Hereford Public Art Collection - Art + People + Place programme

Street murals

Hereford is about to transform as eight new public artworks are unveiled on our city streets. Locals and visitors will start to see artworks appear on gable ends of prominent buildings, and in underpasses and passageways across the city, throughout February and March 2024. The commissioned mural artists range from international and regional level to supporting local Herefordshire talent.

The locations and artists are:

• Eign Gate Underpass - Graphic Rewilding
• The Herdsman - Curtis Hylton
• Bastion Mews - Emmeline North
• The Commercial - Nomad Clan
• Brewer's Passage - SNIK
• Capuchin Lane - Dermot Clarke
• Booth Hall Passageway - Gemma Flowers
• Union Passage - Estee Angeline

A new sculpture trail

An additional partnership project with Hereford College of Arts and Meadow Arts will celebrate the college's 170th anniversary in 2024. Drawing inspiration from old pictorial trade signs of the 17th and 18th centuries, this project will reimagine this tradition for the 21st century, reusing disused shop signage brackets to create a sculpture trail through the city.

Enhancing the historic core of Hereford

The new Art + People + Place programme, commissioned in partnership with Studio Response, is part of the £6 million Hereford City Centre Improvements (HCCI) project. The overall project aims to refurbish the historic core of Hereford through investment in the streetscape, landscaping and public realm, and is funded jointly by the council and Marches LEP.

The public art project has been years in the making, bringing together local people, students, businesses and stakeholders from across the city to add creativity and vibrancy to our streets. We held a public consultation session in June 2023 which provided themes, ideas and locations that have fed into the final artworks.

The Hereford Public Art Trail will launch in April 2024.

An outline planning application has been submitted to Herefordshire Council.

'Outline planning application for the demolition of existing buildings and structures and the erection of up to 350 dwellings (including affordable housing), a farm shop and café, employment workspaces, and land for a potential primary school, along with associated parking, access roads, walking and cycling routes, public open space, landscaping, sustainable urban drainage and other associated works, site clearance and infrastructure. All matters reserved except access, which is partially reserved, with detailed approval sought for the primary vehicular site access via the A438'

Planning Application P240422/F

Extra police officers will soon be out on patrol in towns across Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford and Worcestershire as West Mercia Police introduce ten new dedicated town centre teams.

The teams will see officers and PCSOs with a specific town (or city) centre focus, based in:

• Evesham
• Hereford
• Kidderminster
• Leominster
• Oswestry
• Redditch
• Ross-on-Wye
• Shrewsbury
• Telford
• Worcester

Delivering on the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Safer West Mercia Plan, the introduction of the focused teams is part of our joint commitment to ensure officers are visible, accessible, and focused on tackling the priorities that matter most to the communities we serve.

The locations of the new teams have been chosen based on where data shows there’s the highest policing demand, biggest populations and/or footfall, and where an extra police presence will further help prevent crime and offer additional reassure to communities.

Temporary Chief Constable Alex Murray said:

“The town centre teams will bolster local policing in our communities, making sure we have officers in the places we know you want to see them and tackling the issues that really matter to you.

“These extra officers will work alongside response teams to make sure we are where you need us – be it in the towns and cities or the more rural areas of the three counties we serve.

“Over the last year crime has reduced and more crimes have been detected and the new teams will help us in our persistent and proactive approach to fighting crime. They will be highly visible, working to cut crime, reduce anti-social behaviour, actively target repeat offences and working to reduce retail and business crime, including shoplifting.”

The teams are being funded through Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion’s 2024/25 budget.

Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said:

“I hear regularly from communities calling for police officers to be evermore visible and accessible in the heart of communities.

“I have listened to those concerns and have ensured West Mercia Police has the resources it needs to introduce first-of-a-kind town centre policing teams across West Mercia.

"I know these teams will help drive down crime and build strong relationships with the public and businesses they proudly serve.”

The teams will be in place later this year.

Herefordshire Council adopts the Council Tax precepts

Herefordshire Council has adopted the total Council Tax precepts for all Herefordshire residents. 

As the billing authority, the council has a statutory duty to collect charges set by each parish council, the Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia and Hereford & Worcester Fire Authority. However, Herefordshire Council has no control over the level of increase or how these organisations choose to spend their budget.

Herefordshire residents will be provided with individual bills based on their parish location. The raised precepts are needed to support the delivery of vital services across the county, with the average Council Tax bill for a Band D dwelling set at £1,954.79.

This includes the council’s own tax charge of £1,875.76 (for a band D dwelling) which was approved by Full Council on 9 February 2024. The increase is needed to support the continued delivery of vital services across the county and our priority is to get the best possible value for every pound we spend on the people of Herefordshire.

The precept for the Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia rose by 4.91% to £277.50, an increase of £13.00.

The precept for Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority rose by 2.99% to £97.22, an increase of £2.82.

The discount on the council tax reduction (CTR) scheme for any struggling family which qualifies will remain at 100% for the coming year – irrespective of the price banding of their home. Additionally, some residents will continue to pay no Council Tax at all, such as young adults who have left care and also all the council’s Foster Carer families.

More information and advice on reduction schemes and allowances can be found on the Herefordshire Council website at www.herefordshire.gov.uk/counciltax

The Council Tax setting report discussed at Full Council on Friday 8 March 2024 can be found on the council’s website.

The application to demolish the Three Counties Hotel on Belmont Road and built a Lidl will be heard by the Full Planning Committee next Wed 13th March.

Report recommends acceptance but final decision rests with the Full Committee which meets at Herefordshire Council offices in Plough Lane in public.

If approved, the following trading and delivery hours are sought:

Trading:

Monday to Saturday Including Bank Holidays: 08:00 - 22:00

Sundays: 10:00 - 16:00

Deliveries:

Monday to Saturday: 07:00 - 23:00

Sundays: 10:00 - 16:30

Bank Holidays: 08:00 - 18:00

𝟭. 𝗦𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

1.1 The ‘Three Counties Hotel’ is set back off Belmont Road (A465) Hereford to Abergavenny road and located in the south west of Hereford about 1.5 miles from the City Centre. The application site is about 1.66 hectares in size and currently has landscaped gardens (pond and patio area to the front which established trees) as well as car parking. The site is bounded by Belmont Road to the south, residential properties within Glastonbury Close to the north and east. To the south east is a wooded area and adjacent to that a ‘Drive Thru’ restaurant (McDonalds). To the west beyond the car park are residential dwellings in Flaxley Drive. The Newton Brook runs adjacent to the site to the west. The brook runs from Waterfield Road under Belmont Road and up alongside the Three Counties Hotel then into Glastonbury Close which also runs between Golden Post and Sydwell Road. Residential properties on the periphery of the site are a mix of semi-detached, terraced and detached properties.

1.2 A Tree Preservation Order covers 4 individual trees across the site, ref T1, T2, T3, & T4. The site is not located within a designated area known as a national Landscape (previously known as area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). The site lies within Flood Zone 1 (low risk of flooding). The site is not located within or adjacent to a Conservation Area and there are no heritage assets (including non-designated heritage assets) within the site, adjoining the site or in close proximity.

1.3 The existing hotel (now closed) had 60 bedrooms with 32 located in an annex to the rear (known as the Garden Rooms). When in use as a hotel it also has an ancillary bar and conference rooms.

Further information on the subject of this report is available from Ms Heather Carlisle on 01432 260453

The site is previously developed land/brownfield land. Since March 2023 until March 2024 the hotel has been used to house asylum seekers and has been run by the ‘Home Office’. The site is currently closed to the general public but would revert back to a hotel following the end of the temporary use to house the asylum seekers.

231703 - THREE COUNTIES HOTEL BELMONT HEREFORD HEREFORDSHIRE HR2 7BP.pdf

Herefordshire Council have submitted a planning application to convert existing public toilet located in Union Street Hereford into a temporary sleeper pod.

'Proposed removal of existing public toilet and change of use to provide a single occupancy self contained 'sleeper pod' to comprise a bed, shower and WC to provide accommodation for a single temporary homeless person'

Full details HERE

The silver monolith was spotted by walkers on Hay Bluff near the Powys town of Hay-on-Wye at the weekend. It follows a spate of monoliths cropping up around the world in 2020 - from the Isle of Wight to Romania, California and the Utah desert.

It also sparked social media chatter that it surely was the work of aliens. Some quashed those rumours, instead believing it’s another elaborate piece of undercover artwork we’ve become accustomed to. One of the monoliths even arrived in 2020 with the words “Not Banksy”

Conspiracy theorists speculated aliens could be behind the structures - and some people on social media have turned to the same explanation for the structure in Wales.

No one has come forward to claim responsibility for the Welsh monolith, although an anonymous collective called The Most Famous Artist took credit for the structures in America in 2020.

Attractive public house available by way of a new free of tie lease

Key features

▪️Attractive public house close to Hereford City Centre

▪️Located on Commercial Road comprising a mix of national and independent operators

▪️GIA approximately 5,800 Sq Ft (546 Sq M)

▪️Trading area at ground floor with central bar servery

▪️Good sized rear trade garden

▪️Rental offers invited in excess of £70,000 per annum plus VAT

Property is listed with Savills here

It appears that Yates may not be renewing their lease in Hereford..

The Yates brand of pubs is owned by Stonegate. The company did not renew leases on other Yates bars including the closure of their bar in Ipswich last year and another in Oldham.

Yates opened in Hereford on Thursday 29 March 2012 with a celebratory launch party and surprise guest star.

The pub, was formally the Litten Tree, closed on Sunday 18th March 2012.

One woman was yesterday (Wednesday 6 March) charged with drugs offences after she was arrested at an address in Leominster, Herefordshire.

Victoria Cox, 37, of Cheaton Close in Leominster, Herefordshire was charged with possession with intent to supply class A drugs and being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.

She was due to appear at Kidderminster Magistrates' Court this morning (Thursday 7 March) 

Another woman, aged 52 ,was also arrested during the warrant was released under investigation while enquiries continue.

A Ledbury man has been jailed after the passenger of the car he was driving died when he lost control of the vehicle.

Daniel Kalva, of Bridge Street in Ledbury, pleaded guilty at Worcester Crown Court yesterday (Tuesday 5 March) to causing death by dangerous driving, causing death whilst uninsured and unlicensed and perverting the course of justice. He was sentenced to 11 years.

In the early hours of 7 November 2022 21-year-old Kalva was travelling on the A438, between Hereford and Ledbury, with passenger Molly Stone and one other passenger. Kalva lost control of the vehicle and collided with a building.

Molly, who was 19 years old at the time, was ejected from the vehicle and sadly died in hospital from her injuries.

Police Constable Jamie Carr from Hereford Operations Policing Unit said: “No length of sentencing will ever be able to replace a daughter and sister who was very much loved by family and friends. Molly’s parents and sister have been extremely brave throughout the investigation into the loss of their daughter and sibling.

“Molly’s parents would like to thank the emergency services who attended the incident for their work and also the NHS for their efforts to save Molly’s life”.

“I do hope that one positive outcome to this traumatic incident is that it gives a clear message that people should not get behind a wheel unless they are legally able to so and drive responsibly with care and thought of others”.

𝗟𝗶𝗱𝗹 𝗥𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝗣𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝗔𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝗔𝘁 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐥 𝗧𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻, 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟮𝘁𝗵 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰.

Due to the constant delays and new determination dates surrounding this controversial planning application, Lidl may try for a 'Non Determination' which could force approval, maybe that's the plan...🤔

(Non-determination is when the Local Planning Authority, in this case Herefordshire Council, fails to determine the application within the statutory period. Very occasionally the Secretary of State will take the decision).

'Demolition of existing hotel and associated structures and erection of Class E food store with associated access, parking, servicing, drainage and landscaping'

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 - 𝗣𝟮𝟯𝟭𝟳𝟬𝟯/𝗙 - https://hfd.news/VqbT

𝗔𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲-𝘀𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘄𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘃𝗲

The original hybrid planning application has been withdrawn. Our original 'Breaking News' article https://hfd.news/DjES

Shaun Smith, trading as ‘Garden and Landscaping Services’, dumped business waste in Hereford field

A landscape gardener from Hereford has been fined for illegally disposing of waste during an eight month period in 2022, in a case heard at Hereford Magistrates’ Court by Herefordshire Council’s Community Protection Team.

Mr Shaun Smith (52), of Putson Avenue, Hereford, appeared at Hereford Magistrates’ court on 20 February 2024, where he was fined £733, and ordered to pay £1500 in costs and £293 victim surcharge after pleading guilty to three charges of fly tipping and failing to secure the transfer of waste to an authorised person in relation to waste produced from his landscaping business.

The court heard that in the late hours of 12 November 2022, a Police officer discovered a large unattended fire burning and giving off black smoke in the field that sits directly behind the Grafton Travelodge hotel in Hereford. Concerned that nearby properties could catch fire, the officer woke up the nearby residents and called the fire brigade who attended and put the fire out. The incident was then reported to Herefordshire Council and investigated by officers of the Community Protection team who attended and found piles of dumped green waste, general waste, tyres, white goods, scrap metal, bricks, soil, and rubble around a large area in the ground which had been scraped where a large fire had occurred.

The court further heard that officers re-visited the field on Monday 12 December 2022 where they discovered Shaun Smith present unloading waste from his flatbed vehicle.

Further enquiries revealed that Shaun Smith was a landscaper gardener, trading as ‘Garden and Landscaping Services’ who was unable to provide any documentation as to where he had been disposing of his business waste between the dates of 12 December 2020 and 12 December 2022.

Charles Yarnold, Herefordshire Council’s Head of Regulatory and Technical Services, said: “Fly tipping is a serious environmental hazard and a blight on our beautiful county. Businesses do this to avoid the cost of disposing of their waste lawfully. All businesses must ensure appropriate measures are in place so the waste they produce is disposed of correctly. Businesses must also have documentation to show who they have transferred the waste to and keep those records for at least two years. Anyone found fly tipping waste will be prosecuted."

The maximum penalty for fly tipping is a £50,000 fine and/or 5 years imprisonment.

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

HEREFORD VOICE - FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST  

I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 29th January 2024.

Please find below the response to your request:

1. How many fines have been issued in relation to the fixed speed camera on the A465 Belmont Road in Hereford during the last three financial years.
2. How much money has been has been paid in relation to these fines?
3. What is the highest speed recorded on this camera during that period?
4. And could this information be broken down into each financial year?

Information that can be disclosed is below:

                                Yearly total         Monthly average             

Apr21-Mar22            2986                     248

Apr22-Mar23            1866                     155       

Apr23-Feb24            1616                     146

Period total               6468                    

• Highest speed recorded                            75mph
• NDOR courses completed                        5683
• Fixed penalty notices                                785

All Fines from HM Courts go to the Treasury.

West Mercia Police receive no money from fines issued from the offenders.

Only the £45 element fee charged from an NDORS referral will be collected by West Mercia Police. In the time period stated West Mercia Police received £255,000.

Hereford Voice has today come into possession of a document sent from the Home Office to Herefordshire Council requesting the resettlement of a minimum of 120 Asylum Seekers in Hereford's Three Counties Hotel.

In the letter sent from Ann Smith (MCIPS)Deputy Director | Resettlement, Asylum Support & Integration says;

"We have identified the Three Counties Hotel, Belmont Rd, Hereford HR2 7BP as a site to be used to accommodate asylum seekers and are therefore bringing this to your attention so that we can address any concerns you may have. Due to the demands on the system we intend to stand up this site in line with our new guidance, and would like to work with you to determine which cohort would best fit to this site and I can confirm it has a maximum bed space of 120"

Herefordshire Council would also be expected to pick up all the costs associated, including providing, healthcare, school, free schools dinners etc...

See all of the relevant documents attached below;

Resettlement of Asylunm Seekers 1.pdf

Resettlement of Asylunm Seekers 2.pdf

Health Protection For Migrants 1.pdf

Scabies.pdf

NHS Asylum Seekers.pdf

Emergency services responded to a single vehicle RTC last night in Hampton Bishop Hereford.

A spokesperson from Hereford Fire Station told Hereford Voice

"At 20:18 461 and 463 mobilised to a single vehicle RTC on the B4224, Hampton Bishop.

All persons self extricated but required trauma care, suffering from multiple injuries. Fire Service Personnel administered initial trauma care before being handed over to the ambulance service.

Crews then made the vehicle safe and assisted police with road clearance"

Hereford Voice - '𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲'

A 35 year old woman was found dead at a house at Hope-under-Dinmore. Police said the death is being treated as "unexplained", with further enquiries ongoing.

The community of Hereford Cathedral were delighted to welcome Their Royal Highnesses The Duke & Duchess of Gloucester to visit the cathedral on Monday 19 February 2024.

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester began their visit in the cathedral nave where they were introduced to a host of civic guests including The High Sheriff of Herefordshire, The Bishop of Hereford and representatives of Herefordshire Council. After being introduced to The Dean of Hereford, The Very Reverend Sarah Brown, the visit continued into the cathedral quire where a brief performance of the Father Willis organ was given by assistant director of music, Peter Dyke. The group were also given a demonstration of the Chamber Organ by director of music, Geraint Bowen.

The group then separated into two with HRH the Duchess of Gloucester, who is Royal Patron of the Cathedral Music Trust, visiting the Song School in College Cloisters to meet the cathedral’s music scholars. HRH the Duke of Gloucester was taken around the cathedral by Chief Operating Officer Chris Milton to view some of the architectural highlights of the building.

The group reconvened in the Mappa Mundi and Chained Library where they were invited to view Illuminate, the latest exhibition curated by the Library and Archives team. After meeting volunteers and viewing artefacts selected by the cathedral archivist, TRH departed for Gloucester Cathedral where they were attending Evensong later in the day.

The Very Revd Sarah Brown said, “It was a pleasure to welcome TRH The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester to Hereford Cathedral. Known for their passionate support of cathedrals across the country, we were delighted to be able to share some of our musical and architectural treasures with the Duke and Duchess this afternoon. 

We are immensely grateful for their continuing celebration of cathedrals and their associated heritage; and for taking the time to visit us in Hereford.”

Source | Hereford Cathedral

Ross-on-Wye Town Council will be moving offices at the beginning of March from the Corn Exchange on High Street to the new Town Hall at the former Old Chapel on Cantilupe Road, a building which is owned by the Town Council.

It is hoped that the move will make the offices more accessible to members of the public with both location and facilities.

The Council office opening times will remain the same, Monday to Friday, 9.30am – 1pm. The address of the new office is:

Ross-On-Wye Town Council, Town Hall,
Cantilupe Road,
Ross-on-Wye,
HR9 7AN.

Due to the impending renovation works at the Market House, Made in Ross will be moving into the former Town Council offices on High Street from March. Their opening hours will remain the same, Monday to Sunday 10am-4pm.

The Tourist Information Point will remain at the Corn Exchange.