Consultation to focus on Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) in St Owen's Street

Herefordshire Council is encouraging local people to take part in a consultation around the details of improved measures for cyclists and pedestrians in St Owen's Street, Hereford.

An earlier consultation on whether to introduce the contraflow proved that there is strong support for the proposed scheme. This consultation does not revisit that question but is a necessary next stage in the process where Herefordshire Council is legally required to consult on elements of the scheme.

The St Owen's Street cycle contraflow scheme will create a safer cycle route from the east of the city, promoting sustainable and active travel, while at the same time improving safety for pedestrians and motorists.

The scheme is part of ongoing improvements in Hereford city centre to create a more attractive environment for residents, visitors, shoppers, workers and local businesses, encouraging people into the city and ensuring they have a great experience when they are there.

As part of the work to introduce the scheme, Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) are required, which in turn requires a statutory consultation. The changes to the TRO cover the permitting of cyclists to travel in both directions on the one-way street, adjustments to parking, loading and bus stop layouts to incorporate the physical features of the scheme, and the introduction of areas of raised carriageway on St Owen's St.

Cllr John Harrington, cabinet member infrastructure and transport said: “In these difficult times it is more important than ever to support businesses with measures that will promote the economic success of the city. The proposed improvements in St Owen's Street will hopefully be a boost to our measures to allow people to use alternatives to the car to travel into and through the City. Contraflows can decrease journey times for cyclists compared to those travelling by car by providing more direct, safer, travel routes, and can also reduce inappropriate cycling on the pavement.

“We are asking for the views of local people around the specific details of the Traffic Regulation Orders, which are vital components of the street layout that will allow us to implement the scheme in the most effective way.”

The consultation starts on 19 May 2022, and runs to 16 June 2022.

People can find full details and take part in the consultation via the Herefordshire Council website.

Alternatively, if you are unable to complete the online form, you can post a written response to: BBLP St Owen's St Consultation, Balfour Beatty Living Places, Unit 3 Thorn Business Park, Rotherwas Industrial Estate, Hereford, HR2 6JT.

Responses to this consultation must be received on or before 16 June 2022.

If you require any further information on this scheme, please contact by email: StOwensSt@balfourbeatty.com.

Fabulous progress and well done to the team at Vision Building and Development

Can't wait to get our Hereford LIVE New HD Camera back online at the fabulous Pavilion venue.

P
Photographs courtesy of Vision Building and Development

An investment of up to £2.4m is set to be made by Herefordshire Council to boost capacity for children with Special Educational Needs at a school in Hereford.

The cash injection will be made at Hampton Dene Primary School’s Language and Communication Centre to provide an additional two classrooms, toilets, support space and outdoor area to face up to soaring demand for spaces.

The centre which was built to provide education for 32 children is currently running over capacity and the new investment will mean a further 16 spaces are available to improve educational outcomes for children with special educational needs.

The new expansion will also include a community and meeting room to help integrate the children into the centre with the school set to add a financial contribution towards the cost of this facility.

Cabinet member for Children and Young People Cllr Ivan Powell said: “This incredibly important expansion is a key element of our ongoing work to make sure there is high quality and sustainable specialist educational accommodation for children and young people in Herefordshire.”

Cabinet member for Community Services and Assets Cllr Harry Bramer said: “This is an area of considerable growth. This excellent centre was originally established to cater for up to 32 children. It has been at full capacity since 2018 and is now offering specialist support for more children than ever as the need continues to rise. This investment means the centre can rise to the challenge of these increasing numbers and offer excellent educational opportunities for more children.”

The investment will come from High Needs Provision Capital Grant and forms part of the Council’s Capital Investment Strategy.

The increased provision at Hampton Dene follows investment earlier this year to provide four new autism hubs at Leominster Primary School, St Weonards Primary School, Earl Mortimer College, and Aylestone High School.

The former nurse will not face further action on another five counts of attempted murder that a jury failed to reach verdicts on.

She will not face further action on another five counts of attempted murder that a jury failed to reach verdicts on.

A provisional trial date has been fixed for 10 June next year, and is expected to last two to three weeks.

Letby was found guilty in August of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six other infants while working on the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital between June 2015 and June 2016.

The 33-year-old was given a whole-life prison sentence for each offence she committed.

She has filed a formal appeal against her convictions - but a date is yet to be set for any potential hearing.

#HerefordVoice | #HerefordNews | #Hereford | #Herefordshire

A report outlining current financial pressures and the measures being taken to address them is to be considered by Herefordshire Council’s Cabinet

Like many other councils across the country, Herefordshire Council is experiencing significant budget pressures as it faces rising costs due to inflation, the cost of fuel,  and the continuing impact of increasing demand for adult and children’s social care.

A report to the council’s Cabinet meeting on 28 September sets out the first financial forecast of 2023/24 of a projected overspend of £13.5m and outlines initial actions expected to reduce this to £9.5m. Further action is needed to respond to the financial challenges the council is facing and ensure spending is within the resources available.

The council has a revenue budget of £193.3m in 2023/24 to deliver services, which includes £20m of planned savings to balance the books. The most significant budget pressure is in children and young people’s services (£10.6m) where a programme of improvement is underway.

The council will need to focus on the most essential activities and priorities if it is to balance the budget.

There are services the council must continue such as delivering statutory services (services the council is legally obliged to deliver), maintaining health and safety of staff, residents and businesses; and fulfilling contractual obligations.

Areas where action is already being taken to address the cost pressures include restrictions on the purchase of non-essential items, a reduction in the number of interim and agency staff, restrictions on the recruitment of permanent staff.

A review of services is also underway to ensure the way they are delivered offers the best value for money.

To see the cabinet meeting papers click here

The GMB says it was informed by administrator PwC of the development on Monday morning. It comes after a rescue deal involving the owner of HMV collapsed.

All 400 branches of collapsed retailer Wilko will close by early October with the "likely" loss of all 12,500 jobs at the chain, according to the GMB.

Police officers are currently at a property in central Hereford after a body of a man was discovered yesterday (9 September).

Sadly, the man aged in his 70’s was pronounced dead at the scene and his death is currently being treated as unexplained.

Detective Chief Inspector Tony Garner said, “I know that seeing a lot of police officers can seem alarming, but I would like to thank the residents in this area for their patience whilst we carry out investigations”.

Anybody with any information is asked to contact West Mercia Police on 01432 347155

Alternatively, information can be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

On my litter picks notice there is a new product on the streets. These contain nicotine and should not be sold to under 18s. They come in various flavours which appeal to the younger generation. The worst aspect of the packaging is the small rubber stopper to the container, which like the plastic drink bottle tops wash down the drain, although most drains are blocked and kerbs are overgrown. The manufacturers, Chinese and the marketeers, Romanian don't care and the local shop keepers display the products at the point of sale encouraging their use. The packaging warns users with a skull and crossbones graphic as part of its design.

Vaping packages and rubber stoppers

Plastic drinks bottle tops

📣 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗬 | 🧡 Today, we remember firefighters John Davies and David Morris who tragically lost their lives 30 years ago today, fighting one of the largest fires the city of Hereford has ever seen🧡

Firefighters John Davies from Leominster, 34, and David Morris from Hereford, 35, both died when they became trapped by a fallen ceiling at the factory. They were among the 130 firefighters who attended the fire at the old ‘Sun Valley’ factory on Grandstand Road, Hereford on the 6th September 1993.

At 11:44, exactly 30 years on from the time of the call about the fire, Hereford Fire Station crews will be holding a parade at the St Owen Street fire station. Then, at the Lady Arbour Gardens at Hereford Cathedral at 3pm, dignitaries including the mayors of Leominster and Hereford, the chairman and vice-chairman of Hereford & Worcester Fire Authority and the Chief Fire Officer will attend a memorial parade when a wreath will be placed at the memorial plaque.

 

📸 HWFRS

Further to our 👉 'Breaking News' article back in February where we revealed that 'Greggs' are potentially going to be opening a large café at Phantom House on Holme Lacy Road, Rotherwas Hereford.

Last week Mrs Sara Humphries on behalf of Greggs Plc submitted plans for;

Proposed two fascia signs, one projecting sign, one digital promotional screen, new shop front, awning, two air conditioning condenser units and two extract grilles.

A further planning application was also submitted;

Proposed two fascia signs, one projecting sign, one internal 55" digital promotional screen.

An Application for a Certificate of Lawfulness for a Proposed use to confirm the Lawfulness of the proposed occupation by Greggs PLC (Use Class E) has already been approved by Herefordshire Council here.

"Localised remodelling of office accommodation"

https://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?Id=9619

Whatever that means?

Firefighters from Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service are currently in attendance at the Hereford Factory in Holmer.

Hereford Voice understands that the cause of fire is a sub station at the factory. People have been evacuated.

Congratulations to Randy Langford for being awarded a BEM medal—an incredible 98-year-old volunteer with 30 years of service to St Michael's Hospice - Hereford!

A spokesperson for St Michael's Hospice - Hereford said;

"He’s an incredible force of positivity in our community and a role model to us all"

Read more https://ow.ly/v2cK50PGeLv 

Following a shattered elbow at the end of March I have been confined to the house, not able to drive, ride my bike and do little else except help my partner. Even she is getting cheesed off with me. All this came about after discovering a carving knife in an outside drain, which the police weren't interested in and deciding to tell a neighbour to be careful who they talk to, tripped over some spare tyres in the dark and caused the injury. However things are slowing improving with my physio and daily readings of the Slog.

All things move slowly, but we all hope for a better time to come. Our problems are caused by a minority of individuals on our planet who wish to control and coerce us into their way of thinking. I thought it would be interesting to look at the figures behind our state of affairs.

Quoting from various sources in 2022 the number of countries run by tyrannical dictators were 57 - surprisingly none by women. Definition of a dictator - the ruler of a land rated “Not Free” as in the site below:

https://planetrulers.com/current-dictators/
and
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/dictatorship-countries

These people want to run affairs that suit them and their minions only and have total disregard for everyone else. This has resulted in mass migration of people who cannot exist in these countries and they have to flee to escape the ‘manual of repression’ shared by modern tyrants:

https://english.elpais.com/international/2023-07-20/the-manual-of-repression-shared-by-modern-tyrants.html

So the world is changing for the worst. With the exception of Mongolia there is no democracy from the EU borders to the Sea of Japan. Most of Africa is in the same boat (no pun intended).

Pushing people westwards, putting them up in hotels, military camps and now in floating bulwarks off our coast exasperates the future condition and opportunities for UK citizens who now have to integrate with these new boys on the block. At £6 million pounds a day to house the masses including criminals many tourists can't find a bed for the night and the money they could spend is ‎lost to the local economy.

As things progress we will probably end up being run by one global dictatorship possibly the United Nations. However who pulls the strings above this lot can only be assumed to be a Mafia. 

Herefordshire Council is set to confirm an agreement with other English and Welsh local authorities at its next cabinet meeting, on Thursday 28 September.

A proposed Marches Forward Partnership would see Herefordshire Council work with Shropshire Council, Monmouthshire County Council and Powys County Council.  They would join forces to apply for funding from government on major projects that will benefit the Marches region, which covers 80 percent of the English / Welsh borderland.

Each authority would retain their own identity and independence.  They would continue to deliver services to residents and businesses as they do now but would work together, as partners, where there is mutual benefit and added value.  Areas of cross-border shared interests are likely to include transport, skills and housing alongside energy, climate change and digital connectivity – common issues for the area’s population of almost 750,000.

It is anticipated that the councils’ planned collaboration and willingness to work together will increase overall government investment, unlocking millions of pounds for identified initiatives that will support the Marches’ rural economy and green growth.

Councillor Jonathan Lester, Leader of Herefordshire Council, said: “This is a great opportunity to work with our neighbouring councils to address some of the big issues that are important to us all.

“I welcome the opportunity to forge greater cross-border links to help us all to focus on many issues collectively.

“This proposed partnership is a progression of the cross-border support that already exists across the Marches area. There are many commonalities between us, so working in this collaborative way with colleagues at Shropshire Council and Monmouthshire and Powys County Councils will have many advantages.

“We will be signing-up to an agreement that will confirm functional arrangements between the four councils in October.  However this move to create the partnership will not prevent us from working with other authorities and partners at any point now or in the future.” 

Hereford's Play Nightclub to undergo a major refurbishment thank's to new owners Epic Bars and Clubs, a national bar and club operator that invested over £600k, and plans to unveil their latest venture in Hereford in late 2023.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲, 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗿𝗯𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗰𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗯𝗮𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲-𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗲 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗯 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝘆𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗵.

The new establishments are scheduled to open in time for the festive season and will feature a brand-new cocktail bar and varied-scene nightclub and will boast eye-catching features perfect for instagram, an impressive new clubroom, numerous plush reservation-only booths, an exceptional outdoor area, and the iconic Disco Disco party room equipped with a glowing dance floor. 🕺

The existing club will remain open on Saturday nights while preparations are finalised, according to an Epic spokesperson.

All employees will be retained, and more than 30 new employment will be created after the construction is completed.

The Council have secured a total of some £25m from various sources but they need someone to deliver it. So this is what they do:-

"To award a contract to AECOM Limited to provide professional services support for the design and delivery of the LUF programme at a forecast cost of £765,539 and to assign £154,000 of the LUF Programme Contingency and Risk allowance to this contract."

Link - https://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/documents/s50112338/Professional Services Support for the Hereford Levelling Up Funding LUF Programme.pdf

The administrators of Wilko have said jobs are set to go and stores will close after it failed to find a buyer for the whole business.

However, PwC said parts of the group could still be bought.

Wilko announced earlier this month that it was going into administration, putting 12,500 jobs and its 400 stores at risk.

PwC was tasked with trying to look for a buyer for all or part of the business.

On Wednesday evening, trade union representatives warned that the bulk of Wilko's stores would likely close within weeks, raising fears for thousands of retail workers.

Hereford Voice understands that PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) is in advanced talks to divide up parts of the 400-store business, with Poundland's owner, Pepco Group, in talks to acquire approximately 100 stores.

According to one insider, B&M European Retail, the London-listed discount giant, is also in talks to acquire between 40 and 50 stores.

Other value retailers, notably TOFS, which is owned by the private equity firm Duke Street, have made approaches to purchase smaller parcels containing approximately ten properties.