Hereford Voice

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Traffic Lights Out Trial Hereford. Hereford Voice have been campaigning for years to have some of the traffic lights in Hereford (not pedestrian lights) turned off, as most agree with our motto, 'The Traffic Just Flows' when the lights have been out in the past. It is looking like we may have a trial sometime this summer. This was featured on this evenings ITV News #HerefordVoice

A decision paper has been published (16 January 2020) that outlines the work that will take place to assess the Hereford bypass and Southern link road schemes while carrying out a wider review of the transport strategy for Hereford. Cllr John Harrington, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Transport, said: While the review is under way a number of transport and travel schemes will be progressing, including the development of a high quality transport hub at Hereford railway station and improvements to public spaces and facilities for cyclists and pedestrians across the city. The decision will be taken by Cllr Harrington on Friday 24 January 2020. The review is expected to take around six months to complete and will include consultation with the public and stakeholder organisations.

Hereford Voice - Turn Traffic Lights Off! Campaign: Traffic Lights Out! Guess What...NO DELAYS!! 'The Traffic Just Flows' Councillor John Harrington kindly just send us this video, which clearly shows at 'rush hour' with the traffic lights out how smoothly the traffic just flows!! Please continue to support our long campaign to trail turning these lights off, sign our petition:

Principality Building Society will be opening a branch in the newly build Alban House development in High Town Hereford. They currently have a branch in St Peter's Square. Planning permission for advertising consent has been submitted. This will breath new life into the former building which was fire damaged and left undeveloped for years.

Edenstone Homes have submitted outline planning permission on land east of the A40 at Ross on Wye for the erection of up to 175 dwellings together with associated development (all matters reserved except access). P194403/O

Photography: A spectacular photograph of the fireworks overlooking the duck pond from last nights new year celebrations at the Castle House Hereford. Thank you Chris Bridges Photography for this superb shot which really captures the moment.

A new Burger King Drive-Thru is due to open a in Ross-on-Wye early in February. A Starbucks cafe is already open on the site of the Euro Garages and work has already began on the new 82 seat Burger King Restaurant and drive-thru. The new restaurant will create between 20 to 30 jobs and people are being asked to apply now.

TV personality Richard Hammond has had his planning application for refurbishment at his home at Bollitree Castle, Weston under Penyard (near Ross on Wye) approved with conditions: Planning Application: P192366/FH Bollitree Castle is situated in the village of Weston Under Penyard, approximately 2 miles east of Ross-on-Wye. The barn is Grade II listed and forms part of a group of buildings within the grounds of Bollitree Castle. These buildings include the main house, which is Grade II* and another barn which has Grade I status. The barn is currently used as ancillary accommodation to the main house, containing a swimming pool, bar, gym and office on the ground floor. The first floor is used for storage and has a recording studio at the southern end. The adjacent barn is used for the storage and display of motorbikes. The proposal primarily involves providing additional sleeping accommodation on the first floor, with alterations to the ground floor to provide space for entertaining guests. The swimming pool is reduced in size and the gym relocated to the southern end of the barn. A glazed extension provides a link between the dining area and the motorbike display room. Richard Hammond

PASSENGERS OFFERED FIRST GLIMPSE OF NEW WEST MIDLANDS RAILWAY TRAINS Passengers in the West Midlands have been offered a first glimpse of the new, state-of-the-art trains which will arrive in the region next year after on-track testing began. West Midlands Railway has ordered a total of 26 diesel trains - known in the rail industry as Class 196s – as part of its £800m investment in the region’s railway network. The trains - which are being built in two-car and four-car formations – will be used to increase capacity on the busy line between Hereford and Birmingham when they begin arriving in the West Midlands next year. Among the benefits to passengers using the trains will be power points, WiFi and under-floor heating. A total of 80 carriages will be constructed under the project with the first batch now under construction in Europe by manufacturer CAF. They are due to arrive in the UK in the spring, with the remaining trains being manufactured at a purpose-built factory in south Wales. All units will undergo further testing here and in Europe before entering passenger service in the second half of 2020. A video of one of the first new Class 196 trains – complete with West Midlands Railway branding – being track-tested in Czechia in eastern Europe is attached. Class 196 Test Track.mov Jane Fisher, transition and projects director for West Midlands Railway, said:

The Fire Brigade and other emergency services dealing with a house fire in Newton Farm. Waterfield Road is closed to allow emergency vehicles to gain access. The fire appears to be under control but fire crews continue to dampen down this evening. There is a lot of damage to the property and traces of smoke continue to come out of the property. Waterfield road is still closed at this time however, this incident is slowly being scaled down. Thankfully the people who live at the address have all been accounted for.

Plans have been submitted by the owners of Play Planet in Widemarsh Street Hereford for the proposed change of use to D2 (Soft-play) of central section of sub-divided Industrial Unit. (former Vision Gelpack Premises, Faraday Road, Hereford). It is understood that Play Planet have been looking for larger premises in Hereford for a couple of years in which to move Play Planet and expand and if approved will create an additional 25 jobs. The proposal is to change the use of the two central bays (1028m2 plus ancillary first floor offices) of the former industrial premises. The application building has been vacant since March 2019 following the former user entering into administration in March of this year. The building dates from the post-war era and requires significant investment to bring it up to current building regulation standards. In addition to maintaining existing jobs at Play Planet, the proposal would ultimately create around 25 positions, also a range of spin-off opportunities for associated businesses which might benefit from a presence at such as facility. Planning Application P194006/F

Budget approved for Marlbrook Primary School expansion Plans to expand Marlbrook Primary School at Green Croft, have taken a big step forward as the council approved the capital funding to enable the project to move from the design stage to construction. Cabinet approved just over £6 million investment to provide new facilities at the school site. Rated outstanding by Ofsted, the popular school has seen a significant increase in pupil intake over the past few years resulting in the need to expand and improve the existing facilities. The school is also a teaching school and offers support and training to other schools regionally. The investment programme will see 6 new state of the art classrooms, a new hall, a special hygiene and physio room to make the school fully accessible to all learners. The project will also include new netball courts and improvement works to the car parking area. Completion of the new buildings will mean that the school can remove the current temporary classrooms from the site and pupils will be taught in permanent purpose built modern facilities. Contractors will start work at the school after Christmas with the aim of opening the new facilities to the pupils and teaching staff by spring 2021. Chris Baird, Herefordshire Council’s Director of Children and Families, said:

Supporting Local Business: 'Free Advertising' on our Social Media platforms with Hereford Voice throughout December covering the whole festive period. This applies to all local businesses, retailers, pubs, restaurants, events etc.. send us your adverts and include your posters, PDF's, special offers and competition prizes and we will do the rest... Our paid sponsors will also gain an extra months advertising FREE! We aim to promote as many local businesses as possible however, we are expecting a high demand, so this offer is subject to availability on a first-come first-served basis and we cannot guarantee to publish all adverts received. Please send us you your advert, poster, pdf, prize etc via messenger or email sales@herefordvoice.co.uk 'Keep It Local' #HerefordVoice #HerefordLocal

This one in Eign Street has been approved P193252/F

Welsh Water Update: Welsh Water have set up water collection points for anyone that requires bottled water. These are located at Tesco Belmont and Asda this evening. They are doing everything that they can to to restore drinking water supplies as soon as possible.

No Water? Welsh Water have confirmed that due to a burst water main during the early hours of this morning has resulted in large parts of the city with being without water or reduced water pressure. Residents in the Belmont, Newton Farm, Redhill, Whitecross and King's Acre areas of Hereford are affected Welsh Water are working hard and hoping to have all services restored later this morning.

Resident failed in their ‘duty of care’ when household waste was fly tipped A resident from Putson has been fined for illegally disposing of waste in a case taken to Hereford Magistrates’ Court by Herefordshire Council’s Community Protection Team. The individual was sentenced on Tuesday 17 September 2019 after pleading guilty to failing to secure the transfer of waste with a written description of the waste. They were sentenced to a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay costs of £600 plus a £20 victim surcharge. The court heard that unwanted furniture was removed from the home address of the Putson resident by a waste collector. The individual failed to obtain a waste transfer note and check that a waste carrier’s licence was held. On 28 December 2018, the removed furniture was found fly tipped on the roadside embankment of the country lane which sits between the A49 and A465 in Hereford. A disgusted resident posted a photograph of the fly tipping on social media and an investigation by the council’s Community Protection Team led to the identification of the Putson resident who failed to provide a detailed account as to who had collected the furniture. Without information about the waste collector, there was not enough evidence to complete a full investigation. David Hough, Herefordshire Council’s Trading Standards Service Manager said: Residents can call 01432 260051 to arrange a kerbside collection of bulky items from Herefordshire Council which costs £25 per three items (fridges or freezers cost £20 per item). Herefordshire Council’s Community Protection Team will investigate fly tipping which is reported by calling 01432 261761 or online at www.herefordshire.gov.uk/flytipping

Herefordshire's new official flag has just been unveiled and it's now flying at the Cathedral tower. Almost 700 people entered the competition to design the flag and the winner was Jason Saber from Kent. Our original discussion can be found HERE The flag shows a bull's head and the River Wye on a red background to represent the county's deep red soil which was Design C. Your thoughts?

Herefordshire's new official flag has just been unveiled and it's now flying at the Cathedral tower. Almost 700 people entered the competition to design the flag and the winner was Jason Saber from Kent. The flag shows a bull's head and the River Wye on a red background to represent the county's deep red soil which was Design C. Your thoughts?

Pepe's new store in Commercial Street Hereford is now open!

Herefordshire Council has submitted plans to refurbish the library in Hereford. Leading councillors agreed last year to spend up to £230,000 on developing the mezzanine floor at the Hereford Library and Museum on Broad Street. The proposed plans include widening of the existing door and forming an additional opening in the wall in the wall between the room and the library mezzanine. Opening up of the two internal window spaces. Inserting glazed screens within the openings with photographic images of Hereford. Inserting glazed screens to form office space and providing a kitchenette. Repairing the existing lath and plaster soffit and plastered walls with lime plaster. Uncovering and restoring/displaying the gothic window. Addingceiling mounted Breathing Building natural Ventilation system. The existing window W1 is to be removed and replaced with a shallower fixed double glazed window to match existing. The proposals will ensure the library is accessible to all. Planning application P193462/L

M5 motorway closed at Gloucester after body discovered. Officers have closed the M5 between junction 11A at Brockworth and junction 12 for Quedgeley after a person was found dead on the carriageway. The incident was reported shortly before 4.10am today (Wednesday 30 October). Officers attended the scene, on the southbound carriageway around a mile north of Gloucester Services, and have closed both sides of the motorway while the body is recovered and a serious incident investigation takes place. Diversions have been put in place but significant disruption is expected this morning and is likely to last for a number of hours while police continues its work at the scene and establishes the circumstances. Anyone who may have information but hasn't spoken to police should call 101 and quote incident 34 of 30 October.

The British people will head to the polls in a 'General Election' on Thursday 12 December 2019. Your thoughts...

There are many roads closed across the county due to the severe rainfall and conditions. Please do not drive through floods unless absolutely necessary. You are often our 'Eyes & Ears' please help us to help you by sending us your news & photographs. This can be done via Facebook messenger or Email. Thank you to all of the people who kindly take the time to send us regular updates throughout the year.