Businesses on a Hereford industrial estate are being urged to make full use of a new Covid rapid testing site – and to help keep it open beyond a trial period.

Herefordshire Council says the new lateral flow test site at Block B, Skylon Court in Coldnose Road, Rotherwas, is being operated on a pilot basis until April 30.

The council says it is vital as many businesses in the area use the testing facility as regularly as possible and volunteer to help keep it open beyond the end of the month.

Testing is available to employees who cannot work from home and designed to find people who have the virus but show none of the symptoms.A council spokesperson said:

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“Around one in three people who are infected with Covid-19 have no symptoms so could be spreading the disease without knowing it. So if these cases are identified early it can help to reduce the spread and therefore limit the impact that this has on your business whilst also protecting the local community.

“Lateral flow device (LFD) testing is a fast and simple way to test people who do not have symptoms of Covid-19, but who may still be spreading the virus. The tests are easy to use and give results in 30 minutes.

“To operate beyond 30 April, we need the business community of Rotherwas to step-up and run this service, so if you are interested in supporting the testing programme and would like to volunteer, please let us know by signing up with the testing team on site and we will arrange training and support.”

The council says regular testing is essential to help control the spread of the virus. It has issued the following advice to businesses:

• Frequency – It is recommended that testing is undertaken twice weekly.
• Assistance – There will be a number of trained staff on site, to meet and greet, signpost people, advise on how to undertake your swab and answer any questions throughout the process.
• Clothing – Exterior doors and windows will be open to provide fresh air ventilation so please dress accordingly. Please do not bring any unnecessary items or bags that may be cross-contaminated.
• Registration – For the registration process you will need to have a smart device (phone or tablet) with a camera function to scan a QR code. If you do not have a smart device, additional devices are available on site to use and the registration assistant will be on hand to advise, however, it may cause a slight delay in the registration process if you are not using your own device. The registration process requires answering a number of questions on the device, so if you require reading glasses please ensure you have them to hand.
• Process – Link to demonstration self-swabbing process:
• Results – To receive your results, you will need to input your mobile phone number, so ensure you have this to hand for the registration process.
• Booking – No booking necessary just turn up!

The centre is open from 8am to 2pm on Monday, 1-6pm on Wednesday and 8am-2pm on Friday.

Testing is available to all those that work on the industrial estate and is on a first come, first served basis. You should not attend if you are showing any symptoms of Covid-19.

We have received tributes following the passing of popular and well liked local Dentist Bob Binnersley, who sadly died this week.

A message on the St Martins Dental & Implant Clinic that he founded in 1989 announced the sad news yesterday.

Bob Binnersley

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It is with great sadness that we have to announce the passing of Bob Binnersley.

Bob founded St Martins Dental Practice in 1989 starting with a small detached house and turning it into the seven surgery practice it is today. Including a training centre for dental nurses.

Between Bob and Krista, they not only created an amazing place to work but an extended STM family. Who still to this day when they hear the words ‘fancy dress party at The Binnersleys’ come running from far and wide.

As well as his fantastic dentistry many of Bob’s patients will remember him for his infamous jokes and one liners! The most common one being ‘A check up from the neck up, it won’t take long!’.

If he wasn’t being rude to you then you knew something was up!

He was incredibly passionate about dentistry and helping people. He was a founding member and chairman of the Hereford Independent Practitioners Society for over 20 years which helped to bring other dental practices in Hereford together.

Bob loved his cricket and would quite often have it playing in surgery with his nurse keeping a watchful eye on the score.

He also fought hard for Hereford to finally have the flood defences which we so desperately needed. As those that will remember his house and the practice flooded many times. Most weeks we would have phone calls asking for him to be interviewed on the radio!

Bob’s legacy will live on through his wife Krista, his children Richard, Rachel, James and Thomas and his extended family, also his STM family and all the dentists and dental nurses that he has trained and inspired along the way.

He will be greatly missed by us all. RIP Bingo

Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service crews were called to a fire late last night in Herefordshire caused by BBQ.

All 3 appliances from Leominster Fire Station were called to an outbuilding on fire just outside of Leominster. Crews used a hose reel, thermal imaging camera, ladders and hand tools to extinguish the fire and to remove the roof sheets to inspect for signs of fire spread.

The source of ignition for this fire was from cooking and heating during outside entertaining. With this type of activity set to increase during the following months, please take care where you are lighting BBQs and be aware of the surrounding area.

Access to this was made possible thanks to 521, the compact appliance. Crews were able to get close to the incident by navigating through the narrow drive entrance and around the back gardens, where a standard fire appliance would’ve struggled.

📷 HWFIRE Leominster

These units were not empty for long!

'Amazing Asia' is due to open within the next 3 months at the Hereford Old Market Shopping Centre

The restaurant is to occupy the former Prezzo building and boasts that over 80 items of Indian and Thai cuisine will be available on the menu.

More 'Positive News' for a brighter 'Positive Hereford' with even more shops and eateries opening over the summer.

Herefordshire Council teams have recently completed a programme of resurfacing and drainage works on the C1095 - Tillington in Herefordshire.

The roads look a lot better.

Who remembers the Launderette on the Belmont Road?

The launderette eventually moved to St Martin's Street Hereford in 2012 and the former building become home to Shire Stoves.

The building has this week been demolished to make way for a new project, another local landmark disappears.

Herefordshire Council are helping you to stay safe while casting your vote in this May's elections

On Thursday 6 May residents in Herefordshire will go to the polls to have their say on who represents them at the Police and Crime Commissioners elections, plus various local by-elections and Neighbourhood Planning Referendums.

While the elections are not until May, they’re already making plans to help you stay safe while casting your vote. 

There are a number of ways to have your say in the elections in May - you can vote in a polling station, by post, or by appointing someone you trust to vote on your behalf, which is known as a proxy vote.

Colette Maund, Electoral Services Manager for Herefordshire said:

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‘’We’re thinking about these elections now so that, however you choose to cast your vote in May, you can do so safely. We’re putting arrangements in place to help you stay safe at the polling station; you can expect many of the measures you’ve become used to in shops and banks over recent months, such as hand sanitiser, floor markings and face masks. But you also have the option to apply to vote by post or by proxy’’

Ailsa Irvine, Director of Electoral Administration and Guidance at the Electoral Commission said:

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“The choice on how to vote at this May’s elections is yours – you can have your say in person, by post or by proxy.

“If you’re thinking about voting by post, you can apply now. This will make sure your application is processed early, and your postal vote can be sent to you more quickly. It’s easy to apply and you can find out how by visiting the Electoral Commission website.

“You need to be registered to vote in order to have a say at the elections – the easiest way to register is online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote”

 

Residents can visit the FAQ page on the Herefordshire Councils website at www.herefordshire.gov.uk/forthcomingelections to find out more about the elections on 6 May. The page will be updated with new information as it becomes available. Any residents who have questions can also contact their local elections team at elections@herefordshire.gov.uk or by phoning 01432 260107.

Statement on behalf of Claire Ward, Clerk to the Lieutenancy of Herefordshire:

“The councillors and officers of Herefordshire Council are deeply saddened at the news of the death of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh.

“The Duke of Edinburgh was the longest-serving royal consort in British history, and a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. Thank you on behalf of Herefordshire to The Duke of Edinburgh for your devoted service to the UK and the Commonwealth.

“Our thoughts are with the Royal Family at this time.”

Statement on behalf of Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant, Edward Harley OBE:

“I am very sad to hear the news regarding His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.

“HRH has been a pillar of strength to The Monarchy, dedicating his life to supporting Her Majesty The Queen in her duties.

“The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, which has offered opportunities to thousands of young people, is just one of his many lasting legacies.

“HRH has been a hugely positive and encouraging influence in so many fields.

“My thoughts are with Her Majesty and all the members of The Royal Family at this very sad time.”

Statement on behalf of Councillor Sebastian Bowen, Chairman of Herefordshire Council:

“It is with great sadness that we observe the passing of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. Our thoughts are with the Royal Family at this sad time. The flags across the county are being flown at half-mast as a sign of our greatest respect, and there will be books of remembrance located throughout Herefordshire to commemorate and celebrate fond memories of Prince Philip throughout his life.

“We first welcomed The Duke of Edinburgh to Herefordshire in 1957 when he accompanied the Queen on her first visit to the county as Queen and they have both visited us on several occasions since then. The last occasion was their visit on 11 July 2012 during Her Majesty’s celebration of her Diamond Jubilee, which will be a permanent memory for the people of Herefordshire. The Duke has always been such a marvellous consort to the Queen throughout the decades, helping to make the world envious of the British monarchy, which is without equal.

“The Duke of Edinburgh, when a young Naval Officer stationed on Malta was introduced to Polo by Lord Mountbatten, who was a great exponent of the game and wrote a classic manual on Polo. The Duke became a fine player with a very good handicap of four. He was a member of many winning teams. After Polo, the Duke took up Carriage Driving, very successfully. He was skilled, brave and very determined and won many Championships and represented Great Britain. He drove a team of the Queen's ponies to many successes. His enthusiastic participation greatly raised the profile of Carriage Driving.

“We owe The Duke a great debt of gratitude for the way he dedicated his life to be at the Queen’s side at thousands of visits in their service of our country and the whole of the Commonwealth. The way he supported the nation’s young people mature into responsible adulthood through his innovative Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme was a marvellous inspiration for many young people. I know that The Duke of Edinburgh Scheme has changed, greatly for the better, the lives of thousands of young people and taught them to believe in themselves and to learn that serving other people is the greater glory.

“He will be sorely missed, not only by the Royal family and his friends, but also by the nation as a whole.”

Online marketplace Local E Sourced has been chosen as a finalist for Britain’s best environmentally sustainable business

08th APRIL 2020: Local e Sourced based in #Herefordshire has been shortlisted for the UK’s best environmentally sustainable small business at this year’s Small Awards.

In its fifth year, The Small Awards is a nationwide search for the smallest and greatest firms in the UK, across all sectors. It is organised annually by Small Business Britain, which champions, inspires and accelerates small businesses in the UK.

Local E Sourced is an online marketplace exclusively for independent businesses, founded in March 2020. Offering the ability to buy multiple products from any number of suppliers with a single delivery charge. Makes products more accessible, helping reach new customers while creating a unique shopping experience with a focus on celebrating and promoting local businesses and products. By shopping with Local e Sourced, you are minimising the need to import food leaving behind it a huge carbon footprint. Instead, you are supporting small, independent suppliers. By shopping local, we are keeping a significant amount of money within the area, that will help grow local businesses, create jobs, improve tourism and generally improve the quality of life in the local community and become less focused on cheap imported, lesser quality goods and support those who work hard to provide on our doorsteps.

Local e Sourced has been chosen as one of five finalists for the new ‘Net Hero’ Small Award, launched in the run-up to this November’s UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), to recognise small firms demonstrating exceptional commitment to environmental sustainability.

With eleven unique categories, the Small Awards celebrate the dynamism of the UK’s small business sector, across everything from longstanding family businesses and innovation-led start-ups, to social enterprise champions.

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“After what has been a difficult year for the whole small business community, it has been inspirational to hear about phenomenal small businesses across the UK,”

said Michelle Ovens CBE, Founder of Small Business Britain.

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“The Small Awards exist to celebrate and champion the amazing contribution of fantastic small firms like Local e Sourced. We received a record number of applications this year, with an incredibly high standard of entry, so all of the small businesses shortlisted should be rightly proud of this achievement.”

Hamish said,

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“We’ve only been in business since March 2020, recently celebrating our first birthday following a successful beginning. We are still learning and growing every day. It is fantastic to be shortlisted for the ‘Net Hero’ Small Award as it’s been tough trying to raise awareness of our project, especially during a global pandemic and to be recognised for our hard work this will help to spread the word about what we do and how we do it – especially with our environmental and sustainability efforts.”

Hamish Light 

Judged by a panel of leading enterprise experts, the winners of all award categories, along with the overall winner of Small Business of the Year, will be announced on 13 May 2021.

This year, in light of current covid-19 restrictions, Small Business Britain will again be hosting its award ceremony as a lively virtual event, instead of the traditional glittering gala dinner. Small businesses across the country will zoom in together for an evening of fun celebrations, featuring entertainment, special guests, speeches, networking and more!

About The Small Awards

The Small Awards, launched in 2017, targets the whole small business sector focusing on businesses often overlooked by other awards.

The Small Awards is run by Small Business Britain, the UK’s leading champion of small businesses, supporting all 5.8 million small businesses in the UK – no matter their location, their sector, or their ambition level.

Through a series of reports, events and campaigns, Small Business Britain champions, inspires and accelerates small businesses in the UK to foster growth and increased confidence.

https://thesmallawards.uk

https://smallbusinessbritain.uk

Hereford Cathedral lower the George flag to half-mast as a mark of respect following the death of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh 

Prince Philip, the longest-serving consort in British history, was married to the Queen for more than 70 years.

He dedicated decades of his life to royal duty, serving the nation at the monarch's side.

All 3 appliances from Leominster Fire Station were required at a large building fire, near Ludlow late last night.

Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service crews from Hereford, Ledbury, Tenbury and Leintwardine, were all in attendance. Firefighters used breathing apparatus, main jets and hose reels to bring the fire swiftly under control.

📷 HWFRS Leominster

🔷 Money for bypass | Outsourcing services and Herefordshire Council's commitment to build 2,500 affordable new homes 🔷

In this final session from Councillor Harvey she answers more questions put to her from our previous topic here about money for the Western Link Road (also known as the Hereford Bypass), and why do the council often outsource services.

Hereford Voice would like to thank Councillor Liz Harvey for taking the time out to answer questions and engaging in our Councillor Sessions, we hope that you have found these useful.

More Councillors will be engaging with you this year as part of our 'exclusive' Hereford Voice 'Councillor Sessions'

Our 'Councillor Sessions' are not limited solely to the current administration, we welcome 'Sessions' with Councillors from ALL parties representing Herefordshire.

🔜 Follow Hereford Voice for more Councillor Sessions coming soon

Herefordshire Council teams have recently completed a programme of resurfacing and drainage works on the C1125 - C1129 to C1124, Marden in Herefordshire.

Instagram | We captured this fabulous sunset tonight while walking through Hereford city centre.

'Follow Us' on Instagram

🔷 Furlough and Purchase of Maylord Orchards 🔷

In this session Councillor Harvey answers more questions about whether Council staff were furloughed and the purchase of Maylord Orchards for over £4 Million.

Councillor Harvey will be answering more of the questions from our previous topic here in her final session later this week.

More Councillors will be engaging with you this year as part of our 'exclusive' Hereford Voice 'Councillor Sessions'

Our 'Councillor Sessions' are not limited solely to the current administration, we welcome 'Sessions' with Councillors from ALL parties representing Herefordshire.

🔜 Follow Hereford Voice for more Councillor Sessions coming soon

Police in the Forest of Dean dealt with an incident where fence panels had not been secured properly to the roof of this motorists vehicle, resulted in this lucky escape.

Police reported the driver for an insecure load.

📷 Gloucester Police

This grass snake was seen in the Forest of Dean this week. The photo was taken from distance but how beautiful to see such a wonderful creature in Herefordshire. 

Photograph courtesy of F.D.Williams 

Have you seen any snakes in the County? 

West Mercia Police Statement: 👉 https://hfd.news/x0q

Around 3pm this afternoon (Friday 2 April) we were informed a helicopter had crashed in a field off Bromyard Road in Ledbury, Herefordshire. Emergency services are currently at the scene.

Two people were on board the helicopter and while the extent of injuries is not yet known, they are not believed to be serious.