Nine people were arrested as police and partner agencies swooped on four locations in a crackdown on illegal workers in Herefordshire on Thursday (13 February).

Officers from West Mercia Police joined a MATES (Multi Agency Targeted Enforcement Strategy) operation at four locations with Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFRS), Immigration Enforcement and Herefordshire Council Licensing Enforcement all taking part.

A total of nine people were found working and living in the UK illegally, which saw fines issued to employers and enforcement papers were issued by HWFRS.

At the M&M Direct site on Southern Avenue in Leominster, four Chinese workers were found living and working on site and all identified as illegal.

They were interviewed and processed by Immigration with no slavery complaints. The four have been bailed by immigration and are subject to an ongoing investigation.

Two men from India were arrested on suspicion of having fake documents at a building site in Lyde and were detained by Immigration for deportation.

At DO’s Nail Bar on Widemarsh Street, one Vietnamese female was arrested, processed and bailed by Immigration.

And at Planet Buffet on Commercial Road, two Chinese males were arrested, processed and bailed by Immigration.

Police Sergeant Duncan Reynolds, of Hereford City Centre Team, said: “This MATES op was a big success, securing nine suspects arrested at four locations thanks to some great partnership work.

“Those arrested are now being processed by Immigration as further investigations continue into illegal workers linked to organised crime gangs whose criminality has no place on the streets of Hereford.”

A former West Mercia Police officer has pleaded guilty to a corruption offence, following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

Photo credit PA Media 

At a hearing yesterday (Wednesday) at Worcester Crown Court, Oliver Dines, 33, was given a 15 month prison sentence.

We received a referral about the officer’s conduct from West Mercia Police in December 2020 and we started our investigation soon after. The offending, which involved the improper use of a police officer’s powers and privileges, was committed against two women on separate occasions, in Herefordshire, while Dines was on duty.

The evidence showed how he first met woman A, during the course of his duties when she was arrested for an alleged offence in October 2020. As she was waiting to be interviewed by him, he asked her if she was single. After leaving custody, PC Dines took the woman home and before getting out of the police car, he commented on the clothing that she was wearing. When he was outside her property, he inappropriately touched her. A short time later, woman A then received a Facebook friend request from PC Dines, which she said she felt obliged to accept, because he was a police officer. He then started messaging her, whilst he was still on duty. Over a period of approximately eight hours, PC Dines sent her more than 50 messages.

Woman B reported being assaulted in September 2020 and PC Dines dealt with the case. He continued contacting woman B from his work mobile phone and later, from his personal mobile.

His messages quickly became sexualised and explicit and at one point, he asked her to send pictures of herself to him, which she refused to do. She asked PC Dines to stop messaging her, yet he continued to do so. PC Dines also made unnecessary visits to woman B at her home. On one occasion, he inappropriately touched her.

IOPC Director Derrick Campbell: “Part of a police officer’s role is to protect members of the public who are in vulnerable situations, not to make them feel uncomfortable and unsafe. This was a clear case of abuse of power by the officer, for his own gratification.

“PC Dines’ behaviour has the potential to seriously undermine public confidence in policing and he has now, rightly, been held accountable for his actions.”

During our enquiries, investigators interviewed the police officer, examined his mobile phone and obtained statements from several witnesses, including the two women he targeted. He admitted during interview that he failed to act with integrity and that he had pursued an improper emotional relationship with both women.

We completed our investigation in December 2021. We then submitted our evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service, who authorised the charges. We also sent our investigation report to West Mercia Police along with the recommendation that PC Dines should face gross misconduct proceedings.

Mr Dines was dismissed from the force in March 2022 on an unrelated matter.

Stonegate Group owners of The Imperial Inn is a historic gem in the heart of Hereford located on the bustling Widemarsh Street known for its independent and high street shopping.

• Forecast Turnover per year: £1,360,059
• Guide Rent per week: £2,115

Stonegate Description

The Inn is extremely well presented, comfort meets convenience at the Imperial, with cosy seating areas for both drinkers and diners.

The Imperial is a place for everyone, hosting regular events, live music, live sports and social gatherings - a beloved spot for both locals and tourists. The Imperial has a brilliant events space with the first floor private function with its own bar.

The site currently benefits from both on-site dining and off-site delivery through a "Dark Kitchen" model. Our agreement allows the successful publican the same flexibility should they wish.

The Imperial Inn is an excellent business opportunity, and we expect a high level of interest in this opportunity.

Key Features

• Traditional and beautfully half timbered pub in the heart of historic Hereford
• Established clientele with great scope to develop and expand an already successful business 
• Great pub for zoning drinkers, casual and celebratory dining as well as sports viewing 
• Large beer garden to the rear with open and sheltered areas and an outside bar to take advantage of during the lazy summer days 
• Large first floor function room with private bar and facilities for special occassions and meetings

Full details HERE

Legal action over pollution in the Wye, Lugg and Usk catchment area has been expanded to include Welsh Water (WW) as well as Cargill Plc, Avara Foods and Freemans of Newent as defendants.

Sewage spills by the water company into the Wye, Lugg and Usk and surrounding rivers make Welsh Water also accountable for pollution that has damaged the river water quality, says law firm Leigh Day.

The law firm, which now has a base in Hereford to handle demand for the legal claim to hold alleged polluters to account, launched its action in March 2024.

Initially Avara Foods, Cargill Plc and Freemans of Newent were named as the primary defendants in the legal action alleging public and private nuisance and breaches of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The companies deny the allegations.

Leigh Day claims industrial-scale chicken production managed by Avara is responsible for the bulk of river water pollution in the Wye catchment.

It says manure that runs off into the rivers Wye, Lugg and Usk creates phosphorus and nitrate pollution resulting in algal blooms, which block sunlight and deprive the water of oxygen.

However, phosphorus and nitrates that are also present in sewage discharges from Welsh Water’s operations are also contributing to the pollution of the rivers, says Leigh Day.

Now, as a result of a July 2024 Supreme Court ruling that a sewage nuisance claim can be brought against a water company, Leigh Day is able to add Welsh Water to the legal action.

A letter before action has been sent to Welsh Water, alleging that sewerage operations from the water company have materially contributed to the pollution of the Wye, Lugg and Usk, resulting in problems with odour, insect swarms, biodiversity loss, and poor water quality.

A letter outlining similar allegations against Avara, with its 50 per cent shareholder Cargill PLC and subsidiary company Freemans of Newent, was sent last year.

Cargill, Avara and Freemans of Newent deny the allegations.

The civil legal action against Welsh Water argues that sewage discharges from the water company, which are high in phosphorus and bacteria due to human faeces, have materially contributed to the pollution of the river.

The effects of this include interfering with residents’ enjoyment of the river in activities such as wild swimming and fishing, as well as negatively impacting businesses which rely on the condition of the river.

Organisations including the Environment Agency (EA) report wastewater treatment works and sewage discharges as other contributors to phosphorus pollution in the Wye.

Reporting from WW itself in May 2023 estimated that 23 per cent of phosphorus in the Wye had come from its own wastewater treatment works.

In June 2024, the EA successfully prosecuted WW for breaking the conditions of an environmental permit at a sewage treatment works near Hereford between August 2020 and June 2021, with the court finding that WW had exceeded permitted levels of wastewater into the River Wye.

Annual Event Duration Monitoring data published by WW shows that between 2021-2023, Welsh Water has been responsible for spilling in the River Wye Catchment over 89,000 hours, an equivalent of over 3,000 days.

Leigh Day partner Oliver Holland, who is leading the claim, said:

“It is important that we hold all of the corporations that we allege are the biggest polluters of the Wye, Lugg and Usk to account in the legal action.

“We believe that the evidence points to Welsh Water as a major contributor to the pollution of the Wye, Usk and Lugg. This legal action is not just about a single company or entity – it is about ensuring more widely that enough is being done to stop UK rivers and waterways from deteriorating.

“Last year’s Supreme Court ruling in the case of Manchester Ship Canal v United Utilities has paved the way for Leigh Day to be able to expand the Wye legal claim. At present this will be the biggest nuisance claim for sewage operations against a water company in the UK.”

The legal claim is supported by campaign group River Action, whose chair Charles Watson, added:

“With the addition of Welsh Water as a defendant, this legal action is clearly shaping up to be one of the most significant pieces of litigation relating to river pollution yet witnessed in the UK.

“The extensive work carried out by Leigh Day in recent months has now developed a holistic map of what are believed to be the principal sources of the chronic pollution of this iconic British River and there is now nowhere for the bodies we believe are the principal perpetrators of this scandal to hide.”

Leigh Day will hold an event in Hereford Left Bank on the evening of Thursday 20 February 2025, for members of the community to talk to the legal team about the claim against Welsh Water.

Approval has been given to transform Hereford’s Shirehall into a new community space including an innovative library and learning centre.

Planning permission and listed building consent was given full approval at the Planning and Regulatory Committee meeting held on Tuesday 28 January. It means that work can now begin on this exciting project to deliver a new, state-of-the art, community space and permanent home for Hereford’s Public Library.

The design for this modern and vibrant facility has been carefully considered to both complement and revitalise the rich heritage of the Shirehall, whilst delivering the wider and much-needed restoration of this key historic building.

The initial phases of work will focus on getting the building structurally sound, watertight and safe for public use while repairing and preserving the building’s important heritage features.

The main entrance will be transformed into a large, welcoming area with exhibition space and improvements will be made to provide greater accessibility. The work will also include complete replacement of heating, electrical and fire safety systems throughout the building, targeting a range of improvements in building efficiency, performance and running costs.

The Assembly Hall will provide the new home for the library and will offer readers plenty of space to relax, read or browse the collection and to join a wide variety of organised library events. Meeting rooms and flexible spaces for events and community activities will also be developed, offering plenty of opportunities for everyone to get involved.

A new learning centre will offer much improved facilities and services for learning, digital literacy, cultural activity and wellbeing.

The plans have been developed and refined over many months through workshops, consultations and surveys. Public feedback from a consultation undertaken at the end of last year is being analysed and will also inform the design of the new library to ensure best fit to users’ needs.

Councillor Harry Bramer, Cabinet Member for Community Services and Assets, said:

Our plans outline how we will transform the Shirehall into a modern community space and library and learning centre while retaining important heritage features. It’s really great news that approval has been given by Planning Committee.

Our plans for the new library are ambitious and exciting and will offer Herefordshire residents all that they would expect from their library – and much more. For example, there will be a fabulous programme of featured events on the Assembly Hall stage, a sensory room and a ‘makerspace’ with equipment for hire where people will be able to share their knowledge and ideas to work collaboratively on all sorts of projects.

It’s still early days and we have a lot of work to do until the library opens to the public in the autumn of 2026. But this is a great first step and we look forward to sharing developments as we progress.

In the meantime, library services will continue to be available from Hereford Town Hall. We are pleased that three times as many people are visiting this location than when it was based at Friar Street. This indicates that the new permanent location at Shirehall will be convenient for library users.

The development of the Library and Learning Centre is supported by £2.6Million from Hereford’s Stronger Towns funding.

Please pop in for a cuppa, fresh cooked breakfast or some delicious home made cake!!

Angela and some of the staff from the former 'First Light Cafe' are now baking cakes and preparing the all new cafe which opens their doors at 8:30am on Monday morning!

A new safe place for veterans to relax and chill out with friends.

The veterans wall is looking fabulous!!

This wonderful new hub is open to everyone, so please support this local cafe and pop in for a nice coffee, some homemade cakes, breakfast, toasties, soup and food every day!

Opening Hours:

Monday - Saturday - 8:30am - 4pm

Sunday - 8:30am - 2:30pm

Hereford Voice are proud to be associated with this wonderful new local hub at Maylord Orchards in the heart of our fabulous city.

Planning was again approved, more recently for an extension after the original plans. 

The discount retailer has submitted a further planning application for new signage on the site of the former Three Counties Hotel the A465 Belmont Road in South Wye Hereford.

New Signage

1 x Free standing flagpole sign. 2 x Canopy mounted entrance sign. 1 x Small wall mounted billboard. 2 x Large wall mounted billboards. 1 x Illuminated poster display unit. 1 x Trolleys sign.

In their covering letter the agents Carney Sweeney working on behalf of Lidl's wrote, 

This package of signs is now the standard one that you will see at almost all Lidl stores across the UK, so we trust that you will find it non-contentious and feel able to give delegated advertisement consent without any undue delay. 

Construction work for the new supermarket is expected to begin shortly.

ART Hospitality Group (previously known as A Rule Of Tum) experienced its most successful year yet with a whole host of new openings, business ventures, investments and refurbishments. 2024 was a year to remember for the Herefordshire-based hospitality group, with many more exciting plans for regional expansion in the near future.

Launching over ten years ago, the group now employs 120 staff across three cities and is planning to bring another 30 team members on board to help set up and run a much-anticipated new venture in Birmingham, working with famed chef Pete Dovaston, and increasing their total workforce to over 150 employees.

2024 saw the group completely transform Dr Foster (formally known as Dr Foster’s in Gloucester) from a local drinking spot to a stylish new gastropub. Undergoing an impressive refurbishment with a £375k investment, the new space is unrecognisable and has gone from strength to strength since the reopening, with a locally sourced menu and calendar of regular events. Head Chef behind the opening of Dr Foster and Head Chef of The Bookshop, Callum McDonald, was featured on MasterChef: The Professionals 2024 where he showcased his talent and determination, one of the reasons behind the success of both restaurants.

The group also invested £30k in their popular Hereford hotspot, The Yard. Following a seasonal refurbishment of the city centre hangout to make it ‘Winter proof’, the unique venue allows diners to experience food from any of the group’s four Hereford restaurants; Burger Shop, Leaven Pizza, The Bookshop and Maneki Ramen, all through a seamless QR code ordering system.

DishByArt, a dedicated events company, was also launched in 2024 and has helped to expand the hospitality group into bespoke catering and event hosting, with a £120k investment to get the latest arm of the business off the ground. This is simply another string to the company’s bow and was a natural progression that made sense to the founders, who have not only opened several restaurants in recent years but also run successful local food and music celebration, Hereford Indie Festival.

Hereford Indie Festival 2024 hosted over 12,000 attendees during four days, generating over £400k for local suppliers, independent food vendors, makers and market stalls. The impressive line-up brought top-tier entertainment to Hereford and featured artists such as Feeder, Gabrielle and The Lottery Winners.

In total, ART invested over £500k across new openings and renovations, demonstrating their commitment to growth and enhancing customer experiences. 2024 saw a phenomenal 34% revenue growth compared to 2023, showcasing the strength of the brand and offerings.

With multiple award wins under their belt this year across numerous restaurants, including Leaven Pizza taking home four major accolades in the 2024 Italian Awards, there’s no stopping this hospitality group. The highly anticipated second Maneki Ramen restaurant is set to open early next year in a swanky Jewellery Quarter location with additional new group openings in the pipeline in the not-so-distant future.

Dorian Kirk, ART Hospitality Group Founder and Operations Director, comments:

“It’s an extremely exciting time for us, and we are so thankful for all our customers for a truly unforgettable year. 2024 was a great success and we are all raring to go for another jam-packed year. There’s lots of things in the pipeline that we are really looking forward to, and we can’t wait to continue to grow the business with our latest expansion. Work is progressing really quickly with our newest venture, Maneki Ramen in the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham.

“Guests will be immersed in our Japanese inspired interior, with an open kitchen to display our talented team’s skilled techniques, alongside an exclusive chefs table experience, right in the heart of the culinary action!”

Helping to support local is something the company is very passionate about, and giving back is at the core of the company ethos. In total, ART donated £10k to charitable causes in 2024, supporting community initiatives and organisations. As part of their commitment to shopping locally, they also generated over £800k for independent and small operators by using locally sourced, fresh and high-quality products across all restaurants.

For more information on ART Hospitality group and their complete portfolio, please visit www.arthospitality.co.uk.

The Prince of Wales will visit Lower Blakemere Farm in Hereford to learn more about how the multigenerational farm has refined regenerative farming practices and farm diversification as part of its journey to net zero.

Photo courtesy of Kensington Palace 

Lower Blakemere Farm is one of the Duchy of Cornwall’s seven Focus Farms, an initiative designed to share knowledge and experiences of the transition to greener farming practices.

The 630-acre Hereford based farm was established in the early 1980s as a specialist seed grower with a herd of South Devon cattle. The farm has evolved over time and the family have embraced regenerative farming, with a focus on restoring soil health, boosting biodiversity, and using farming practices that are sustainable for the long term. Such approaches are at the heart of the Duchy of Cornwall’s efforts to reach its target of becoming net zero across the estate by the end of 2032.

Tenant farmers Phil and Heather Gorringe, with their son Monty, have also diversified the farm business including repurposing the old grain store, creating an event space for local community use and launching a successful composting business.

Kensington Palace

A murder investigation has been launched after a man was found dead at an address in Hereford on Saturday afternoon (18 January).

Officers were called to an address on Brierley Court in Hereford at around 3.40pm following reports of a concern for welfare.

A 54-year-old man was found with injuries and sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

A 42-year-old man was arrested in South Wales on Saturday evening on suspicion of murder and is helping police with their enquiries.

Detective Chief Inspector Gareth Lougher said: “Officers attended an address in Brierley Court, Hereford on Saturday afternoon following concerns for welfare.

“Sadly, we found a 54-year-old man in the property with injuries who was pronounced dead at the scene.

“We have arrested one man on suspicion of murder, and he is helping police with their investigation.

“I would like to reassure the local community we do not believe there is any wider risk to the public".

Ashberry Healthcare, experienced boutique care home providers, have been announced as new owners of The Weir nursing home, Swainshill.

The 34-bed home is a grade II listed Georgian mansion and National Trust property, set in the beautiful Weir Gardens, which will remain open to the public as usual.

Ashberry Healthcare will continue to provide high-quality care for the home’s 34 residents, as all staff transfer over to their employment – meaning the home’s residents will continue to receive care from the familiar people they know and trust.

The team at Ashberry Healthcare own two other local homes, Broomy Hill and Holmer Court, which has won several awards including this year’s Care Home of the Year at the Hereford Health and Social Care Awards.

The move comes after David Kingham, previous owner of The Weir, is retiring after an impressive 30 years.

Nigel Denny, Chief Executive Officer of Ashberry Healthcare, thanked David for his “impressive legacy”, saying “it’s a privilege to be able to continue the home’s heritage and build on the strong reputation of The Weir team. We wish David a very happy and well-deserved retirement”.

Experts in community-style living, Ashberry Healthcare have an impressive track record of quality care which they will bring to The Weir. Across their eight care homes, they have an average score of 9.8/10 on independent review site carehome.co.uk – making them one of the top scoring care home groups in the UK.

The team at Ashberry Healthcare are already building a packed activities calendar for residents, and plan to make the most of the beautiful gardens for those living at the home to enjoy. They pride themselves on balancing older people’s independence and enjoyment with exceptional standards across residential, nursing and dementia care in community-style living environments.

Nigel Denny spoke about the plans for the home, saying:

“We are really looking forward to getting to know everyone at The Weir more closely as we welcome them to our family of homes, and to strengthening our existing support for the Hereford community.

At Ashberry Healthcare, our care is all about community living, and building a sense of place, friendship and belonging.

Building on the hard work and connections of the whole team at The Weir, we’ll bring these values to the local community for people who seek the camaraderie, empowerment, and independence that a smaller home can offer.”

The HGV was traveling along Gains Road, Linley Green, Herefordshire, earlier this week on Thursday evening. The lorry suffered extensive damage, with debris scattered across the road. Reports also indicate that the HGV caused significant damage to nearby hedgerows and trees.

Photo credit Tobias Bloomfield

Providers of public realm services are being invited to tender for a major new contract to deliver ‘fit for the future’ services for Herefordshire

Public realm services are vital to local residents, businesses and communities as they include the maintenance of roads, roadsides, green areas and public spaces, street cleaning, highway drainage, street lighting and highway winter safety services. They help ensure the spaces where we live, work and travel are safe and clean.

The council’s vision is that all of these essential services are ‘fit for the future’ – that embrace technology, automation and digital innovation, that support a transition to electric plant, vehicles and new materials for carbon reduction, that continually improve through investment in developments and people, and that maximise opportunities and resources.

To meet this vision, the council has started the process of finding the next provider of public realm services with a view to securing a new contractor from 1 June 2026.

Councillor Harry Bramer, Cabinet Member for Community Services and Assets said: “The transformation of all of our services to ensure they embrace best practice, deliver innovation and demonstrate value for money is an integral part of our Council Plan.

“To have the best possible public realm services is essential for all of our residents and businesses. We need to appoint the best possible provider to work with us over at least the next seven to ten years, to deliver the best for our communities, keeping our roads and public spaces well maintained, safe and clean.

“In the tender documentation for this major new contract, we’ve clearly set out what we expect from our next public realm services partner. Through pre-testing with the market we are confident that there are providers of high quality services willing to submit a tender, and we look forward to finding out more about how they can support.us to provide high quality services for Herefordshire that are fit for the future.”

A Cabinet decision on the chosen public realm service provider is expected to be made in November 2025. The current contract with BBLP living places ends on 31 May 2026, and the new contract will start on 1 June 2026.

A planning request has been submitted for screening opinion - proposed installation of a pontoon within the River Wye.

To install a pontoon (measured at 12m x 3m) within the River Wye as part of The Left Bank Village and De Koffie Pot Project in Hereford.

The proposed Project involves retaining service buildings, no alterations to the main Left Bank entrance and the installation of a pontoon on the north bank of the River Wye.

Application and full details can be found here

Herefordshire Council’s Cabinet has agreed proposals of £58million, with £21million planned for investment in the coming financial year.

The proposed Capital Programme for 2025/26 presented at the Cabinet meeting today (Monday 13 January 2025) outlined an ambitious programme of capital investment aligned to the priorities of the Council Plan.

The report outlines proposals for £58.12million of investment over the next four years. The proposed additional £21million in 2025/26 will fund a range of projects that encourage active lifestyles for children and young people through investment in play areas, deliver new infrastructure to support housing and business development, reduce the impact of flooding and improve the condition of roads and road safety across the county.

Councillor Jonathan Lester, Leader Herefordshire Council said: “This report outlines our plans for £58.12million of investment over the next four years. This includes an additional £21million in 2025/26.

“In our County Plan we set out how we are going to deliver the best for Herefordshire in everything we do. We are proposing that this additional funding is invested in those key priorities local people have told us are important to them.

“This includes £7.5million additional spending on road resurfacing and highways infrastructure in the coming financial year, meaning that between 2023 and 2026 we will have invested an extra £29.7million in this important area, to benefit residents and businesses.

“We are also proposing an additional £1.5million for road safety schemes in 2025/26, and just over £1million for measures in areas at risk of flooding. We’ve also identified £500,000 this year for children’s play area investment with a further £500,000 in 2026/27.

“This is an ambitious programme of investment and improvement for 2025/26 and onwards to ensure the council is doing all it can to deliver the best for Herefordshire.”

The proposals will now be recommended to Council for approval at its meeting on Friday 7 February 2025.

The full report which includes outline details of each project is available on the council website at Agenda for Cabinet on Monday 13 January 2025, 2.30 pm - Herefordshire Council.

Inclusion of any project in the capital programme is not agreement to proceed, and each project will need a full business case and approval where required.

202526 Draft Capital Investment Budget and Capital Strategy Update.pdf

West Mercia Police Officers are appealing for witnesses following a collision in Harewood End on Friday (10 January).

At around 5.05pm two vehicles, a Silver 4x4 Suzuki and a grey Ssangyong pickup, were travelling in opposite directions along the A49 between Hereford and Ross-on-Wye.

The cars collided, leaving one driver – a man in his 80’s - with serious and potentially life-changing injuries. He was taken to hospital where he remains.

The driver of the second vehicle suffered minor injuries. No one else was injured.

Anyone with information or dashcam footage of the collision, or in the moments before, is asked to contact PC Tom Milton. You can email him at tom.milton@westmercia.police.uk.

After years of anticipation, the development plan to transform Hereford's Merton Meadow into more than 200 new homes, along with business spaces, is set to move forward following a significant agreement.

Herefordshire Council has enlisted Buttress Architects, based in Manchester, to manage the project as it progresses to the construction phase, in a deal valued at £767,253.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Growth on 9 September 2024 made a key decision spend up to £800,000 for the Merton Meadow sites in Hereford.

Reasons for decision:

• Cabinet Member decision dated 9 September 2024 sets out Merton Meadow Flood Alleviation Scheme.
• Brownfield Land Release Fund (BLRF) grant funding has been awarded by government for the Merton Meadow sites in Hereford.
• The project will also unlock significant growth at a key gateway location, creating opportunities for inter-generational inner city living on currently under utilised land. This will enable people to live, work in the city centre, spend time and money in local businesses.
• Address flooding issues, affecting these and surrounding properties.
• Improve biodiversity.
• The project would have the potential unlock up to 210 new dwellings.

Photographs courtesy of Anne Cottringer

In a notable shift within Herefordshire's local media scene, Matt Healey has officially resigned as a director of Your Herefordshire Ltd, effective October 2024. Despite stepping down, Healey continues to contribute occasional live updates for the platform. His departure as a company director marks the second resignation of a director since the company’s establishment in April 2019. 

Our good friend Nicola Bates, one of the company’s original directors, previously resigned in February 2021, leaving the business under the management of its remaining directors. With Healey’s resignation, the company’s leadership now rests with Alison Rogers and Stefan Davies, who continue as active directors.

Your Herefordshire has established itself as a local social media page in the community, providing some various news and updates through its digital platforms, including their Facebook page. However, the company recently experienced a period of turbulence when its Facebook page was taken offline unexpectedly for over a week during Christmas and New Year. While the reasons for this sudden interruption remain unclear, some speculation arose locally about the reasons behind the outage, no official explanation has been provided. Your Herefordshire has also faced ongoing criticism publicly for its use of clickbait headlines and for publishing content perceived as unrelated to Herefordshire and its surrounding areas. Despite these challenges, their Facebook page has since been restored and continues to operate.

The departure of Healey as a director raises questions about the future direction of the business. As one of its key figures, Healey played an instrumental role in shaping Your Herefordshire’s growth and engagement with the local community. His resignation represents a notable shift in the company’s leadership dynamic.

Your Herefordshire Ltd has yet to issue a public statement regarding Healey’s resignation or the recent disruption to its Facebook page. Local businesses and residents will undoubtedly watch closely to see how the company navigates these changes in the months ahead.

This story highlights the evolving nature of Herefordshire’s business landscape and underscores the challenges faced by modern media organisations. Your Herefordshire’s commitment to serving the community will be a key factor in maintaining its reputation and presence in the local market but it’s recent downtime raised a few questions locally.

Company House - Your Herefordshire Ltd https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/11954421

We understand that our friend Matt Healey, a familiar figure in Herefordshire as the Master of Ceremonies at Hereford FC possibly wants to shift his focus more on this and his ever popular DJ business, if this is the case, we wish him good luck

You can book Matt Healey - Mobile DJ here - www.djmatthealey.co.uk.