A motorist has crashed their car through a wall and into the cider press on Whitecross Road this morning.

The are no reports of any injuries.

Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service water rescues teams from across the two counties have rescued 44 people from their vehicles, caught out by the rising floodwaters, further crews have assisted homeowners with serious flooding effecting electrics and giving advice.

Please adhere to any 'road closure' signage.

Following the accident Leominster SNT's wrote on their Twitter feed;

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"As a reminder to drivers about driving to the conditions.....please take extra care and slow down. There is lots of surface water, making the roads treacherous in places"

Photographs courtesy of Leominster SNT

A busy night for Hereford Police with 3 x arrests for drink drive and 2 x arrests for drink and drug drive.

West Mercia Police supporting the NPCC drink/drug drive campaign.

A West Mercia Police Specials Officer came across an RTC last night outside Leominster, minutes after it happened. The driver lost control going too fast through the flood water.

It is important to slow down and be extremely cautious in this weather!

New Tier restrictions from today (Sat 19 Dec), Herefordshire has moved from Tier 2 to Tier 1 restrictions.

For the latest on what this means for you & to keep up to date with other local area restrictions visit: http://orlo.uk/DTAYF

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused uncertainty for future funding so the council has to prepare to make savings. Be part of the conversation and let Hereford Council know your priorities on council services next year by visiting here

Herefordshire Council are providing free school meals over the Christmas holidays to help those who already get free school meals during term time, hopefully this will be an extra help - particularly if you have been financially affected by the pandemic.

If you have an eligible child you will receive a local supermarket voucher for the value of £75 to cover the cost of food for the two week Christmas holiday period.

Herefordshire Council will be issuing free food vouchers direct to parents and carers of pre-school age children. If you haven't heard from the team then please email them HERE.

For older children, your school will give out the vouchers.  Your school will contact you in good time to let you know if you are entitled to the vouchers and how to get them. 

If you have a child that receives free school meals during term time but haven’t received a voucher, please get in touch with your child’s school as soon as possible.

I am relieved to hear this, but where are they? Hadn't realised there were so few.

03/06/2020 - To re-open all public toilets in Herefordshire in two phases where it is safe to do so under Government guidelines ref: 6914    

Recommendations Approved

Since the national lockdown restrictions have eased in recent weeks, there has been a significant increase of footfall to the county especially to the rural parks and countryside.

The lack of facilities is now causing a public health hazard due to the continued closure. Government guidance of 2 metre social distancing, appropriate signage and appropriate hand washing facilities needs to be addressed before the toilets can be re-opened. The council needs to ensure that both users and cleaners can operate safely.

Government guidance can be found at the following links:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/safer-public-places-urban-centres-and-green-spaces-covid-19/4-management-of-urban-centres

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/construction-and-other-outdoor-work

Appropriate additional measures may include:

Adding a touch point clean to routine cleaning.
Signage – for queuing and social distancing outside.
Handwashing – in addition to signage and ensuring that toilets do not run out of supplies, to put external hand sanitizers on the outside of toilets.

Proposal is to open as soon as possible all toilets identified in Phase 1 of appendix 1 where there is direct access off the street. This will include the disabled toilet at the British camp where the radar lock will be replaced with a normal lock to enable visitors to use it.

All toilets identified under Phase 2 of appendix 1 will be re-opened as soon as practicable possible after the 15th June 2020. These are cubicle toilets and it is far more difficult to achieve the 2 metre social distancing which makes them safe for users and cleaners.

The use of the toilets will be monitored on a weekly basis.

Decision Maker: Director of Economy and Place

Decision published: 04/06/2020

Effective from: 03/06/2020

Lead officer: Helen Beale

PUBLIC TOILET REOPENING PHASE 1

I0PY     Hereford Gaol Street Car Park Public Convenience 
EJPP     Hereford Union Walk Public Convenience 
HJPY     Leominster Broad Street Public Convenience 
LJPA     Leominster Westbury Street Public Convenience 
KJP7     Colwall Jubilee Drive British Camp Public Convenience ACCESSIBLE TOILETS ONLY 
FJPS     Kington Mill Street Public Convenience ACCESSIBLE TOILETS ONLY 
WAPM Ledbury Church Lane Public Convenience ACCESSIBLE TOILETS ONLY 

PHASE 2

KJP7     Colwall Jubilee Drive British Camp Public Convenience REMAINDER 
FJPS     Kington Mill Street Public Convenience REMAINDER 
WAPM Ledbury Church Lane Public Convenience REMAINDER 
0CP3    Colwall Jubilee Drive Wyche Cutting Public Convenience 
0QGL   Hereford Castle Green Public Convenience Castle Street 
6APH   Ross-on-Wye The Croft Public Convenience

Mark Chilman, 51, from Pencombe, Bromyard, has been charged with murder & remanded to Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court to appear tomorrow (Thursday 17 December).

He was charged in relation to an incident that occurred in Cotheridge, Worcestershire, on Saturday 12 December.

A 27-year-old man remains in custody.

Keith Brown, aged 55, from Blakes Lane, Guarlford in Malvern, was sentenced today (Wednesday 16 December) at Worcester Crown Court, to 10 years and 8 months in prison extended for 3 years to serve on licence for raping an 83 year old woman in her home.

Brown pleaded guilty on Monday 14 September to the rape which happened in the early hours of Thursday 13 August. He was also given a restraining order not to contact the victim for life.

Detective Inspector Tony Garner said: "This was a despicable offence on an elderly and defenceless victim. Following the report of the incident we mobilised every resource at our disposal from detectives to dogs teams in order to catch a vile sexual predator. All those involved in the investigation worked tirelessly to quickly apprehend Brown and in doing so we have prevented further people potentially becoming a victim to him. 

“My hope is this conviction and sentence will provide some measure of closure for the victim who is an extremely brave and courageous woman. It will also reassure a local community and act as a warning to anyone else considering offending in this manner that West Mercia Police will not rest until you are caught and brought to justice.”

Anyone who is a victim of any sexual assault and feels they may need support can contact West Mercia's Victim Advice Line. It is a free, independent and confidential support service. People can call 0800 952 3000 or visit www.victimadviceline.org.uk and do not have to have reported the offence to the police.

To report a crime like this, phone the police non-emergency number 101 (always call 999 in an emergency). If you'd like to give information anonymously - without leaving your name or identifying details - you can do so by phoning the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers also has an anonymous online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org

Agreement enhances trade facilitation and security cooperation

LONDON - The United States and the United Kingdom concluded a Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement (CMAA) today to further enhance bilateral efforts to secure and facilitate lawful trade. U.S. Ambassador Robert Wood Johnson and The Rt. Hon. Jesse Norman, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, signed the agreement in London.

U.S. Ambassador Robert Wood Johnson and The Rt. Hon. Jesse Norman, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, signed the agreement in London.

“The United Kingdom has been an indispensable trade partner of the United States for more than two centuries,” said U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner Mark A. Morgan. “This new agreement will further enhance the U.S.-UK partnership by improving information sharing, strengthening the enforcement of our customs laws, and bolstering supply chain security while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade.”

“The Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement will expand our efforts to secure and protect our nation’s borders through the timely and crucial sharing of investigative information,” said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director Tony Pham. “We value our strong partnership with the United Kingdom and the collaborative effort to prevent, detect, and investigate customs offenses and crimes associated with goods crossing international borders.”

“Every single day, the U.S. and the UK work side by side to stop criminals trafficking illegal goods across the Atlantic - from guns, to drugs, to illegal wildlife products and even counterfeit medicine," said U.S. Ambassador to the UK Robert Wood Johnson. "This Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement means that after Brexit, our investigators can keep sharing information to stop criminals in their tracks and keep people in both our countries safe.”

“This is an important agreement that ensures continuity post EU exit, and demonstrates the strength of the US-UK customs relationship,” said The Rt. Hon. Jesse Norman, Financial Secretary to the Treasury. “This deal will allow us to continue to cooperate in combatting customs offences by sharing information and good practice, and provides the legal underpinning for schemes to ease trade flows for importers and exporters.”

CMAAs are bilateral agreements between countries that are enforced by their respective customs administrations. The agreements provide the legal framework for the exchange of information and evidence to assist countries in the enforcement of customs laws, including duty evasion, trafficking, proliferation, money laundering and terrorism-related activities.  U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement are the implementing agencies for the United States.

For more information about CMAAs, please visit CBP.gov.

Malvern Winter Glow is a dazzling NEW outdoor illuminations trail, made from dramatic light installations, so wrap up warm and prepare to be spellbound by an extravaganza of light.

Photo courtesy of Doug Sim

Some evenings are selling out fast but there are still dates available for you to book until 3 January. Scroll to the bottom of the page for sold out dates.

About Malvern Winter Glow

Enjoy a magical journey of discovery and marvel at the dramatic light installations, inspired by the area’s natural landscape, history and heritage.

Tickets are available in advance with timed entry sessions (selected at the time of booking) and limited to just 10 sessions per night. The trail is around a mile long and is over mixed terrain including tarmac and grass so please wear appropriate footwear.

As numbers are limited, visitors can take the time to wander and explore and to take that all important Christmas selfie!

Please note this event is advanced tickets only - Adult tickets are £16 each, children aged 3 to 16 tickets are £11 each and under 3s go free.

Visitors can book their preferred entry time with the first session starting at 4.40pm.

The inaugural light extravaganza promises to enchant visitors and if you’re lucky you might even catch a glimpse of Santa!

Food and Drink

A range of seasonal food and drink vendors will be on hand to add festive cheer to the evening. Click here to see what food and drink stands will be at Malvern Winter Glow.

Full details and tickets can be found on the Three Counties Showground Website 

Berrington hall is embarking on urgent conservation work in the curved garden thanks to the DCMS Culture Recovery Fund. This work will be carried out on the original eighteenth-century walls within the curved garden; 'Capability' Brown's final masterpiece and the only one of its kind to survive the centuries intact. Although the wider garden project is on pause for now, read on to discover more about the work we will be carrying out in 2020 and 2021.

Berrington’s walled garden and pleasure grounds was the final landscape masterpiece of Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. Commissioned in 1775, the curved walled garden is the only one of its kind to survive and thanks to our supporters, they are now able to begin the urgent restoration work needed to save this unique vestige of Georgian garden design.

The rare curved walled garden at Berrington Hall - Image courtesy of Berrington Hall

What is happenening in the garden?

From Wednesday 28 October, work began to carefully and sensitively deconstruct the existing and former farmyard buildings in the curved walled garden. These buildings are having a detrimental impact on the original eighteenth century curved wall. This work is necessary to ensure the brickwork does not continue to deteriorate and that this internationally significant garden is preserved for generations to come. This work will continue until mid-November. The wider garden project is on pause for now, but this vital element of the conservation work has been made possible by the DCMS Culture Recovery Fund. We're very grateful to DCMS for supporting this project and allowing us to save 'Capability' Brown's final curved walled garden and the only one of its kind to survive the centuries intact. The curved garden will be closed during this time, but you’ll be able to see the work in action from a designated viewing area.

From 16 November until mid-March 2021, work begins on urgent repair work and conservation of the curved garden walls. This work will be taking place inside the curved garden itself, but you will be able to see some of the brick work repairs in action from the kitchen garden.

Come and see the project unfold on your next visit and rediscover the gardens, whether it’s for health and wellbeing or encountering enchanting seasonal displays. Although much of our work has been put on hold for now, our long-term plan is to revive and reimagine the walled garden and pleasure grounds, developing the space to showcase creative arts, high horticulture and community engagement to create a 21st century vision for an 18th century garden. 

As a conservation charity, they rely on the support of visitors to ensure that they can carry out these large scale projects to keep places like Berrington here for everyone, for ever. Contact a member of the team about how you can get involved and support the project on your next visit. 

Full details can be found HERE

Construction is now complete on the £9 million state-of-the art Cyber Quarter – Midlands Centre for Cyber Security with the building officially handed over by contractor, Speller Metcalfe.

When the new centre officially opens in spring 2021 on Skylon Park, Hereford Enterprise Zone, Herefordshire will be home to the UK’s leading centre of excellence in cyber security, supporting innovation and industry in this growing sector.

The centre is a joint venture between the University of Wolverhampton and Herefordshire Council and part-funded by the Government’s Local Growth Fund, via the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Despite work being temporarily halted on the site due to pandemic lockdown restrictions in March, Speller Metcalfe carried out a phased return with a reduced workforce, in line with revised protocols and protective measures enabling progress.

The new building, designed by Birmingham based Associated Architects, has generated 80% spend locally within 30 miles of the project which includes subcontractors Folbig Fabrications, Hereford Asbestos Services, Herefordshire Council Building Control and Quickskip, based close to the site at Rotherwas.Councillor David Hitchiner, Leader of Herefordshire Council, said:

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“The centre is a key investment to support the creation of high-income, knowledge-based jobs in the county.

“We are already home to a highly regarded cyber economy, and the knowledge, expertise and opportunities that the centre brings will help to establish Herefordshire as one of the capitals of the cyber security sector.”

 

Mandy Thorn is Chair of the Marches LEP, which invested £2.82m of Local Growth Funding into the project. She said:

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“Despite the challenges 2020 has brought, it is fantastic to see this amazing building completed and nearly ready to open its doors to businesses in the new year.  

“The new centre will not only be home to growing businesses engaged in cyber security solutions but will also deliver support and cyber insight to thousands of businesses both in Herefordshire and across the wider Marches region.”

 

Zone Chairman, Andrew Manning Cox, said:

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“This is a trail-blazing project which will boost investment on Skylon Park while supporting businesses to protect themselves from hacking and data disruption.

“The expertise and specialist focus of the centre will be part of a wider, growing campus of cyber sector companies based within the Cyber Quarter on Skylon Park.”

 

Professor Geoff Layer, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Wolverhampton, said:

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“We’ve seen from the success of our recent Cyber Fringe Festival that there’s an ever growing appetite to ensure that cyber research and skills is a priority for businesses across the globe.

“The University will provide significant resources for research and development through our Wolverhampton Cyber Research Institute (WCRI) which is developing and leading an International Cyber Knowledge Hub to tackle threats in cyberspace.

“Focus will be on providing expertise in relation to security for critical national infrastructure – particularly in terms of healthcare, transport and our physical environment including power grids, water networks and the nuclear industry.

“The shared facilities will also allow private sector businesses to benefit from the university’s networks and expertise as well as make use of the centre’s specialist training rooms and laboratory spaces.”

 

Adrian Speller, Technical Director of constructor Speller Metcalfe, said:

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“As well providing a catalyst hub for the ongoing development of the cyber economy, the building is also hugely sustainable. This includes high levels of airtightness, a ‘fabric first’ approach and low embodied carbon, all of which will contribute to lower running costs and reduced carbon footprint over the building’s lifespan.  

“Having personally grown up in Herefordshire, it’s been fantastic to work with the project partners to construct a building that has generated significant social return on investment through its delivery.”

 

Warren Jukes, Director at Associated Architects, said:

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“The new building is highly sustainable and includes an atrium roof of glue-laminated timber beams.

“The timber hybrid structure of the building has stored 30 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, CO2e, in its construction; a steel/concrete equivalent would have emitted 563 tonnes of CO2e, it’s an outcome of which we are extremely proud.”

 

Cyber Quarter – Midlands Centre for Cyber Security will offer a package of tailored security testing, training, Research & Development and sector expertise to businesses and investors.

Supported by the university’s Wolverhampton Cyber Research Institute (WCRI), the centre will also be home to 16 cyber SMEs and well as offering product testing and certification, CPD and short courses and cyber conferences like the recent Cyber Fringe Festival attracting experts from across the globe. 

The 2,000 square metre building will provide significant resources for research and development across three cyber laboratories, advanced training facilities as part of the University’s Wolverhampton Cyber Research Institute and additional business space for up to 16 cyber companies.

The centre, which secured £2.82m of funding via the Marches LEP’s Growth Deal with Government in 2017, is part of the new Cyber Quarter at Skylon Park, already home to numerous defence and security sector businesses.

The new centre incorporates a full height glass atrium to provide a dual break-out space and function hall, alongside the main three storey building that houses business suites, innovation rooms, IT workshops and a ‘Cyber Range’ – a cutting edge facility that will defend against the global rise of hacking.

Anyone interested in courses offered or businesses looking for incubation space can find out more about the Cyber Quarter – Midlands Centre for Cyber Security on the website. 

Lawful owners of certain weapons can begin to surrender them to the police from today as part of a three month scheme launched by the Home Office.

The weapon surrender scheme runs from today, Thursday 10 December 2020 until Tuesday 9 March 2021, where those owning particular weapons can hand them over to police and submit a compensation claim from the Home Office.

The Offensive Weapons Act 2019 contains measures to make it unlawful to possess certain offensive weapons– including rapid firing rifles and specific types of knives such as flick knives and zombie knives.

West Mercia Police will be accepting offensive weapons – those detailed in the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 - at front counters at the following police stations; Kidderminster, Redditch, Worcester, Hereford, Telford and Shrewsbury.

Those with legally held firearms that are affected are being contacted directly by the Firearms licencing unit with specific instruction on surrender and compensation.

Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Jones said: “Supporting this Home Office initiative is part of our commitment to tackling violence together with our partners and the public. It is only by working together that we will reduce violence including street violence and domestic abuse.

“For those weapons that are not detailed in the Offensive Weapons Act, there will also be knife bins at every station so they can be deposited safely.”

If you have information about someone you suspect to be in possession of an illegal weapon, you can contact West Mercia Police through the 101 number or via our website. Any information received is always dealt with in the strictest confidence.

If you have information but don’t want to speak to police, then you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or by visiting their website Crimestoppers-UK.org They are 100% anonymous and totally independent of the police. They never ask your name, they cannot trace your call or I.P address and no one ever knows that you’ve passed on information.

Young people can find advice by visiting Fearless.Org Full details on the Home Office surrender scheme can be found here.

It may be the season of good will but please consider that everything may not be as it seems.

In recent weeks Hereford Cops (Hereford city SNT) has seen an influx of Romanian Nationals who are begging and claiming to be homeless and hungry.

On making enquiries the Police have established that these individuals are part of a travelling group of beggars from South Wales.

Police have also today removed 3 Romanian nationals from the City Centre again claiming to be homeless and begging.

CCTV tracked these individuals to a waiting vehicle where they were spoken to and established they are all housed in Boston, Lincolnshire and have travelled to Hereford to beg.

Please!!!! If you want to give money to the homeless please consider doing so through a registered charity otherwise you should consider that your “donation” to some of those on the streets may not be used for the purpose it was intended.

Source: Hereford Cops

Joe William Stafford pleaded guilty to being over the legal limit with 89 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath (legal limit is 35) when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford this week.

Police were called after receiving reports that a motorist had driven the wrong way along a one-way street and had crashed into the Central Bakery in Leominster before fleeing the scene back in November which we reported here.

We have been advised that Mr Stafford had sent the bakery and a letter of apology along with a cheque for £500.

Magistrates in Hereford disqualified Stafford from driving for 18 months and fined him £326 with costs of £135 and a £34 victim surcharge which he must pay.

Hannah Lewis who is a director of the bakery has been in touch with us and she has informed us that the police have not been in touch to inform her of the court case and merely took a statement over the phone. A police officer arrived the following day (5th of November) asking her to sign her statement but she is very disappointed not to have heard back from the police since.

Hannah also told us that she had received a letter from Mr Stafford along with a cheque for £500 and has repeatedly asked for advice from the police about this but is very disappointed that she has yet not received a single reply.