Hereford Voice

Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service crews from Hereford Fire Station were mobilised to a large fire at the rear of a property in Hunderton during the early hours of this morning. A shed was well alight when the crews arrived but the fire was swiftly extinguished. 📸 Sebastian Olzyk

A man has been charged with attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon following an incident in Kington, Herefordshire on Friday. Alexander Stone, 37, of Bridge Street, Kington will appear at Kidderminster Magistrates' Court on Monday. He is remanded in custody.

Police were called to an address in Kington earlier today (Friday 22 July) in response to a report of a woman being assaulted. The woman was taken to hospital but is expected to be discharged shortly. The man was arrested and taken into custody where he remains at this time. Det Sgt Jim Moore said: "This was a nasty incident but fortunately the injured woman is expected to make a full recovery. "We would like to reassure local people that this was an isolated incident and there is not believed to be any danger to the wider community."

The marquee is up and ready for the start of the wonderful Three Choirs Festival in Hereford. The festival runs for a week from 23-30 July 2022 with world-class music-making, choral and orchestral concerts, services, recitals and talks. For all the details visit 👉 HERE

Food waste to be collected by bike Following on from our breaking news article from yesterday http://hfd.news/GyP Herefordshire Council expects to become the first local authority in the country to have food waste collected by bike. Cabinet members yesterday (Thursday 21 July) agreed a new waste service specification, including that Herefordshire’s food waste will be collected weekly by bike. Cabinet gave pedal-powered collections the green light after debating the idea during today’s meeting. Cargo bikes pushing ahead A cargo bike food waste collection will begin in central Hereford. The zero-carbon approach will see kitchen scraps turned into compost. While this is a first for any UK council, similar approaches have already been adopted elsewhere. A BBC report shows food collection by bike is already underway in Paris. Meanwhile, online retailer Amazon is reported to be launching a fleet of e-cargo bikes to replace van deliveries in London. New waste collections mandatory This environmentally-friendly step is part of a new waste and recycling collection service for Herefordshire that will also include a fortnightly garden waste collection service, which councils must introduce as part of new government legislation. The new enhanced service will provide much more recycling capacity and will improve both the quantity and quality of recycling. Residents will keep the bins they already have for general waste and recycling. The council will meet the one-off cost of additional bins needed to separate different types of waste. This will be offset by savings made every subsequent year in reduced disposal costs. Losing sleep over climate emergency Gemma Davies, cabinet member for commissioning, procurement and assets, says: “I am absolutely thrilled with this. Not just that we’re introducing this environmentally-friendly collection service but also that we expect ours to be the very first council in the country to do so. How good it is to lead in the critical race to combat our climate emergency. Making these changes is a very useful way for us all to get involved in helping our environment. I’m grateful to all the members who supported this plan and I’m confident Herefordshire residents will also get behind it. The change will benefit us all.” Getting it right Residents are being encouraged and supported to make good choices to ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ through the councils ‘Getting it right’ campaign. This encourages people to put the right items into the right bins. Reducing contamination (putting the wrong things into the wrong bins) will improve recycling rates. Other waste reduction measures include the incredibly successful reusable nappy scheme, which is helping residents with young families reduce nappy waste. Its popularity meant the scheme had to end just 30 days after its April launch date. Herefordshire Council also recently announced funding grants for setting up or extending existing repair cafes to discourage people from throwing away repairable household items.

An investigation has been launched following the death of a 20-year-old woman in Hereford. Shortly after 5am on Sunday morning (17 July) police were called to Green Street following a report of a concern for safety. Officers attended along with colleagues from West Midlands Ambulance Service. On arrival it was found that a 20-year-old woman had sustained unexplained injuries and sadly, she was pronounced dead at the scene. Her next of kin has been informed. A 21-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder. He has since been released on police bail pending further inquiries. Detective Inspector Mark Walters, said: “This is an incredibly sad incident and our thoughts go out to the family of the young woman who has lost her life. “I understand that incidents of this nature can be alarming, but would like to reassure the local community that this is an isolated incident and there is no wider risk to the public. “You may see an increased police presence in the area over the coming days as our investigation continues.” The woman's family has asked for privacy at this time.

Herefordshire Council could be the first Council in the country to use cargo bikes to collect and dispose of food waste if a decision is given the green light later today. It’s ground breaking innovation Today Herefordshire Council will be making a decision on future waste collection procurement and part of that procurement will be about using cargo bikes on a few thousand houses in Hereford City. It will mean that the household food waste will be collected by cargo bike, resulting in ZERO Carbon collection. The waste that is collected can then be transformed into the highest quality compost, which can then be sold or even better used to enrich our Herefordshire soil ,which will be a small but 'significant' step to help with the phosphate issues we are experiencing in our beautiful rivers and support our farming communities.

With the warm temperatures each year do you think it would be good to open an Lido in Hereford or Herefordshire? Lido Ponty in Pontypridd There are a few really good Lido's across the UK and these were very popular in the 1930's many have been restored and are thriving! Rhondda Cynon Taff council told Hereford Voice that more than 80,000 people visited the National Lido of Wales, Lido Ponty in Pontypridd since it was able to re-open last May following Covid restrictions up to September 2021. This year the numbers have almost doubled. The grade II listed lido was refurbished in 2015 using National Lottery money and has heated pools while restored features include the 1920s turnstiles and wooden cubicles. A new Lido could attract even more visitors to Hereford and would be a great day out for friends and families. Have you visited a Lido? Photograph courtesy of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council

The Hunderton Community Gardens Association mural is coming along nicely! A lot of work from members of the community all working on this showcase wall which is brightening up the area big time!! Well done to everyone involved, we can't wait to see the completed masterpiece 📸 Cllr Kevin Tillett

It is still under review

Midlands Air Ambulance West Midlands Ambulance Service were called to a RTC which involved a collision between a motorcyclist and a bin lorry on the A44 in Bredenbury, Herefordshire just after 10am this morning (Wednesday 20th). West Mercia Police advised that the A44 between Bredenbury and Bromyard was closed due to a serious RTC and that the road will be closed for some time. Two ambulances, a paramedic officer, a BASICS emergency doctor and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Strensham with a paramedic and doctor on board attended the scene. A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “When ambulance staff arrived, they found the motorcyclist, a man, being given CPR by an off duty doctor and bystanders. The man was in a critical condition and ambulance staff commenced advanced life support on scene. Sadly, despite the best efforts of everyone, nothing could be done to save the man and he was confirmed deceased on scene a short time later.”

Planning permission granted, paving the way for MandM Direct to move into former Debenhams unit in Hereford. Carney Sweeney planning consultants submitted a planning application on behalf of MandM Direct for a variation of use at the former Debenhams unit at the Old Market Shopping Centre in Hereford by changing the upper floor space into offices earlier this year. MandM Direct previously said that if the plans were approved that they would move from their current head office in Leominster to the shopping centre in a bid to attract staff. Herefordshire Council has now given the green light for these changes, which will also see new windows overlooking Newmarket Street and a new doorway. The featured escalator inside will be removed altogether. FREE Staff Parking: 119 parking spaces allocated to staff to park for free on weekdays. Planning application P221678/O

Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service and West Mercia Police attended a fire on the field behind Vernon's Williams Close in Newton Farm, Hereford last night. There have been a number of similar incidents which Hereford Cops (SNT) are monitoring and all have been very dangerous. If you have any information regarding this, please contact 101.

TV’s Time Team star Sir Tony Robinson has shown his support for our campaign to bring the hoard home to Herefordshire. As well as playing Baldrick in the television series Blackadder, and presenting Around the World by Train, Sir Tony is an amateur historian and archaeologist with a keen interest in Anglo Saxon England. Learning about our campaign to bring the hoard home to Herefordshire, Sir Tony says: “I’ve always been fascinated by Alfred the Great and his battles alongside his Mercian allies against the great Viking Army. The Herefordshire Hoard offers a fantastic insight into this world and even gives us solid evidence about a previously unrecognised alliance between Alfred and the King of Mercia. It’s a hoard of national importance and should certainly have pride of place in Hereford Museum.” Sir Tony’s support is backed up by Herefordshire’s Lord-Lieutenant’s. Edward Harley, OBE, says: "I am delighted to offer support to this very significant campaign to bring the Herefordshire Hoard back to the county. “The hoard is the single most important archaeological find from the county in half a century, and is of national significance, rewriting our understanding of history at a time when the English nation was forming from a number of separate kingdoms into a unified country. “The beauty and rarity of the objects alone are culturally valuable and the hoard tells us so much about society during the Anglo-Saxon and Viking period. The fundraising campaign to acquire this treasure, to give the people of the county and the whole country, the chance to see it publicly displayed in our beautiful city of Hereford, is an aspiration I wholeheartedly support." Upcoming events The Herefordshire Hoard roadshow storms into Leominster Community Centre on Saturday 2 July. Be there between 11-3pm to see costumed re-enactors who have some old tales to tell about life as a Viking. The next time to see items from the Herefordshire Hoard at the Museum Resource and Learning Centre is between 10.30-3.30pm on Wednesday 6 July. There is no need to book onto this free event – simply turn up at Hereford’s Friars Street venue to feast your eyes on the treasure. Meanwhile, an illustrated lecture by Herefordshire archaeologist, Peter Reavill, takes place at the same venue between 10-12pm, Thursday 21 July. For details of other events, and to keep up-to-date with all hoard-related news, visit the official website.

A government minister has rejected the council's bid to gain special protection for the polluted River Wye. Herefordshire councillors voted to back bringing in a water protection zone (WPZ), which would place tighter restrictions on pollution sources. But Rebecca Pow said it would lead to extra regulatory burdens compared "to businesses in other areas". The river has had excessive algae growth often caused by high phosphate levels in the water. In January, a full meeting of councillors voted unanimously to back bringing in a WPZ for the Wye catchment, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. It is a measure which would place tighter restrictions on farms and other pollution sources, but which only a government minister can implement. Council leader David Hitchiner then wrote to Ms Pow, minister for nature recovery and the domestic environment, urging her to bring in the measure, given that "existing regulatory arrangements are insufficient" to deal with the pollution problem. He said farmers in the county "on the leading edge of farming innovation… would have little to fear from a WPZ as they are doing the right thing anyway". Ms Pow met Mr Hitchiner and other senior figures at the river shortly afterwards, but she warned at the time that such a zone "would be another tier of regulation". Now in a letter, which has been published among papers for Wednesday's Wye Catchment Nutrient Management Board meeting, the minister has written back to say a WPZ "would impose new and distinct regulatory obligations on the farmers and businesses within the catchment". This "would lead to additional regulatory burdens in comparison to businesses in other areas of the country", she said. The council has been invited to comment by the BBC. Herefordshire Council has attempted to gain special protection for the River Wye, which is seen here (below) from Symonds Yat Rock. Source | BBC

To commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Falklands War and to celebrate Armed Forces Week, the Mayor of Hereford Mark Dykes was invited by Rear Admiral Wilcox to host a lunch for forces veterans at Hereford Town Hall. The 40th Anniversary of Falklands was particularly special to the City of Hereford, as during the conflict the City adopted the HMS Antelope, a frigate of the Royal Navy that was sunk by Argentine aircraft. 255 men died during the Falklands War, with 28 of those having their roots in Herefordshire. On Sunday 19th June, Hereford was honoured to receive both the Captain and the crew of HMS Antelope, along with many other armed forces veterans, including members of the SAS. Of those in attendance was also General Sir Michael Rose KCB, CBE, DSO, QGM, and many other high-ranking personnel. The Mayor of Hereford Mark Dykes, also an armed forces veteran, was delighted to have been presented with a shield from the SAS 22 Regiment, which will be displayed in Hereford Town Hall. The HMS Antelope, adopted by the City of Hereford, was sunk by Argentine ordinance explosives. Attacked by aircraft, the Antelope was struck by bombs which failed to explode, and though attempts were made to disarm these devices, the bomb ultimately exploded and the order was given to abandon the vessel. Two servicemen perished due to the attack, while the remaining 41 survived. It was an honour to commemorate the brave efforts of those who have served our Country and celebrate those who still serve. We also remember the fallen, who fell in the line of duty and paid the ultimate sacrifice. Lest we forget. The Royal British Legion have created a message board for those wishing to pay a tribute and honour the lives and sacrifices made at https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/ways-to-give/poppy-press/your-falklands-messages If you need support or someone to talk to locally, please contact Herefordshire Veteran Support Centre (https://herefordshire-vsc.org) on 01432 260656 or the Herefordshire Mental Health 24 hour helpline on 0808 196 9127. Source | Hereford City Council

Originally this was our 2022 April fools prank on our Facebook page, nut we had a huge response! So seriously would you like to see something like this come to Hereford? They had an event in Gloucester city centre a few years ago, see here 👉 https://bit.ly/3J0DMHB Let us know your thoughts..

📣 Weeds! | Now you see me 👀 ~ Now you don't... 🫣 Now you see me.. Now you don't.. Following on from topic here and our Facebook 'Weeds' article 👉 https://bit.ly/3tQoxfJ It appears that the bush has finally been removed!! The positive power of social media 💪 One down, a few more thousand to go 🙄

On the seventh anniversary of his death detectives investigating the murder of Christian Bagley are making a direct appeal to a potential witness, an Audi driver, to contact the investigation team. Christian, who was 30 years old, was stabbed as he walked under the Hunderton Bridge in Hereford on Father’s Day, Sunday 21st June 2015. At the time a murder investigation was launched and so far several people have been arrested and released without charge but officers have not given up the search for his killer. As enquiries continue, officers are keen to speak to the driver of a dark-toned Audi A4 Avant B8 model, manufactured between 2008 and 2016. The vehicle was seen driving between Sainsbury’s and ASDA between 10.37pm and 10:50pm on the night of Christian’s murder. Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Leighton Harding, who is leading the investigation, said: “It has been seven years since Christian was fatally stabbed in Hereford and during this time we have continued to investigate his murder. “However, despite our investigation making significant progress and several people arrested, to date, no-one has yet been brought to justice for his murder. I am absolutely committed to ensuring Christian’s family find out what happened to him on that fateful night and to bring those responsible for his murder to justice, which is why I’m making a further direct appeal today. “We have viewed hours and hours of CCTV footage and have identified a vehicle that was seen travelling between Sainsbury’s and ASDA stores in Hereford between 10:37pm and 10:50pm on the night of Christian’s murder. The vehicle is believed to be a dark-toned Audi A4 Avant B8 model, manufactured between 2008 and 2016. “At 10:37pm the vehicle travels along Eign Street from the direction of the A49 Victoria Street towards Sainsbury’s at Barton Place. The vehicle leaves shortly after and is seen again driving on and off the forecourt of nearby Shell Service Station at Whitecross Road. The vehicle travels back along Eign Street towards the A49 Victoria Street and is next seen again at 10:47pm pulling up on the main car park at ASDA, Belmont Road. Y2Mate.is - Op Concrete murder of Christian Bagley, Hereford in 2015 CCTV footage-Q7P-BF7iM8E-720p-1655796277571.mp4 “The male driver got out of the car and approached the entrance of the store, which was closed at that time. He is believed to have seen another person walking near to the store, who he may have spoken to briefly before returning to the vehicle and leaving. “I want the driver of this vehicle to contact us or Crimestoppers as he may have significant information that could assist the investigation. I would like to offer my assurances to the driver that I do not in any way believe they were involved in Christian’s murder but may be a key witness and have information that can help with our investigation. “I recognise that the passage of time presents difficulties for people being able to remember where they were and what they were doing, however, I hope that by releasing details of the Audi, CCTV footage of the movements and description of the driver’s activities at ASDA will help trigger their memory and cause them to contact the investigation team”. To coincide with the anniversary of Christian’s murder Crimestoppers are offering a £20,000 reward. DCI Harding added: “I know there will be people with information about Christian’s murder and understand they may not want to speak to police. If you have information about Christian’s murder please pass this on to Crimestoppers. “Crimestoppers is an independent charity, separate from police, and is 100% anonymous. Police will never know the identity of anyone who contacts Crimestoppers. “If the information provided to Crimestoppers leads to the arrest and conviction of Christian’s killer you could be eligible for a £20,000 reward.” To provide information to the police, dial 101 quoting incident 717s of 21 June 2015. Alternatively, you can submit information online via the Police Major Incident Public Reporting Site, otherwise known as the MIPP (access here: Public Reporting Site). This is a direct line into detectives investigating the murder.

West Mercia Police are calling for help after a body was found in the River Wye, near to Greyfriars Avenue in Hereford on Saturday morning. The body has been identified as 69-year-old Christopher Cooper. He was last seen near The Black Lion pub on Bridge Street at around 9pm on Friday. He was 5’10” - 6’0” tall, slim build, short brown greying hair and was wearing a navy jumper, black jeans, black trainers & baseball cap. Anyone who saw Christopher from 9pm on Friday - 10am on Saturday is asked to contact Hereford Cops via 101 quoting incident 220i of 18 June.

What's On | 🏴‍☠️ Pirate Themed Wye Float 🏴‍☠️ 15% OFF for our Hereford Voice followers We have teamed up with our lovely friends at Wye Float for another fabulous event this year - 13th August 2022 10:00 till late. Music Inflatable River Floats Live Bands Pirates Camping Families Welcome Fancy Dress Food, Drink and much much more.. Tickets www.wyefloat.com 15% OFF using code: Hereford Voice

Tenants will soon have a legal right to keep pets in rented homes, forcing landlords to house four-legged companions in their rental properties. The new rules included in the 'Renters Reform Bill' white paper published this week, will also abolish so-called “no fault” Section 21 evictions. Details from the 'Department of Levelling up Housing and Communities' 👇 Fairer private rented sector white paper to ensure improvements to the rights and conditions for millions of renters. New blueprint for renters reform will end the injustice of unfit homes and help protect renters from rising cost of living We will ban section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions and extend the Decent Homes Standard to the sector We will end arbitrary rent review clauses, give tenants stronger powers to challenge poor practice, unjustified rent increases and enable them to be repaid rent for non-decent homes It will be illegal for landlords or agents to have blanket bans on renting to families with children or those in receipt of benefits We will make it easier for tenants to share their homes with much-loved pets The fairer private rented sector white paper published today (16 June 2022) will ensure millions of families benefit from living in decent, well looked-after homes as part of the biggest shake up of the private rented sector in 30 years. The white paper marks a generational shift that will redress the balance between landlords and 4.4 million private rented tenants. It provides new support for cost of living pressures with protections for the most vulnerable, and new measures to tackle arbitrary and unfair rent increases. This is part of a wider reform agenda to improve lives and level up the country, delivering more housing and greater protections for tenants and homeowners. The majority of tenants enjoy safe and secure rentals, but for the 21% of private renter and households who currently live in unfit homes, this ‘New Deal’ will extend the Decent Homes Standard to the private sector for the first time, levelling up opportunities. This means homes must be free from serious health and safety hazards, and landlords must keep homes in a good state of repair so renters have clean, appropriate and useable facilities. So-called ‘no fault’ section 21 evictions – that allow landlords to terminate tenancies without giving any reason – will be outlawed. More than a fifth of private renters who moved in 2019 and 2020 did not end their tenancy by choice, including 8% who were asked to leave by their landlord. Measures published today also include: Helping the most vulnerable by outlawing blanket bans on renting to families with children or those in receipt of benefits For the first time, ending the use of arbitrary rent review clauses, restricting tribunals from hiking up rent and enabling tenants to be repaid rent for non-decent homes. This will make sure tenants can take their landlord to court to seek repayment of rent if their homes are of unacceptable standard Making it easier for tenants to have much-loved pets in their homes by giving all tenants the right to request a pet in their house, which the landlord must consider and cannot unreasonably refuse All tenants to be moved onto a single system of periodic tenancies, meaning they can leave poor quality housing without remaining liable for the rent or move more easily when their circumstances change. A tenancy will only end if a tenant ends or a landlord has a valid reason, defined in law Doubling notice periods for rent increases and giving tenants stronger powers to challenge them if they are unjustified Giving councils stronger powers to tackle the worst offenders, backed by enforcement pilots, and increasing fines for serious offences In addition, the estimated 2.3 million private landlords will have greater clarity and support through the following measures: A new 'Private Renters’ Ombudsman will be created to enable disputes between private renters and landlords to be settled quickly, at low cost, and without going to court Ensuring responsible landlords can gain possession of their properties efficiently from anti-social tenants and can sell their properties when they need to Introducing a new property portal that will provide a single front door to help landlords to understand, and comply with, their responsibilities as well as giving councils and tenants the information they need to tackle rogue operators These reforms will help to ease the cost of living pressures renters are facing, saving families from unnecessarily moving from one privately rented home to another hundreds of pounds in moving costs. We have already taken significant action over the past decade to improve private renting, including reducing the proportion of non-decent private rented homes from 37% to 21%, capping tenancy deposits and banning tenancy fees for tenancy agreements signed after 1 June 2019, and introducing pandemic emergency measures to ban bailiff evictions. Today’s measures will form part of the Renters Reform Bill as announced in the Queen’s Speech, to be introduced in this parliamentary session. This will deliver on our commitment to give renters a better deal and make the private rented sector fit for the 21st century with safer, more secure and higher quality homes. Levelling Up and Housing Secretary Michael Gove said: For too long many private renters have been at the mercy of unscrupulous landlords who fail to repair homes and let families live in damp, unsafe and cold properties, with the threat of unfair ‘no fault’ evictions orders hanging over them. Our New Deal for renters will help to end this injustice by improving the rights and conditions for millions of renters as we level up across the country and deliver on the people’s priorities. While the majority of private rented homes are of good quality, offering safe, comfortable accommodation for families, the conditions of more than half a million properties – or 12% of households – pose an imminent risk to tenants’ health and safety, meaning around 1.6 million people are living in dangerously low-quality homes, driving up costs for our health service. The sector offers the most expensive, least secure, and lowest quality housing to millions of renters, including 1.3 million households with children and 382,000 households over 65. Rents are also rising at their fastest level for 5 years. This can damage life chances and hold back some of the most deprived parts of the country. Today’s move marks the latest phase in delivering on the government’s levelling up missions, taking serious steps to halve the number of poor-quality rented homes, across both private and social tenures, by 2030. Last week the government introduced the Social Housing Regulation Bill which means failing social housing landlords could face unlimited fines and Ofsted-style inspections. In a major reset of power between tenants and landlords, residents will be able to demand information and rate their landlord as part of new satisfaction measures. Taken together with today’s renters reform white paper, the Bill will form a key part of the government’s mission to level up across the country and deliver on the people’s priorities.

This is the first of three new moss filters being installed in the Hereford. Moss is one of nature’s best air filters. Moss has the natural ability to absorb and metabolise fine dust and particles, helping to naturally clean the air we breathe. Moss also stores and evaporates large amounts of moisture which cools the air. Also known as ‘city trees’ the moss filters each take up about the same amount of space as one tree, however due to the enormous surface area of moss the moss filter is more efficient at filtering and cooling the air around it. The innovative moss filters have been funded jointly by the council and Marches LEP as part of the ongoing £6m Hereford City Centre Improvement project, which is enhancing the City Centre environment thanks to investment to encourage people to spend more time in the City when they visit, helping to boost the local economy. Moss mats clean about 80% of fine dust and particles from the air, and using ventilation technology filters breathing air for up to 7,000 people per hour. The moss filters will be located in busy traffic areas in the City where they will use specially selected mosses to help naturally absorb pollution from the air. The first is being installed at Eign Gate. The moss filters contain integrated smart sensors which provide performance and condition information, so the impact on the local air quality will be available for all to see on the council’s website. Cllr John Harrington, Cabinet member infrastructure and transport, said: “I am really pleased that we are bringing moss filters to Hereford. This innovative technology provides us with another small but significant step towards cleaner area in the City, which is important for everyone.” “We are working hard in a number of ways to reduce emissions from vehicles in our beautiful, historic City with the aim of cleaner, healthier air for visitors but that takes time. Nature is lending us a helping hand towards this in the meantime. In London in Waltham Forest and in the City of Cork in Ireland, these moss towers have already been working hard filtering the low hanging pollution we have to deal with every day. “Moss works differently to trees. Like trees, moss is great at converting carbon dioxide into oxygen, however moss also actually absorbs pollution particles from the air – metabolising and converting them into natural and harmless biomass. The particles it cannot use are bound in the sediment of the moss. And with their excellent moisture storing ability, the moss filters also work more efficiently to cool the air around them. “I understand one moss filter captures carbon dioxide equivalent to 28 beech trees and cools the air around it like three mature winter lime trees. While trees are also playing an important role in our efforts to improve air quality across the City, the moss filters provide a boost in busy traffic areas where there is higher pollution but little space.” The first moss filters are being installed in the same week as Clean Air Day, the UK’s largest air pollution campaign, which this year is on Thursday 16 June. Air pollution causes heart and lung disease and results in over 36,000 people in the UK dying each year. Clean air is essential for our health, and clean air measures are good for our wellbeing as well as being good for the planet. For more about Clean Air Day, see www.actionforcleanair.org.uk

Here are some photographs that we have taken to highlight just how bad and BIG these weeds have become along the Belmont Road (A465) in Hereford. The weed on the traffic lights junction just before the Asda garage is that big it is now more of a bush but clearly blocks the view for motorists and has now become more of a hazard. The Belmont Road as we all know, is one of the busiest roads into Hereford and this is what people visiting our city first see... At Hereford Voice we constantly focus on being 'Positive' about our beautiful city however, it becomes more challenging for us when weeds like this remain completely untouched for years with no sign of them being removed. There are plenty of overgrown weeds throughout the city, so come on Herefordshire Council can we please have more pride in our lovely city of Hereford..

Kevin Hill of Tarbock Road, Speke, Liverpool has been jailed for supplying cocaine and possessing offensive weapons. The 48-year-old from Liverpool was sentenced yesterday (Monday 13 June) at Worcester Crown Court. He was sentenced to nine years in prison. An investigation by West Mercia Police with support from Merseyside Police found that between May 2021 and February 2022 Hill led a Liverpool based group responsible for the distribution of wholesale amounts of cocaine into Herefordshire. Kevin Hill took over this enterprise from his twin brother, Keith Hill of Ridgemoor Road, Leominster, who is himself serving a nine year jail sentence after being sentenced at Worcester Crown Court in August 2021. Both individuals were at the pinnacle of this offending organisation. It is conservatively estimated that he distributed in excess of a kilo of cocaine, however in reality the figures involved are likely to be more significant. The police operation gathered significant mobile phone evidence which implicated Hill on a large scale. He pleaded guilty and received a reduced sentence. Initially Hill had said that he was a dog breeder and received payments marked up for the sale of XL Bully dogs, this was easily disproven. Evidence was gathered that demonstrated Hill had a number of contacts in and around Herefordshire, who were themselves dealers in their own right, this included 23 year old Callum Smith of Princess Avenue, Hereford who was sentenced to six years seven months and 32 year old Nathaniel Singleton of Mortimer Street, Leominster, who was sentenced to 33 months. On 13 October 2021 Nathaniel Singleton was arrested and found in possession of £24,000 of cocaine. On 19 January 2022 Callum Smith was arrested and found in possession of several hundred pounds worth of cocaine. These drugs were supplied by Kevin Hill. Detective Sergeant Jamie Bullock said: “People involved in this line of work should be mindful that at no point did we seize drugs or money from Kevin Hill. Those in a similar position should use this sentence as a warning that they could be next. “Anyone with any concerns about potential drug crime is urged to get in touch. We act on all reports we receive.” You can call 101 or visit https://www.westmercia.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/