PASSENGERS OFFERED FIRST GLIMPSE OF NEW WEST MIDLANDS RAILWAY TRAINS

Passengers in the West Midlands have been offered a first glimpse of the new, state-of-the-art trains which will arrive in the region next year after on-track testing began.

West Midlands Railway has ordered a total of 26 diesel trains - known in the rail industry as Class 196s – as part of its £800m investment in the region’s railway network.

The trains - which are being built in two-car and four-car formations – will be used to increase capacity on the busy line between Hereford and Birmingham when they begin arriving in the West Midlands next year. Among the benefits to passengers using the trains will be power points, WiFi and under-floor heating.

A total of 80 carriages will be constructed under the project with the first batch now under construction in Europe by manufacturer CAF. They are due to arrive in the UK in the spring, with the remaining trains being manufactured at a purpose-built factory in south Wales. All units will undergo further testing here and in Europe before entering passenger service in the second half of 2020.

A video of one of the first new Class 196 trains – complete with West Midlands Railway branding – being track-tested in Czechia in eastern Europe is attached. 

Jane Fisher, transition and projects director for West Midlands Railway, said:

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“The popularity of rail travel in the West Midlands is continuing to grow at a rapid rate, which is why we have pledged to invest £800m to help us keep up with demand.

“It is exciting to see that this investment is starting to come to fruition with our new Class 196 trains entering the track-testing stage before they begin arriving in the UK next year.

“These smart, modern trains will boost capacity on our network and come with features such as under-floor heating and extra luggage space which I am certain will prove popular with passengers.”

 

The British people will head to the polls in a 'General Election' on Thursday 12 December 2019.

Your thoughts...

Car in for repairs caught fire in an industrial unit on Red Barn Drive last night.
I noticed a feint glow as I went into Euro car parts and thought it strange someome had a fire going inside the unit .
 

Budget approved for Marlbrook Primary School expansion

Plans to expand Marlbrook Primary School at Green Croft, have taken a big step forward as the council approved the capital funding to enable the project to move from the design stage to construction.

Cabinet approved just over £6 million investment to provide new facilities at the school site.

Rated outstanding by Ofsted, the popular school has seen a significant increase in pupil intake over the past few years resulting in the need to expand and improve the existing facilities. The school is also a teaching school and offers support and training to other schools regionally.

The investment programme will see 6 new state of the art classrooms, a new hall, a special hygiene and physio room to make the school fully accessible to all learners.  The project will also include new netball courts and improvement works to the car parking area.

Completion of the new buildings will mean that the school can remove the current temporary classrooms from the site and pupils will be taught in permanent purpose built modern facilities.

Contractors will start work at the school after Christmas with the aim of opening the new facilities to the pupils and teaching staff by spring 2021.

Chris Baird, Herefordshire Council’s Director of Children and Families, said:

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“Our priority is to give Herefordshire children and young people a great start in life and we believe that we can build strong foundations for this by providing every child with a solid education in modern purpose built facilities, in line with our capital investment strategy.

“This latest announcement for Marlbrook is a continuation of a schools improvements programme that has gathered speed throughout the summer and has included maintenance projects at 13 schools and £1,320m of investment, with many more improvement projects planned for next year.

“We look forward to the new facilities opening in early 2021 for pupils and teaching staff to use and enjoy.”

 

Some good news for once about bringing past and used buildings back to life. A Rule of Tum began back in 2013 when the creative minds of Brothers Edwin and Dorian Kirk, along with their close friend Jon Stead decided to bring about a change in Herefordshire food culture and began the journey towards bringing great dining experiences to the people of Hereford and beyond. By raising £500,000 through crowd funding it shows the confidence people/customers have in this independent, local business.

Best of luck to them when they reopen this Friday 22nd November plus they are giving away 100 free burgers.

No Water?

Welsh Water have confirmed that due to a burst water main during the early hours of this morning has resulted in large parts of the city with being without water or reduced water pressure.

Residents in the Belmont, Newton Farm, Redhill, Whitecross and King's Acre areas of Hereford are affected

Welsh Water are working hard and hoping to have all services restored later this morning.

Resident failed in their ‘duty of care’ when household waste was fly tipped

A resident from Putson has been fined for illegally disposing of waste in a case taken to Hereford Magistrates’ Court by Herefordshire Council’s Community Protection Team.

The individual was sentenced on Tuesday 17 September 2019 after pleading guilty to failing to secure the transfer of waste with a written description of the waste. They were sentenced to a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay costs of £600 plus a £20 victim surcharge.

The court heard that unwanted furniture was removed from the home address of the Putson resident by a waste collector. The individual failed to obtain a waste transfer note and check that a waste carrier’s licence was held.

On 28 December 2018, the removed furniture was found fly tipped on the roadside embankment of the country lane which sits between the A49 and A465 in Hereford. A disgusted resident posted a photograph of the fly tipping on social media and an investigation by the council’s Community Protection Team led to the identification of the Putson resident who failed to provide a detailed account as to who had collected the furniture. Without information about the waste collector, there was not enough evidence to complete a full investigation.

David Hough, Herefordshire Council’s Trading Standards Service Manager said:

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“Everyone has a legal ‘duty of care’ to make sure their household or business waste is disposed of correctly. This case shows that you can be prosecuted even if your waste is fly tipped by someone else on your behalf. We would advise residents to always use a registered waste carrier and to never use the services advertised by cold callers or social media tip run adverts which offer to remove waste for cash.”

Residents can call 01432 260051 to arrange a kerbside collection of bulky items from Herefordshire Council which costs £25 per three items (fridges or freezers cost £20 per item).

Herefordshire Council’s Community Protection Team will investigate fly tipping which is reported by calling 01432 261761 or online at www.herefordshire.gov.uk/flytipping

Herefordshire's new official flag has just been unveiled and it's now flying at the Cathedral tower. Almost 700 people entered the competition to design the flag and the winner was Jason Saber from Kent.

Our original discussion can be found HERE

The flag shows a bull's head and the River Wye on a red background to represent the county's deep red soil which was Design C.

Your thoughts?

Christmas just around the corner it's time to start planning the ultimate celebration at The Glass Tandoori. 

Make your reservation in advance for all your family to taste North Indian Cuisine.

Christmas special offer will be available soon !

Herefordshire Council has submitted plans to refurbish the library in Hereford.

Leading councillors agreed last year to spend up to £230,000 on developing the mezzanine floor at the Hereford Library and Museum on Broad Street.

The proposed plans include widening of the existing door and forming an additional opening in the wall in the wall between the room and the library mezzanine. Opening up of the two internal window spaces. Inserting glazed screens within the openings with photographic images of Hereford. Inserting glazed screens to form office space and providing a kitchenette. 

Repairing the existing lath and plaster soffit and plastered walls with lime plaster. Uncovering and restoring/displaying the gothic window. Addingceiling mounted Breathing Building natural Ventilation system. The existing window W1 is to be removed and replaced with a shallower fixed double glazed window to match existing.

The proposals will ensure the library is accessible to all.

Planning application P193462/L

There are many roads closed across the county due to the severe rainfall and conditions. Please do not drive through floods unless absolutely necessary.

You are often our 'Eyes & Ears' please help us to help you by sending us your news & photographs. 

This can be done via Facebook messenger or Email.

Thank you to all of the people who kindly take the time to send us regular updates throughout the year.

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Herefordshire's new official flag to be revealed early November.

The competition deadline has now passed and the voting for Herefordshire’s new official flag will take place in September and the winning design will be revealed on November 2, the Herefordshire Flag Committee announced today.

The shortlisted entries will be named when the schools go back after the August bank holiday and the county’s residents will then have about a month to make their choice. Everyone aged five and over will be eligible to vote.

Herefordshire is one of only three of England’s 39 historic counties not to have its own registered flag, alongside Leicestershire and Hampshire.

This unadopted design below, which you might recognise, features a red background that represents the county's red earth, and a white and blue wave standing in for the River Wye. The gold lion is taken from the City of Hereford arms, and the bull's head is a bovine nod to Hereford Cattle.

Surprised nobody else has posted the changes at Herefordshire Council following the recent local elections so here goes:-

Herefordshire Council’s Leader and Chair elected and committee chairs appointed.

Full Council has today announced how Herefordshire Council will be governed in the 2019/20 municipal year.

Councillor Hitchiner has been elected Leader of Herefordshire Council, Councillor Bowen is Chairman of the Council and Councillor Guthrie is Vice-Chairwoman of the Council.

Full Council also appointed Herefordshire Council’s committee chairs, confirmed as:

Adults and wellbeing scrutiny committee    

Chair: Councillor Swinglehurst                         Vice-Chair: Councillor Bartlett

Audit and governance committee       

Chair: Councillor Shaw                                     Vice-Chair: Councillor Bolderson

Children and young people scrutiny committee     

Chair: Councillor Gandy                                   Vice-Chair: Councillor Toynbee

Employment panel committee  

Chair: Councillor Hitchiner                                Vice-Chair: Councillor Johnson

General scrutiny committee     

Chair: Councillor Lester                                    Vice-Chair: Councillor Bowes

Planning and regulatory committee   

Chair: Councillor Hardwick                               Vice-Chair: Councillor Seldon

Licensing sub-committee         

Chair: Councillor Seldon

Published: Friday, 24th May 2019

and

Councillor David Hitchiner, Leader of Herefordshire Council, has today announced his Cabinet member appointments and the portfolios they will be responsible for.

The Leader will continue to direct the council’s corporate policy and strategy and have overall budget responsibility.

Cabinet members are:

Councillor Felicity Norman (Deputy Leader): Children and Families

Councillor Gemma Davies: Contracts and Assets

Councillor Pauline Crockett: Health and Wellbeing

Councillor John Harrington: Infrastructure

Councillor Ellie Chowns: Economy and Communications

Councillor Ange Tyler: Transport and Regulatory Services

Councillor Liz Harvey: Finance and Corporate Services

Councillor David Hitchiner, Leader of Herefordshire Council, said:

“Herefordshire is a proudly independent and ingenious county. I look forward to drawing on best practise, using our strengths and talents, to be a council that serves and works with the people of Herefordshire, with openness and imagination at its heart. Our Cabinet Members bring a variety of skills and some new experience- I am confident that working together we will do well for the county we all love.”

Published: Friday, 24th May 2019

Wishing them well in their new roles and look forward to some positive moves

That's all for now!

M5 motorway closed at Gloucester after body discovered.

Officers have closed the M5 between junction 11A at Brockworth and junction 12 for Quedgeley after a person was found dead on the carriageway.

The incident was reported shortly before 4.10am today (Wednesday 30 October).

Officers attended the scene, on the southbound carriageway around a mile north of Gloucester Services,  and have closed both sides of the motorway while the body is recovered and a serious incident investigation takes place.

Diversions have been put in place but significant disruption is expected this morning and is likely to last for a number of hours while police continues its work at the scene and establishes the circumstances.

Anyone who may have information but hasn't spoken to police should call 101 and quote incident 34 of 30 October.

Don't forget folks ..
 

Congratulations to The Beefy Boys again for their brilliant signature burger entry into the world food championships competition in Texas USA.

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Results are in we got a 90.5 for our structured build and a 92.25 for our signature burger The Beefy Boy! Sadly it wasn’t enough for us to take the title but we’ve still had a blast. Thanks to everyone back home for all the support x

LIne Dancing Hereford still going strong.

Join us on Monday  7.15 until 9.15 at Northholme Community Centre

Beginners to improvers, phone 01432870383