway has put a number of strict measures in place. 

As well as cleaning trains with the latest antiviral equipment, the operator has implemented social distancing on platforms, stairs and escalators, and applied new signs and one-way systems at train stations. 

The operator is reminding all passengers to maintain social distancing whenever possible and wear a face covering at all times, including children aged 11 and over. 

West Midlands Railway will also be introducing a new timetable on Sunday 6 September, helping to increase service levels in time for the return of schools and workplaces. 

The new timetable – which will generate thousands of extra seats on West Midlands Railway services – will return the network’s capacity to near pre-Covid levels. Jonny Wiseman, head of customer experience at West Midlands Railway, says:

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“Coronavirus has had a significant impact on our lives and we understand that many parents will be anxious about sending their kids back to school. 

“We also know that the pandemic has affected the finances of families across the region so we wanted to offer a helping hand with two generous discounts on our student season tickets. 

“In addition to the special offers, we have also introduced extra measures to help suppor

 

t social distancing and stepped up our cleaning, to help our customers adjust to the new way of travelling.”

To find out more about student season tickets or to purchase, visit wmr.uk/students. 

Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service with crews from Kington, Eardisley, Peterchurch and Kingsland fire station dealing with a standing crop fire this morning.

#HerefordVoice #Herefordshire #HerefordNews

M50 RTC UPDATE: West Mercia Police have today confirmed the sad news that a man in his thirties has sadly died.

Officers are still in attendance at a collision site on the M50 near Ledbury. One lane remains closed but police are working with their partners to get this opened as soon ads possible.

Our thoughts are with his friends and family at this difficult time.

West Mercia Police have advised that they are at the scene of a fatal collision during the early hours on the M50 near Ledbury where two lanes Eastbound are currently closed.

Please avoid this area is possible.

The lanes are expected to be reopened early this afternoon. Please check before you travel.

#HerefordVoice #Herefordshire

Competition: We think it's about time that we gave our Hereford Bull Statue a name! 🐃

So come on folks, start suggesting names for him and next weekend we will compile a short list of all the favourite names listed below. 👇

So if you like one of the names suggested by someone please 'REPEAT' that name in your comment below. 👇

Once we have a short list of names, we will run a poll on our website for a week and finally come up with a winning name! (all unofficially of course, but if it's good enough maybe we can persuade the Council to make it official! Who knows)

We will start, as he is of the 'Border Rory' breed of Hereford's we will suggest 'Rory' 

Good luck!

A seller of illegal tobacco has been banned from Hereford and Worcester following a successful investigation by Herefordshire Council’s Trading Standards Service.

Tarik Abdullah Dosky, 54, was sentenced at Worcester Crown Court on Friday 7 August 2020 following the investigation into the sale of illegal tobacco in the region. Dosky was arrested in November 2019 during a Multi-Agency Targeted Enforcement Strategy (MATES) Operation led by Trading Standards, with West Mercia Police and Herefordshire and Worcestershire Fire and Rescue Service. 

Dosky, who has a history of selling illegal tobacco, pleaded guilty to nine offences at a previous hearing, which included selling counterfeit tobacco products to undercover Trading Standards Officers. His Honour Judge James Burbidge QC handed Dosky a 10 month prison sentence (suspended for two years), an exclusion order banning him from entering any part of Hereford and Worcester for two years, a four month curfew and ordered him to pay £250 costs.

Previously on 29 May 2020, a separate Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) case, also led by Herefordshire Trading Standards, saw investigators recover £14,376.00 from Dosky’s bank account which had been frozen following confiscation proceedings.

Trading Standards Service Manager David Hough said:

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“This case demonstrates the commitment by our enforcement officers in tackling illegal tobacco sellers in the county. Not only are the products sold often counterfeit and do not meet the safety standards required by law, but it is imperative that we help support local, legitimate businesses, in these uncertain times, by tackling the criminals.”

To report a seller of illegal tobacco in Herefordshire, please contact Trading Standards on 01432 261761.

McDonald's outlet on Belmont Road Hereford could soon become Hereford's first 24 hour McDonalds if planning is granted following their application.

Spotted in Tesco Belmont today..

It's still Summer and we're only in August, surely this is not the start of the Christmas stock, is it?? 🎅🌲🎁

What are your thoughts on this?

Welcome to the forum and thanks you for your contribution, hope to see you on here with ur other regulars.

There are some changes in the city at the moment and to be fair to the council that had to implement these within a tight time frame. This was all funded from Central Government who are also guiding many councils across the country to do similar things, I am aware that this is happening on Gloucester at the moment also.

Not sure about Commercial Road however, the bus lane was totally unnecessary and quite bizarre too.

I think the verdict is out at the moment and we have to give these temporary measures more time, the council are listening to people and adjusting and constantly reviewing these measures which can only be a good thing. People do not like change and we do not agree with all of the changes so it will interesting to see how it all pans out. There will be more changes and adjustments for sure.

We try to put a positive spin on thing where we can and we do get frustrated with all the constant moaning all the time without giving it a chance..

Before and after photographs of Blackmarston Road play area safe, tidy and open. 

This is great to see 👏👏 thanks to Cllr Kevin Tillett for Hinton & Hunderton for the photographs

Before

And after, wow what a difference! 

On 03/07/2020 at 10:43, Alex said:

This is a strange sculpture, but I am keen to see it when it comes to Hereford. It is massive.

Yes we're also looking forward to seeing it

We will be grabbing a nice coffee here later today 

Last week to enjoy so extra discount, remember to pre book

Another busy day in Hereford! It's great to see so many people about again.

We took all of these photographs within the last hour (15.30-1600), the shops including the Hereford Butter Market are all busy which is great to see. 

We walked into the City Centre and virtually every street was busy with people as you can see from all the various photographs we have taken. Lots of people all walking or relaxing and enjoying the patchy but warm weather.

Have a wonderful weekend 🌞 😎

#HerefordVoice #Hereford #PositiveHereford

Herefordshire Council have removed the ugly red barriers along Broad St, King St and Bridge Street and replaced them will more aesthetically pleasing plants, which are much better.

All this is necessary so pedestrians can socially-distance and cyclists can ride their bikes safely.

These measures are necessary in the fight against this dreadful Coronavirus pandemic as directed and funded by central Government.

Once again the city is busy with people which is great to see.

Grange Heating have agreed to sponsor the Hereford FC Media Backdrop for the upcoming season extending their long-standing relationship with the Football Club, as the Bulls prepare for the upcoming 2020/2021 season.

Grange Heating who are a specialist heating and plumbing company from Hereford and experts in domestic and commercial heating have committed to sponsor the Club once again.

Grange Heating Managing Director, Ewen Grange, said: “I want to continue to support the local Football Club for another season to build on the success it has had since it was first formed. The Football Club gives so much pleasure to the local community and that is something we want to be a part of for the Club’s future success”

Hereford FC General Manager James Watts said: “We are delighted that Grange Heating have, once again, sponsored Hereford FC for another season with their sponsorship of our Media Backdrop and I look forward to working with them during the 2020/2021 campaign and beyond.”.

For more information on Grange Heating, visit www.grangeheating.co.uk

Exclusive Breaking News: We rang Cllr Harrington this afternoon to get an update on the Emergency Active Travel Measures and to ask him if there were any changes in the pipeline. 

He said that following on meeting with City and County Cllrs that was agreed at Full Council and after feedback from the BiD, businesses and taxi drivers he made the following changes last week. These orders were agreed last week but take 8 days to make and will take effect from this Saturday. 

🔹The Old Bridge will be open northbound from Saturday to licensed Hackney Carriages like it is for buses because the taxi association members made very valid comments about access and their role within the public transport service.

🔹Extra parking bays have been re-introduced on Broad Street.

🔹Newmarket and Blueschool Street will not go ahead at present because Highways England who control the A49 and the Tesco/Steels roundabout have not planned any safety changes to the junction and so instead they will proceed with a contra-flow up St.Owens Street, down Offa St, St.John's Street and across Cathedral Green to cross the A49 by the New Bridge instead (via underpass or across a much easier junction to navigate - onto Barton Road)

🔹There will be special 'food and other goods' collection bays put in on King Street to help the temporary takeaway operations of restaurants and other traders, like the florists. The utility barriers will continue to be replaced with planters (started yesterday) 

🔹Aylestone Hill - going towards the colleges - will be considered for a wider safer cycle lane uphill only.

🔹Ledbury Road will be getting lanes put in along its length up to the Cock of Tupsley (probably uphill only again for now after Cllr feedback)

🔹Commercial Road's lanes will be removed, hopefully by the end of the next weekend, as the scheme is not proving helpful but is actually, in his opinion and many others, counterproductive

He said he and the administration do take feedback from specific sectors seriously but they have a duty as Cllrs to respond to the request from government to implement these measures and to listen to all views - responding to valid concerns when raised. 

He appreciates all the feedback and questions put to him and supports all groups, regardless of agenda, who wish to best express their views in a clear and rational manner. 

He will keep us updated of any further changes or additions. 

#HerefordVoice #HerefordNews #Hereford

Making more space to move around Hereford safely – we’re listening

As the shops re-opened, people returned to work and visitor numbers increased, temporary measures were introduced in Hereford and the market towns to give pedestrians and cyclists the space they need to maintain social distancing and travel safely. 

The measures, which include temporary barriers and signage to widen footways, partial road closures and dedicated cycle lanes, allow more space to walk and cycle in busy areas, helping pedestrians and cyclists feel safer where space is shared.

Following feedback from businesses and individuals on the initial measures in Hereford, a number of revisions have been made: 

·       The temporary barriers to widen footways on Bridge St, King St and Broad St are being replaced with planters to enhance the appearance of the measures in these historic streets

·       Parking bays have been reintroduced in Broad street as parallel bays (disabled and pay and display bays) 

·       Temporary advisory pickup bays have been introduced in King St, which traders have identified as important in current conditions

·       Taxis will be able to travel northbound across the Old Wye Bridge from Saturday 22 August to support this alternative to private car use

·       The proposed bus and cycle lanes on Newmarket St and Blueschool St will not be implemented. 

Cllr John Harrington, Cabinet member infrastructure and transport, explains: 

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“We want to provide as much space to cyclists and pedestrians as possible to encourage people to use alternatives to the car to travel around the city, and to free up pavements for safe queuing and distancing. 

“When we first introduced the temporary measures we promised we would listen to feedback from traders and residents on the impact on their journey and business, and respond. This is exactly what we have done with the revisions we have made.

“We want people to feel relaxed when they come into town and to spend more time and money within our towns and the City. Figures recently released by Hereford BID show an increase of 25% in footfall in Hereford, demonstrating the strength of our city’s appeal to residents and visitors. We would encourage feedback on the temporary measures in Hereford and the market towns so that we can continue to ensure they support pedestrians and cyclists to travel around the busiest areas safely.”