COVID-19 testing units remain in Hereford and Leominster

One of Herefordshire’s COVID-19 mobile testing units has today (Friday  5 February from 3.30pm) been redeployed to the help the government’s “surge testing” campaign in targeted areas to better understand the spread, and supress, the South African variant.

The least-used mobile testing units, which includes the one at Ross-on-Wye, across the country are being reassigned by NHS Test and Trace to work in those areas where cases of the South African variant, which do not appear to have travel links, have been found.  The areas affected are Ealing, Haringey and Mitcham in London; Walsall in the West Midlands; Broxbourne in Hertfordshire; Maidstone in Kent; Woking in Surry and Southport in Lancashire. As many people as possible within those targeted areas are being asked to take a test.

Herefordshire residents who develop COVID-19 symptoms of a high temperature, a new persistent cough and/or loss of taste or smell, should immediately self-isolate and book a test by going online or ring NHS 119.   There are testing sites at Leominster and Merton Meadow, Hereford; as well as Hempstead Meadow, Gloucester; and Como Road, Malvern; or residents can order a postal test kit if they cannot get to one of the sites.Herefordshire’s Acting Director of Public Health Dr Rebecca Howell-Jones said:

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“It is very important different parts of the country work together to tackle COVID-19 and while we want to provide comprehensive testing for our own residents, it is crucial resources are focused on the areas that need them most.

“Suppressing the transmission of this new COVID-19 variant is not just for the benefit of the people living in those areas where it has been discovered, but for us all.

“Everyone in Herefordshire can still play their part in reducing the spread of COVID-19 - keeping themselves and their loved ones safe - by following the three simple steps of washing their hands regularly and thoroughly, keeping 2 metres apart from others outside their home and wearing face coverings in indoor public settings like shops and businesses

“It is also important, where possible, for people to work from home as this will help to suppress the transmission.”

Adoption Central England – celebrating three years of supporting children and families in Herefordshire

Adoption Central England (ACE) is celebrating three years as a regional adoption agency supporting families in Solihull, Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire to provide children with a loving permanent adoptive home.

In the past year ACE has launched its independent and confidential support service for birth relatives called Family Connexions. The service is available to any birth family member where children in the family have been adopted and supports birth parents through the legal processes involved in adoption and in making necessary life changes.

ACE provides continued support for adoptive families and children. This has recently been further enhanced through their DDP (Dyadic Development Psychotherapy practice) certification. This practice is an approach to preparing and working with adoptive families that is underpinned by an understanding of childhood trauma. This in turn helps adoptive parents to parent their adopted children in such a way that recognises this trauma but also allows for secure and loving attachments can be formed.

Throughout 2020, ACE has faced the challenges of COVID-19 and adapted to new ways of working ensuring adoptive families and children continue to have access to the support they need. Training is now delivered virtually and with an increase in enquiries, ACE has continued to place children with adoptive parents making sure the necessary coronavirus precautions are in place and keeping in close contact with families through telephone calls and online meetings.

To find out more about what it’s like to adopt through ACE, adopter case studies are featured on the ACE Facebook page, providing an insight into the adoption process and what people can expect from the adoption process. Visit the ACE Facebook page @aceadoption.

Councillor Felicity Norman, Herefordshire Council Cabinet Member for Children and Families, added: “ACE has gone from strength to strength during the three years since it became established. ACE has continually developed its practice to ensure it can provide a quality service for children across the five authorities that make up ACE and has stepped up to the challenges everyone across the sector has faced in the last year due to COVID-19, to ensure services have continued to be provided.”

In order to find the best possible families for children ACE does not set a bar on who can adopt. The service welcomes enquiries from all sections of the community and is particularly looking to recruit more families for sibling groups of 2 or 3 children. Also, older single children usually up to the age of 8 years are waiting for families. There can be many advantages of adopting a sibling group apart from the obvious reward of being able to keep brothers and sisters together. The needs of older children are invariable better known and understood which means that support services may already be in place or can be more readily accessed to help adoptive parents as they start to share their lives with the child.

If you would like to know more adoption please go to the ACE website enquiries@aceadoption.com or contact ACE on 0300 369 0556.

The Family Connexions service can be contacted at: familyconnexions@aceadoption.com

#herefordvoice 

Sad news today as we learn about the passing of a true hero, Captain Sir Tom Moore, our thoughts go out to his family and friends.

RIP.

Somebody has cut the hedge on the highway verge in Muir Close and failed to clean up after them. This is the second time that the verge has been left untidy this year and will most probably result in me again having to tidy it all up and taking the waste to the local tip. The state of the kerbs with weeds growing out of them are a disgrace throughout the estate, but no one is really interested in keeping the environment clean. No doubt coronavirus will be the excuse for doing nothing this year, but its about time the council, Balfour Beatty and the Housing Associations sorted this matter out. I have been here 20 years and it is a perennial problem. The same goes for the trees in the area - getting too big and blocking light from people's gardens and houses.

The census happens every 10 years with the next one taking place 21 March 2021.

Each household will be asked to take part and the information it collects helps Herefordshire Council plan services across Herefordshire. Find out more about the census, here 👉 http://orlo.uk/cQhLd

#herefordvoice #herefordnews #Census2021

Herefordshire Council has taken the decision to cease work on a western bypass for Hereford at Full Council today (Tuesday 2 February 2021). 

Council has determined to stop the progress of the southern link road and western bypass schemes, which are included in the adopted policy. A suggested amendment was debated but not approved.

The decision follows a detailed review of the transport strategy for Hereford which set out to better understand existing and future transport conditions in the city, and to assess alternative options particularly in light of the declared climate and ecological emergency and changes to national transport policy.

The votes cast were 27 for, 19 against and 6 abstentions. All 52 councillors were present and voted.

The decision means that the Hereford Transport Package will be removed from the council’s capital programme.

The council meeting can be viewed again on the council’s Youtube channel. 

At around 12.20pm on Friday 29 January officers received a call notifying them that a woman was in cardiac arrest at her home, in Pembridge, and was believed to be the victim of an assault.

Upon arrival, officers found the woman to have suffered a serious injury to the head and had sadly died at the scene.

A man aged 57 has been arrested on suspicion of murder and has been detained under the mental health act.

Detective Chief Inspector Dean Jones said:

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“We believe this is an isolated incident and our thoughts are with the family at this very sad time."

West Mercia Police are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a Worcester man wanted on recall to prison. He has links to Worcester, Malvern and Hereford areas.

Anthony Russell Hannay, aged 33, had previously been convicted for a burglary offence and is now wanted for breaching the conditions of this licence.

He is described as a white man, approximately 5ft 11 inches tall, medium build with short brown hair and has a tribal tattoo on the right side of his neck.

If anyone sees Hannay or knows of his whereabouts they should call 101 and not approach him directly. Alternatively, if you have information but don’t feel comfortable speaking to police, you can speak to the independent charity Crimestoppers. It is 100% anonymous, they never ask your name and they cannot trace your call or I.P address. You can contact them online or by calling 0800 555 111.

'NMITE which is working towards transforming engineering higher education, announces Hereford-based, oak-framed building specialists, Oakwrights, as the winner of its competition to help create the designs for three new buildings on the Skylon site.'

Full Story

Captain Sir Tom Moore, 100-year-old war veteran who raised £33m for the NHS, has Coronavirus and is in hospital.

Sir Tom, who had not been vaccinated yet because he was being treated for pneumonia.

In a tweet from his official account, his daughter, Hannah Ingram-Moore, said he tested positive last week and was taken to hospital today for help with his breathing.He is not in intensive care.

We are sending Sir Tom our get well wishes and hope that he makes a full and speedy recovery.

Even experienced drivers get caught out on icy roads sometimes, a lucky escape for one of Leominster's Police officers this morning on the A49 just outside Leominster.

Thankfully no injuries....

#herefordvoice #herefordnews #herefordshire

Hereford Cathedral has bid a digital farewell to The Very Revd Michael Tavinor, Dean of Hereford, after 19 years of leadership and ministry.

The Dean had originally planned to lead a series of farewell services on Sunday 31 January but, due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, those plans were thwarted. Instead, the cathedral community and many around the county came together online on Sunday morning with a pre-recorded video service sharing memories of Michael’s time in Hereford. As well as messages of thanks from members of the cathedral community, the Archbishop of Canterbury sent his best wishes to the Dean via a special video message.
The Very Revd Michael Tavinor said: 

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“It’s difficult for us all, parting at this really challenging time, but I think it’s important to look back together at all the good things of the last nineteen years. When we do so, we’ll recall events, projects, sadnesses and joys, and the cathedral community has been second to none in its faithfulness, encouragement, support and loving care throughout all of them. 

“I shall never cease to be thankful for the friendship I have received from so many who have contributed to cathedral life, and have made my ministry as Dean so enjoyable and rewarding. I thank you all for your kindness and generosity. The cathedral and the city of Hereford will always have a special place in my heart and I shall be thinking of you and remembering you all in my prayers as you prepare for the next stage of your journey.  God bless you all.”

The Rt Revd Richard Jackson, Bishop of Hereford said: 

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“After nearly two decades as the Dean of Hereford, it is with a heavy heart that Michael is retiring in the midst of another lockdown. It is of course very far from the ideal send-off that we had all hoped and prayed for - we hope to bid a more personal farewell in due course. Despite our short time together, I am very grateful for Michael’s wisdom, insight and the warm welcome he offered me on my arrival nearly 12 months ago. 

“He has been a great influence on so many. I am deeply aware of the significant impact of his ministry on the lives of individuals and worshipping communities across the Diocese of Hereford. I wish him every blessing for a long and happy retirement.”

Michael’s gentle leadership has played an instrumental role overseeing many developments to the cathedral buildings during his time in Hereford, including the installation of the Thomas Traherne and Ascension stained glass windows, celebrating St Thomas Cantilupe and St Ethelbert with the restoration of two striking shrines, and the recent completion of the restored Eastern Cloisters, with their new attractions for visitors. As well as his own musical skill and love for the cathedral’s choral and organ music, Michael’s passion for pilgrimage has been shared widely throughout the community, and the warm welcome and hospitality that he has provided for all those who visit the cathedral will be sorely missed.

The celebration of the Dean’s farewell service is available to watch on the cathedral’s website (www.herefordcathedral.org/sunday-morning-worship-deans-final-service) or YouTube Channel. 

Accident on the A4111 this morning, the roads across parts of the county are treacherous due to ice.

Emergency services are at the scene with crews from Kington and Eardisley Fire Stations and West Midlands Ambulance Service

The new restaurant in the former 'Ask Italian' unit in Broad Street Hereford is due to open next week.

Dirty pizzas | Retro cocktails | Chilled vibes

They are just adding the finishing touches to their new and exciting restaurant in Broad Street Hereford before their grand opening next week! (take-away only at the moment)

Check out their Facebook page with a chance to win a delicious free bumper meal in their opening 'Giveaway'

We would like to wish them the best of luck and welcome this new foodie to Hereford's city centre.

Supporting Local Business: Good to see Matrix Hereford is now open!

Once the lockdown restrictions are lifted you'll be able to enjoy this premier venue for FUN and THINGS TO DO in HEREFORD. Their activities will include arcade, soft play, laser tag, mini golf, axe throwing, party rooms and the coolest cafe in town..

They are open only for take-away at the moment but go check it out in Eign Gate Hereford if you're out exercising or shopping.

📷 Matrix Hereford

Hereford Voice wishing you good luck!

Anyone else notice this?

Our friend Jon Simpson posted this photograph in our Hereford Voice Photo Studio earlier with the following comments;

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"I've walked through these many times and hadn't noticed the little mitre bishops hats topping each one, or how they mirror the stone pinnacles on the tower. Clever design at Hereford Cathedral"

Well spotted Jon, we had not noticed that brilliant detail until you pointed it out to us today, how lovely.

#herefordvoice #herefordnews #hereford

Hereford planning department have today approved planning with conditions for the replacement of existing Scout Hall, Stores, Sheds and Shipping Containers with new Scout Hall, which includes garages and stores.

Covering letter in support of the plans

Scouts’ Corner

"Rebuilding the heart of our community"

What we do

We are Scouts South Marches, working across the majority of Herefordshire, part of the UK’s biggest mixed youth organisation. As Scouts, we believe in preparing young people with skills for life. We bring communities together and contribute to society. Above all, we aim to build better futures.

Society is changing. In often fragmented communities, the pressures and expectations on young people are increasing. The future is uncertain. Scouts has never been so important in helping young people prepare for the future, developing the skills they need to succeed in a changing world. Each week almost a thousand young people across our District enjoy fun, friendship, and outdoor adventure. They develop a sense of optimism and strong values as well as the leadership and teamwork skills that are more valuable today than ever.

Our home

Our District Headquarters is affectionately known as Scouts’ Corner. Situated on Crozen Lane it has been the home of Scouting in Hereford since 1949. Over its history, Scouts’ Corner has served our District, and the community, well.

Scouts’ Corner seen from Crozen Lane

The building has a history which predates The Scout Movement itself. Originally the Countess of Huntingdon’s chapel, the building was moved from Berrington Street to its current site in 1889 along with its congregation. It continued to serve as a chapel until the outbreak of World War Two when, in 1940, it was requisitioned by the Home Guard. In 1949 the then District Commissioner of Hereford Scouting, Mr W.G. Ellison, organised the purchase of the site and it has been at the heart of our District ever since.

In the 1980’s the trustees of the time started a project to rebuild Scouts’ Corner as it was started to deteriorate in condition. Unfortunately, the cost of the project was too much for the District at the time and the trustees decided to refurbish the hall instead. The hall has continued to be maintained and refurbished with small upgrades to the heating and toilets, new paneling to protect the internal walls and some redecoration.

The building is now used regularly by 1st Hereford Scouts as well as a ballet group, spiritualists, and a daytime nursery. Between these groups there are around 150 people who use the hall weekly with others benefitting from ad hoc bookings.

What we need

As a Scout District we manage and support all aspects of Scouting across the majority of Herefordshire. Whether its training adults and holding AGMs or running activities for our young people, we need a home that is fit for purpose and built to last.

A meeting room is desperately needed for small group training, trustee meetings and for our adult appointment process. It would allow us to perform all of our functions as a District without needing to hire other spaces which we do currently. It will also create a more versatile space with the option to have break-out groups within larger meetings.

To provide an exciting, relevant programme of activities for our young people we have a vast array of equipment and resources which all needs to be stored safely. The current storage arrangements at Scouts’ Corner are inadequate in size and condition. The external storage consists of a wooden hut which is now rotting, a concrete prefab garage and a container which are difficult to access and deteriorating in condition. Internally there is very limited storage which has resulted in the use of the loft space accessed by a ladder. Due to the lack of space we currently store a lot of our equipment in an off-site storage facility which we pay for.

We have of course considered whether these needs could be met through further renovation and reconfiguration of the existing buildings. The buildings are of limited lifespan and there would be a significant ongoing cost to upkeep them. There is also limited scope for a reconfiguration of the current space; incorporating a meeting room would significantly reduce either the main hall space or the limited storage space. A key issue is the lifespan of the ageing buildings on site which no amount of work will futureproof; anything other than a rebuild will simply defer these issues to a future generation.

What our young people think

Youth involvement is a cornerstone of Scouting. We asked our Scouts what they thought our District Headquarters should be like and they weren’t short of ideas. They all thought we needed a new headquarters and they were keen for it have a large kitchen, some outdoor space where they could develop Scouting skills and to look more modern from the outside. They also had ideas for how to decorate it with every Group from across our District contributing a decoration for the hall.

We have taken all their points into consideration with this scheme to hopefully deliver a District Headquarters which they can be proud of. They are our future leaders and we want them to inherit a building which is fit for purpose rather than the same issues we have been facing since the 1980’s.

Our plan

We know that the provision of social and community facilities, including premises from which voluntary services such as the Scouts are run, is valuable to communities and an important feature of Herefordshire’s Local Plan Core Strategy. Whilst our primary aim is to create a District Scout Headquarters which meets our needs, we would welcome its wider use by the community as we have done with the current building. We are not looking to dramatically increase the capacity of the hall and therefore the number of users at any one time, simply to improve the quality of the space and secure its future longevity.

We have taken every care to develop a project which is sensitive to our surroundings, particularly the trees onsite with the northernmost section of the building angled to avoid disrupting the trees. This also creates a larger space between the tallest part of the building and the adjacent premises. This also creates a more private outdoor space away from the car park which could be used by groups for activities.

The proposed building incorporates more storage space which is better suited to our needs and will replace the unsightly containers and dilapidated garage currently on site. Integrated storage in the main hall will allow us to store tables and chairs as well as equipment used by groups safely without any intrusions into the hall space. The garage space incorporated into the end of the building will enable us to house the District’s equipment on site, reducing our expenses as well as volunteer’s time going to multiple locations for equipment.

In summary, we believe that the proposed scheme will provide a modern headquarters which is sensitive to its surroundings and will enable us to continue preparing young people with skills for life for many years to come.

Full details of planning application P203891/F can be found here

A binman who was employed by an agency has been informed that he will not be working for Herefordshire Council again after the incident in which he had a momentary 'meltdown' and decided to kick the head off a snowman in Hereford on Tuesday while collecting the bins in the area.

Our View: Although you may argue his behaviour was maybe a little odd, we're not sure that it warranted the man losing his job after he had a lapse of judgment.

His employers are behaving like 'snowflakes' after all, it's just a snowman which would have naturally disappeared within a few days anyway.

We hope that the person who took the time out to actually report this as 'an incident' sleep well tonight in the knowledge that someone has lost their job.

Have a laugh at the cartoon photograph below which just goes to highlight how ridiculous this has become.