After 18 months of preparation and anticipation, the Knife Angel will finally be arriving in Hereford City Centre in less than a fortnight.

Also known as the National Monument Against Violence and Aggression, this magnificent 27ft statue built from 100,000 confiscated knives and blades will come to the city on Monday 14 June and will remain in place outside the West door of Hereford Cathedral until 12 July.

Thanks to generous grant awards from West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner, West Mercia Police, The National Lottery Community Fund, High Sheriffs of Herefordshire (2020/1 & 2021/2), Eveson CharitableTrust, Community Safety Partnership and the Clocktower Foundation, the Knife Angel team has been able to organise an exciting range of free-to-attend events to accompany the Knife Angel’s visit and in order to stimulate discussion on the devastating impact violence has on all our lives. These include:

• A full day virtual conference, entitled ‘Knife Angel Hereford: Crime in 2021 – From Knowledge to Practice’ (see: HERE for further information and bookings)
• A comprehensive selection of workshops to be held in locations throughout Hereford City from 21 June to 11 July. Subjects range from ‘Managing post-lockdown stress’ to interactive medical workshops and creative activities.

Further details of these free-to-attend events and booking information can be viewed on the Knife Angel’s website here

Direct Workshop booking link: https://www.facebook.com/knifeangelhereford/events

• Two walks (22nd and 27th June), arranged as part of the Herefordshire Walking Festival, which include the Knife Angel as part of their route (see: https://www.herefordshirewalkingfestival.co.uk/our-walks for further information).
• A weapons amnesty, approved by West Mercia Police, where knives, blades and other weapons can be safely disposed.

The team responsible for bringing the Knife Angel to Hereford is headed by Alison Davies, who lost her son, Mark, to knife crime in 2018, and Meryl Cain.

Alison Davies comments:

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“After more than 18 months of planning, we are delighted that the Knife Angel will arrive in Hereford later this month. We encourage everyone to come and see this magnificent statue and to get involved in the events we have organised.

“The statue is incredibly moving to see and we are hoping that it will stimulate debate and discussion around the subject of violent crime and how to prevent it. Even after the Angel has left us, we are hoping to continue with a programme of legacy events, so that important messages regarding the futility of violent crime are continued into the future.

“We are truly grateful for all the support that we have received from our partners, sponsors and volunteers.”

The Knife Angel will be located outside the cathedral and will be free to visit with no need for visitors to book in advance. Relevant precautions, including a one-way system around the Knife Angel and volunteer stewarding teams, will be in place during the day to help welcome and guide visitors. 

For further information about the Knife Angel’s visit to Hereford, please visit the dedicated website: https://knifeangelhereford.co.uk/

Herefordshire Council teams have recently completed a programme of resurfacing and drainage works on the U75016 - The Glibes, Michaelchurch Escley in Herefordshire.

The event organisers wrote on their Facebook page the following heartfelt statement:

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"Dear Nozstockers,

We are devastated that we find ourselves in this position once again but unfortunately we must announce the 22nd edition of Nozstock The Hidden Valley will be postponed and will now take place between the 21st and 24th July 2022.

Words can’t even begin to explain how we feel about having to postpone again. We’ve been working tirelessly to figure out ways that we can deliver a safe and secure event this July, which lives up to the expectations we've set for our really special and intimate festival.

Ultimately, despite calls from the industry, COVID cancellation insurance has not yet been implemented and we have run out of time - economically, we cannot keep pushing on without this in place, especially with production costs rising every day and recent reports of increased cases and a possible delay to the roadmap. If we were to go ahead, the financial risk could affect Nozstock's future beyond this year.

This coupled with recent supplier issues has created obstacles which we find insurmountable. We are no longer confident we could deliver the quality of event you’ve come to expect. So for now, our time is up for 2021.

Believe us, it has been the hardest decision to make, which we have agonised over. A massive thank you to each and every one of you for your ongoing support and understanding - Nozstock would not be here without you.

We will be working hard over the coming weeks to rollover as much of our amazing line up as possible with ANDY C, Bill Bailey, Gentleman's Dub Club, Submotion Orchestra, Calyx & TeeBee, Break and Utah Saints already confirmed.

The support that we had from you loyal Nozstockers combined with selling out so quickly gave us such hope for this year which makes this postponement even harder.

We know it’s a big ask but if you can rollover your ticket to 2022 it will help to support us and allow us to keep doing what we do best. We do understand that won’t be possible for everyone.

Our waiting list will also rollover to 2022, and people on this list will be offered tickets as part of our resale before they go out to everyone, so do bear in mind that any refunded tickets could be snapped up quickly.

Your ticket will automatically be rolled over to 2022, but if you do want to apply for a refund, just log in to your TicketSellers account by 26th July 2021, and follow the instructions. Please be patient whilst TicketSellers help you all through this.

For more details and FAQs about the postponement of Nozstock 2021 head to www.nozstock.com or to join the waiting list, head to: https://bit.ly/wait-list21

In the meantime, we do have some positive news. We are committed to bringing some form of Nozstock to your lives (and ours) this summer in the form of smaller, one day events which can be socially distanced if guidance requires.

More details about these events will be released in the coming weeks. Sign up for priority access to these at https://bit.ly/nozevents2021

Thank you everyone. We will be in the fields again and it will make it so much sweeter when we can come together at last.

Big love ,

Noz HQ

X"

We have received some disappointing reports and reviews about the event at Edgar Street on the weekend.

Headline act Tulisa did not appear instead was replaced last minute with Tinchy Styder with many people complaining that they had to wait for up to 2 hours just to get a drink.

Did you attend Stadium Music Festival Sunday in Hereford and how was it for you?

Below are just a few comments left on our Facebook page.

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Kelly Louise Holder

Absolute shambles! With the whole not being able to get a drink situation we left to go get a drink elsewhere to then come back as the guy in the ticket booth said as long as we had our wrist bands then we could get back in. Come back to be told we weren't allowed back in even with our tickets and wristbands! Absolutely ridiculous refunds should be given!

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Jolene Rachel Edge

I’ve been every year that there’s has been a festival the last two have been with this recent organiser. Yesterday was a shambles delays getting in as they didn’t know where there staff were to 3 hr wait for drinks and sold out of most drinks even water before 8pm!! I really have enjoyed it in the past and great that it’s local but won’t be attending again with these organisers!!

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Julie May Smith

Yes have gone to all 3 music events hosted there first one was vantastic, second not as good but still went on 1 day & enjoyed it! But yesterday well wish I hadn't bothered!! Not because of the pods or benches that didn't bother me, the drinks situation was bad n the acts well not impressed can't see me going to another !!!

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Tina Green

Really really disappointed, I have been to this event every year and it has been amazing, has been such a good day with no issues. Understandably covid restrictions needed to be implemented but I had no issues with the pods. I thought that was well organised. However, the drinks situation was diabolical!!. We arrived at 4ish and the app wasn't working to get a drink. Being 5 months pregnant , sat in the heat, not being able to get a drink is totally unacceptable. The little portable bar set up outside which was organised to manage 1500 people was so poorly thought of!. We were told there was only 15 bar staff. 1 bar person to serve 100 people!!. Absolute joke!. We left about 15mins after arriving as we're told there was a 2 hour wait for drinks. We decided to come back in just after 8, which we had to beg the door staff to let us back in as they wasn't going to!. Managed to order drinks but again 2-3 hour wait so again we left!!. Really was a shit show of an event. I'll be surprised if this event happens again as soooo many people left and this festivals reputation is out the window!.

Even though we received many complaints about the event, some people still had a great time.

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Nicky Green

We loved it, yes it wasn't perfect but it was what you made of it, live music, good friends, sunshine and laughter what more could you ask for, thankyou to the organisers I bet it was hard work to put together x

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Kelsey Davies

So the whole drink situation was crappy. Half of our drinks never turned up. 4 hours waiting for those that did turn up. 

However, it was the first sense of normality in well over a year and I actually had a really good day/night. The headline act not showing isn’t great but it was replaced with someone in my opinion, much better. 

I personally just think they could have thought more about staff and bars. There was one bar, 10 drink runners for roughly 1,500 people, organisers surely could have seen it coming. Maybe they should have just allowed everyone to bring their own drinks. 

But all in all, I had a fantastic time and will be going again next year!

A van driver has sadly died and two other people have been injured in a road traffic collision in Herefordshire this morning.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 11.09am earlier today to the junction of the B4203 and B4204, Upper Sapey to reports of a collision involving a car and a van. Two ambulances, a community first responder, a paramedic officer and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Strensham with a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic on board attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said:

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“When ambulance crews arrived at the scene, they found a van on it’s side with two occupants trapped inside. The driver of the van, a man, was being given CPR by police colleagues and bystanders. Ambulance crews quickly took over resuscitation efforts but sadly, despite the best efforts of everyone, nothing could be done to save the man and he was confirmed dead on scene a short time later.

“The passenger in the van, a man, sustained non-serious injuries. Ambulance crews had assistance from the fire service to extricate him safely from the vehicle. Once released, the man was conveyed to Worcestershire Royal Hospital for further checks.

“The driver of the car, a woman, was out of the vehicle and upon assessment was found to have sustained injuries not thought to be serious. She was given treatment on scene before being conveyed to the same hospital for further care.”

 

Gloucestershire Fire Service crews along with Gloucestershire Police have been called to a fire at Longhope Business Park on Monmouth Road.

The incident is under control but local residents have been advised to keep windows closed as there's smoke in the air.

 
Photographs courtesy of Gloucestershire Police

Thankfully no persons reported as trapped or injured at this time.

The A4136 is currently closed from Huntley to Mitcheldean diversions are in place until emergency services have completed their work tome the site safe.

Gloucestershire Constabulary are appealing for witnesses to come forward after a man sadly lost his life in an accident on the A40 in the Forest of Dean yesterday (Monday 31 May)

In a statement the police wrote;

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"We sorry to report that a motorcyclist has died following a collision on the A40 in the Forest of Dean yesterday afternoon (Monday 31 May).

The incident, which happened close to Dursley Cross Farm, Longhope at around 4.20pm, involved a motorbike and a car towing a caravan.

Emergency services attended and a man in his 70s from Hampshire was declared dead at the scene. The driver of the car received minor injuries and the passenger was unhurt.

The road was closed for around seven hours.

We are now appealing for any further witnesses or anyone with dash-cam footage to come forward.

A number of people stopped to offer help following the collision and we'd like to thank them for their support.

Anyone with information can submit this to police online by completing the following form and referencing incident 216 of 31 May: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/

Crews from Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service quickly extinguished a small fire at a The Golden Galleon chip shop in Commercial Road this evening. No reports of any injuries.

Controlling groups merge to form new alliance

Two of the groups which control Herefordshire Council have strengthened their alliance by combining to form a new political group.

Herefordshire Independents and It's Our County will now be known as Independents for Herefordshire.

The two parties formed a coalition with the Green Party after the elections in 2019 to run the authority.

Councillor John Harrington will chair the new group and described it as "practical and progressive".

He said they will work together to fight the next council elections in two years time.

Multiple crews from 10 fire stations with appliances from Evesham, Gloucester, Warwickshire, Upton, Pershore, Malvern, Redditch, Ledbury, Leominster, Hereford and Ross are tackled a large fire at an industrial unit at Broadway yesterday.

Photograph courtesy of Leominster Fire Station

Councillor Paul Stevens reopens the Hereford Museum of Cider as his first engagement as the new Hereford Mayor.

The museum has been closed for over a year because of the pandemic and during that time also suffered from a flood.

Photographs courtesy of the Museum of Cider

The Mayor was accompanied by former Mayor Cllr Kath Hey and they were welcomed by museum director Elizabeth Pimblett.

Also attending the reopening were craft cider makers from the Three Counties Cider and Perry Association, Fenella Tyler trustee and CEO of the National Association of Cidermakers, conservator Catriona Ward and Councillor Diana Toynbee.

Full details can be found here 

We were invited to a sneak preview of the new En BBQ Hereford at Hereford Old Market Shopping Centre

Their will be a 'Soft Opening' from Wednesday 2nd June in the evenings until 6th June then will be full days. (Closed Mondays and Tuesdays for staff training)

#SupportLocal and visit Hereford's latest new eatery - book your table here 👉 www.enbbq.co.uk

Hereford Voice would like to thank Peyman and Pampi for their kind 'sneak preview' invitation in the week and wish them the very best of luck with their new business!

More Positive #HerefordNews

Herefordshire Council teams have recently completed a programme of resurfacing and drainage works on the C1059 - Common Farm Bungalow - Holloway Common Farm, Hampton Charles, Herefordshire. 

Herefordshire Council teams have recently completed a programme of resurfacing and drainage works on Church Road, Stretton Sugwas Herefordshire.

West Mercia Police are appealing for witnesses following criminal damage in Hereford.

At around 4.45am on Thursday 20 May five young people are believed to have attempted to break into in a building on the Holme Lacy Road industrial estate.

The offenders were all described as being aged between 15 and 17-years-old.

Three of the offenders are described as;

A white boy around 5ft 5ins of a stocky build, with short brown curly hair with shaved sides, wearing grey joggers and a hoody.

A second white boy with short brown hair, black padded jacket, black backpack, black skinny jeans and white trainers.

A girl was described as white with long dark brown or purple hair, of a slim build and wore a black coat with a fur trim and black trainers.

There were a further two offenders but there are no descriptions at this time and we are keen to speak to anyone who has more information or may have witnessed the incident taking place.

Anyone with information is urged to call 101 quoting incident 00249 of 20 May. If you have information you want to report anonymously you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or via their website. 

Herefordshire Council teams have recently completed a programme of resurfacing and drainage works on Castle Road, Richards Castle, Herefordshire.

Update | Police officers searching for a missing 47-year-old man can confirm that a body was recovered from the River Wye in Hereford on Tues. Formal identification confirms that it is sadly Steven Tattum from Hereford. The death is not being treated as suspicious, the Coroner has been informed.

Our thoughts go out to Steven's family and friends at this difficult time.

Officers are growing increasingly concerned for Steven Tattum who is missing from Hereford.

He was last seen at around 2.40am Wednesday morning (19 May) near to Greyfriars Bridge Hereford but has not been seen since.

Steven, aged 47, is described as white, with brown and grey hair. He is around 5ft 8in tall and was believed to be wearing a grey tracksuit and a blue coat.

Anyone who believes they may have seen Steven is asked to please call 101 immediately quoting incident 40i of 19 May.

West Mercia Police Update

Following an incident on Sunday 2nd May at The Spread Eagle pub n Hereford a man has been charged with assault and threatening behaviour. He will appear before Herefordshire Magistrates Court in June