Hereford Voice

HEREFORD WINS FIRST PRIZE IN WEST MIDLANDS BEAUTY CONTEST Hereford has seen off 24 other places from across the West Midlands – including Warwick and Leamington Spa – to land its’ very own official MONOPOLY board, it will be announced later this morning (Wednesday 2nd February 2022) at Hereford Cathedral. How cool is this! 🔹Hereford Mayor Cllr. Paul Stevens will be amoung guest at the official annocement scheduled for 10am, Wednesday 2nd February 2022. Hereford Cathedral, Broad Street entrance from 9.45am. “Hereford is blessed with great landmarks which will get to replace the famous classic MONOPOLY streets like Mayfair and Park Lane,” says Ella Gibbs from the makers of the new game Winning Moves UK. The new unique game will see the multi-coloured property squares all themed around Hereford – with Chance and Community Chest cards customised too. So Hereford Cathedral, tipped to feature prominently in the game, could be yours to own for just a few hundred MONOPOLY dollars, whilst getting stuck in traffic on the medieval Wye Bridge could see players sent ‘Back Three Spaces’. Castle Green could feature on a green square. Hereford Town Hall may land on the Whitehall space. “But everything is up for grabs,” adds Ms Gibbs, Custom Games Executive at Winning Moves UK, makers of this unique edition under official license from Hasbro. “We expect to be wonderfully spoilt for choice putting this game together.” At today’s announcement that Hereford has landed the honour of its very own customised MONOPOLY game, the public will be invited to suggest landmarks to feature on the board. “The game will reflect the flavour and feel of these suggestions,” adds Ms Gibbs. “The public consultation process will last for three weeks.” The property sets will be themed: from heritage to shopping, culture to leisure – and more. The train station quartet set that features on the classic original MONOPOLY will be handed over to a travel theme for the new Hereford edition. That’s because Hereford doesn’t have a multitude of main line stations to select from like in the London MONOPOLY original. Hereford Town Hall could get to land on the famous Whitehall square from the game’s classic original. “There’s synergy there,” adds Ms Gibbs. For the same reason a very old building could get to land on Old Kent Road. “As regards the board’s most expensive exclusive square, Mayfair, that could go to Hereford’s most prized crown jewel,” adds Ms Gibbs. “We look forward to hearing from the public.” Bosses at Winning Moves UK say a variety of factors were used in deciding Hereford from across 25 cities and towns in the West Midlands and western Midlands. These factors include ‘pride’, ‘landmarks’, ‘beauty’ and ‘sense of family’. Hereford has seen off 24 West Midlands cities and towns to land the MONOPOLY honours for this year. There is a famous Community Chance card in the original MONOPOLY version which says: ‘You have won Second Prize in a Beauty Contest’. Well Hereford has very much won FIRST prize! In all 30+ Hereford landmarks and favourites will be showcased in the game. Over the last 25 years Winning Moves UK has produced official versions of MONOPOLY .. from Dubai to Dublin and Palm Beach to Plymouth. Now the dice is rolling upon Hereford. The game will hit the shops this October (2022) - in time for Christmas - but before it goes into production the public is being invited to suggest Hereford landmarks and cards to feature in the game, via these three ways: 1. By email to: hereford@winningmoves.co.uk . 2 Via the official Hereford MONOPOLY Facebook page. 3. Or by post to: Hereford MONOPOLY, Winning Moves UK, 7 Praed Street, London W2 1NJ. Polling starts at 10am on 2nd February and closes at 23.59pm on 22nd February (2022). #HerefordVoice | #HerefordNews | #Hereford

Herefordshire Council’s Cabinet has agreed the proposed 2022/23 budget which will now be put forward for recommendation to Full Council on Friday 11 February 2022. Following a period of public consultation held in the Autumn of last year, and after two full rounds of Scrutiny by the council’s three committees, the proposals were yesterday (31 January) agreed by Cabinet. The proposals include a total council tax increase of 2.99%, made up of: A 1% adult social care precept which is ring-fenced to support the delivery of social care services A 1.99% increase in core council tax which will fund all other areas of council service This would increase the band D equivalent charge to £1,701.70 representing an increase of £0.95 per week (£4.12 a month). The proposed increase is needed to support the continued delivery of vital services across the county and our priority is to get the best possible value for every pound we spend on the people of Herefordshire. The discount on the council tax reduction (CTR) scheme for any struggling family which qualifies will remain at 100% for the coming year – irrespective of the price banding of their home. Cabinet also proposes to almost triple the budget made available to fund discretionary housing scheme payments for families just failing to qualify for CTR from £272,000 to £772,000. Additionally, some residents will continue to pay no Council Tax at all, such as young adults who have left care and also all the council’s Foster Carer families. The final setting of Council Tax, which will include the precepts for all the county’s parishes plus Police and Crime Commissioner and Hereford & Worcester Fire Authority charges, will take place on 4 March. Residents on a low income may be eligible for help to pay their bill through the Council Tax Reduction scheme. More information and advice on reduction schemes and allowances can be found on the Herefordshire Council website at www.herefordshire.gov.uk/counciltax

Development will be first under ‘Herefordshire Future Homes’ Herefordshire Council has agreed to purchase land in the Widemarsh ward with a view to developing the first new residential scheme under the Herefordshire Future Homes standard. In the County plan 2020 – 2024 the council has expressed an ambition to deliver 1000 new homes and protect and improve the lives of vulnerable people and to reduce the number of people in Herefordshire identified as homeless, and to develop its own housing stock. This development will enable the council to deliver on this ambition in a highly sustainable way, through: Seeking high levels of sustainability and energy efficiency in the construction and operating costs of new homes. Working with partners to minimise our carbon footprint in terms of methods of construction and in seeking the use of local materials and labour wherever possible. Reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable modes of transport - The central location of the land would allow individuals the opportunity to either walk or use public transport to move around. The purchase of site and the delivery of properties will add to the county’s housing stock and it is intended that they will be affordable in perpetuity allowing future households who share protected characteristics to have access to appropriate accommodation. The Herefordshire Future Homes Report was adopted by the council in November 2021, and sets out the environmental building design standards that will govern future housing developments on council-owned land and council retrofit schemes across the county. Herefordshire is amongst the first nationally to set such high environmental standards for housing on council-owned land, which reflects the council’s commitment to tackling climate change. Cllr Ange Tyler, Cabinet member for Housing, regulatory services, and community safety, said: “We are all aware that Herefordshire Council has set an ambitious target on developing new homes, so it is wonderful to see this purchase agreed, with a view to constructing some much-needed new housing in the city of Hereford. “Under the Herefordshire Future Homes standard, these new homes will generate as much renewable energy as they use, through a combination of energy efficiency measures and forms of renewable energy generation and storage. Not only is this good for the environment, it also increases the value of a house, meaning a greater return on investment for the council, for developers, and for homeowners.” To find out more please see the Herefordshire Future Homes report on the council website.

Popular e-scooters are being used in cities all over the world and now many cities here in the UK. Beryl are expanding their use across their network and have e-scooters and have a free trials tomorrow in Bournemouth. We have received many emails and messages from local people who have used e-scooters and would welcome them as an alternative form of low coast transport around the city. Have you used an e-scooter and would you like Herefordshire Council to give the go-ahead for e-scooters in Herefordshire? Hereford Voice first published details about e-scooters back in May 2020 in our article here 👉 https://hfd.news/eif

Be aware the Department of Transport have made changes to the Highway Code Rules which will be implemented from the 29th January 2022. The rules establish a hierarchy of road users, prioritising road users most at risk.

Going out for the night should be a chance to have a great time with your partners or mates. The last thing you want to worry about is someone slipping something in your drink. Sadly, this is a real risk and especially so for women. In 2021, The Independent ran a YouGov survey which found that one in nine women have had their drinks spiked, and one in three knew another woman who had been spiked. What is drink spiking? To spike a drink means putting a substance in someone's drink that they have no knowledge of and have not consented to. This is usually with drugs or alcohol that could affect your body’s ability to function normally, which can potentially cause you harm and leave a person vulnerable. Drinkaware says drink spiking can happen to any type of drink, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Drinks spiked with alcohol or drugs can make a person seriously vulnerable. Spiking someone’s drink carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence in the UK. Always keep an eye on your drinks to make it more difficult for someone to spike it and also help to protect your friends and loved ones by keeping an eye on their drinks if they need to go to the toilet or for a dance and visa-versa.. Yates in Commercial Road, Hereford are one of the local pubs that are giving out foil covers for glasses to prevent spiking of drinks, hopefully other venues may follow helping to tackle this vile crime. Symptoms of drink spiking The effects of drink spiking vary depending on what you’ve been spiked with. Your symptoms could include: Lowered inhibitions Loss of balance Feeling sleepy Visual problems Confusion Nausea Vomiting Unconsciousness The symptoms will depend on lots of factors such as the substance or mix of substances used (including the dose), your size and weight, and how much alcohol you have already consumed. If you or a friend start to feel strange or more drunk than you should be, then get help straight away. More advice and a guide can be found Drinkaware

Mayor of Hereford, Paul Stevens, has been busy planting more perry trees across the County! These rare pear trees were facing a dark future of endangerment before the Mayor took it upon himself to make sure that doesn’t end up the case. The first trees were planted at Brockhampton Estate, near Bromyard. A second set was planted at Ross Cider, and another at Holme Lacy College. These will eventually blossom into fruit baring trees, giving the rare pear a chance to spread across Herefordshire. The Mayor had previously worked on reviving the perry trees last year by planting at Little Pomona Cidery on Brook House Farm. A long time advocate and enthusiast of our County’s rich history in cider and perry, The Mayor was initially dismayed to hear that the famous perry trees were under threat. To prevent this from happening, Paul sought out Jim Chapman of the National Perry Pear Centre in Hartpury to secure scions for grafting, and approached Nick Dunn at the nationally renowned nursery, Frank P Matthews near Tenbury Wells. Marking Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee this year, these trees have been planted as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy project, a special invitation to all people to plant trees to mark the important occasion. Not only is this a fantastic initiative to get us outside and proactive, it’s also a boon for the ecological diversity and future of the UK’s environment.

Our Friends of Castle Green and Hereford LIVE camera hosts have announced that they have appointed local architect Oliver Steels of Errand Studio to work alongside the board in the next steps towards rejuvinating The Pavilion, Castle Green as part of the StrongerHereford Town project. As a local, Oliver has a good understanding of the needs of the community in redeveloping the building and has some fantastic ideas that will help FoCG to achieve its vision of transforming the historic Pavilion building to create a modern, accessible space and iconic riverside visitor attraction in the heart of Hereford. Our Friends of Castle Green are very much looking forward to working with Oliver over the coming months. Keep an eye out for updates on the plans!

Jon wrote "An illuminated variation on the Elgar view of #HerefordCathedral in #Hereford, #Herefordshire. I'll have to revisit this sometime as I'm sure I can improve on my light steering effortsElectric light bulb"

Green Party activists and county councillors staged a small protest in Hereford on Saturday against the government’s imminent Policing Bill. Green Party activists in Herefordshire argue that protest won women the right to vote and urged people to ensure their civil liberties are upheld. The bill, threatening draconian measures to make protest a criminal offence, is at a crucial stage. Ellie Chowns, leader of the council’s Greens said: ‘This bill is a threat to basic civil liberties right at a time when we need to hold government to account over so many issues. Our democratic right to protest is being eroded.’ ‘There is a danger we will wake from our trance over ‘party-gate’, and other pantomimes, to find we have lost many of the liberties we take for granted. This legislation has become worse following a series of amendments that have been slipped into the bill at a late stage - without proper scrutiny or debate. We cannot allow that. Please contact your MP about it, this weekend.’ Baroness Jenny Jones formerly of Weobley, and chair of Herefordshire’s Green Party in the late 1990’s said: ‘The government sidestepped the Commons by introducing 18 pages of draconian laws as amendments in the Lords, but if peers vote against them they cannot be reinserted.’ Baroness Jones urged people to contact their MPs and members of the House of Lords immediately to ensure that they voted against the amendments to stop, outright, some of the worst measures of the Policing Bill. Details https://bit.ly/321DAbI

The start of the new year brings some welcome news for Herefordshire’s hard-hit hospitality, leisure and accommodation businesses. The government has set aside funding to help them recover from the adverse effects of restrictions introduced to reduce the spread of Covid-19. As part of the government’s £785m Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant package to help UK businesses, the council will manage the county’s allocation of £3,996,378. This means eligible businesses within the county can apply for a one-off grant up to £6,000. The funding is available immediately to support businesses in urgent need. The scheme is open for applications until 28 February 2022 and all payments under this and existing schemes will be completed by 31 March 2022. Government has also confirmed the county will receive an additional £440,262 ‘top up’ to the additional restriction grant allocation (ARG). These funds will provide up to £3,000 of support to smaller hospitality and leisure businesses without a rateable value, and to supply chain businesses that have also been affected. Cllr Ellie Chowns, cabinet member for environment, economy and skills, says: “Many hospitality and leisure businesses have been seriously affected by the recent rise of Omicron, as people minimised their social contact over the Christmas period - a time of year when seasonal businesses would normally generate a large part of their income. “And of course this has come on top of nearly two years of Covid-related disruption. “So, I am very pleased that this new grant is now available to help businesses in the worst-affected sectors. I am sure it will provide much-needed assistance and Herefordshire Council is pulling out all the stops once again to get the funding out to businesses as quickly as possible. “As we have been provided with a limited amount of funding, we aim to distribute it as widely and as fairly as possible to those that need it most.”

This bell was cast, in 1470, by Robert Handley of Gloucester. It has been in the care of Herefordshire Museum Service since 2012 after the demolition of St. Francis of Assisi church. It is finally returning to their original home St. Michael church, Dewsall, near the Callow.

Further Platinum Jubilee events: The Queen's Green Canopy As the Platinum Jubilee year begins, over 60,000 trees have already been planted in the UK through the project in the two months since the planting season began. Green-fingered communities and cities from Cornwall to Glasgow have come together to make 2022 a truly special year to “plant a tree for the Jubilee” as a celebration of The Queen’s 70 years of service to the nation and the Commonwealth. The Queen’s Green Canopy is generating the planting of large, celebration trees, new majestic avenues of trees, urban planting, and expansive new forests that will benefit future generations. Every planting is being recorded on a digital Queen’s Green Canopy map which will be presented to Her Majesty at the end of the Jubilee year. The Queen’s Green Canopy is also working to protect 70 ancient trees and woodlands that are a valuable part of the UK’s heritage and history and has launched a special training programme to teach unemployed young people new skills in tree planting and management, as well as a Young Foresters Award to highlight the value of trees to school children. The Queen’s Green Canopy will continue throughout 2022 and into March 2023. Royal Collection Trust Three special displays marking significant occasions in Her Majesty’s reign – the Accession, the Coronation and Jubilees – will be staged at the official royal residences from July 2022. At the Summer Opening of the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace, portraits of The Queen taken by photographer Dorothy Wilding between 1953 and 1956 will be on display, alongside items of Her Majesty’s personal jewellery worn for the sittings. At Windsor Castle, the Coronation Dress and Robe of Estate worn by The Queen for her Coronation at Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953 will be on display, while at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, visitors will see outfits worn by Her Majesty on occasions to celebrate the Silver, Golden and Diamond Jubilees. The Queen’s Private Estates Celebrations will also take place on The Queen’s private estates, Sandringham and Balmoral, for local residents and visitors to enjoy. Events free for members of the public to take part in over the Bank Holiday weekend will include ‘Platinum Party at the Palace’ on the big screen in the Royal Parkland at Sandringham - a live screening of the BBC Concert celebrating the most significant and joyous moments from The Queen’s seven-decade reign. The lighting of the Sandringham beacon will also take place in the Royal Parkland, accompanied by live music from the Norwich Pipe Band and the Hunstanton Band. The Platinum Jubilee Celebration From 12th -15th May the Platinum Jubilee Celebration will see over 500 horses and 1,000 performers create a 90-minute piece of arena theatre that will include actors and artists, musicians, international military displays, dancers and global equestrian displays. The show takes place in the same arena used by Royal Windsor Horse Show during the day and is the fourth in a series of events at the same venue that have marked significant moments in the life of The Queen. The production will take the audience on a gallop through history from Elizabeth I to the present day.

There will be year-long Platinum Jubilee celebrations throughout the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and around the world as communities come together to celebrate The Queen’s historic reign. On 6th February this year Her Majesty The Queen will become the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years of service to the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms and the Commonwealth. To celebrate this unprecedented anniversary, events and initiatives will take place throughout the year, culminating in a four day UK bank holiday weekend from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th June. The bank holiday will provide an opportunity for communities and people throughout the United Kingdom to come together to celebrate the historic milestone. The four days of celebrations will include public events and community activities, as well as national moments of reflection on The Queen’s 70 years of service. In addition, initiatives including The Queen’s Green Canopy and the Platinum Pudding competition will create a lasting reminder of The Queen’s Jubilee, while The Queen’s private estates will also join in with special Jubilee themed events offering more opportunities for members of the public to celebrate the historic milestone. The Platinum Pudding competition To mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee a nationwide baking competition sets out to find a brand new pudding dedicated to The Queen. The Big Jubilee Lunch and Fortnum & Mason are inviting applications from UK residents aged 8 and over to create the perfect Platinum Pudding recipe. Five finalists will prepare their pudding for an expert judging panel including Dame Mary Berry, Monica Galetti and Buckingham Palace Head Chef Mark Flanagan. The winning recipe will be made available to the public and the pudding will be enjoyed at Big Jubilee Lunches during the Jubilee weekend, and by generations to come. Thursday 2nd June The Queen’s Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour): Over 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians will come together in the traditional Parade to mark The Queen's official birthday, usually held on the second Saturday in June. Beginning at Buckingham Palace, the Parade will move down The Mall to Horse Guard's Parade, joined by Members of the Royal Family on horseback and in carriages. The Parade will close with the traditional RAF fly-past, watched by The Queen and Members of the Royal Family from the Buckingham Palace balcony. Tickets for this incredible spectacular are available to the public and applications for the ballot are open until the end of February. Please visit qbp.army.mod.uk from the week commencing 17 January 2022 to apply. Platinum Jubilee Beacons: The United Kingdom’s long tradition of celebrating Royal Jubilees, Weddings and Coronations with the lighting of beacons will be continued to mark the Platinum Jubilee. Over 1,500 beacons will be lit throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories. For the first time, beacons will also be lit in each of the capital cities of the Commonwealth countries to celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The Principal beacon will be lit in a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace. Friday 3rd June Service of Thanksgiving: A Service of Thanksgiving for The Queen’s reign will be held at St Paul’s Cathedral. Further events will be announced in due course. Saturday 4th June The Derby at Epsom Downs: Her Majesty The Queen, accompanied by Members of the Royal Family, will attend the Derby at Epsom Downs. Platinum Party at the Palace: The BBC will stage and broadcast a special live concert from Buckingham Palace that will bring together some of the world’s biggest entertainment stars to celebrate the most significant and joyous moments from The Queen’s seven decade reign. Members of the public will be invited to apply to attend this special event and details of the ballot for UK residents to secure audience tickets will be released in February. Sunday 5th June The Big Jubilee Lunch: Every year since the idea began in 2009 The Big Lunch has encouraged communities to celebrate their connections and get to know each other a little bit better, coming together in a spirit of fun and friendship. In 2022 The Big Lunch will bring the Jubilee celebrations into the heart of every community. People are invited to share friendship, food and fun with neighbours as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. A Big Jubilee Lunch can be big or small - street party or picnic, tea and cake or a garden barbeque. The Big Lunch provides tips and ideas for hosting an event. Over 1400 people have registered to host Big Jubilee Lunches so far, with events being planned across the length and breadth of the country. The Platinum Jubilee Pageant: Artistic performers, dancers, musicians, military personnel, key workers and volunteers will unite to tell the story of The Queen’s 70 year reign in an awe-inspiring festival of creativity. The London based Pageant will combine pomp and ceremony, street arts, theatre, music, circus, costumes as well as cutting-edge visual technology, drawing on talent from every part of the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth. Forming an important part of the Platinum Pageant, the ‘River of Hope’ section will comprise of two hundred silk flags which will process down The Mall, appearing like a moving river. Primary and secondary school children are invited to create a picture of their hopes and aspirations for the planet over the next 70 years. A selection of these creations will be transferred on to silk flags, which will carried by secondary school pupils in the Pageant. The artwork for the flags will be focused on climate change and incorporate the children’s messages for the future. Teachers from applying schools will be provided with step-by-step guides to creating a beautiful digital artwork with their students, of which 200 will then be selected for the flags. The selected artwork will also be shown up and down the country on screens as part of the Jubilee celebrations. For more information and to register your school’s interest to take part please go to riverofhope.co.uk.

The Food Warehouse (Iceland) is due to open soon in the former unit previously occupied by Oak Furniture Land on Holmer Road Hereford. Hereford Voice broke the news about Oak Furniture Land intentions to close their Hereford branch back in April 2021 in our article here The Food Warehouse is open to the public and trade alike offering the wholesale experience, without any membership required. The Food Warehouse was formed in 2014 which makes them rather young! As part of Iceland Foods, Iceland's history goes right back to 1970 when Malcolm Walker and another retailer founded the very first Iceland store. Iceland now has over 800 stores and The Food Warehouse, over 120 with Hereford due to open soon hopefully creating up to 25 new jobs locally. Vacancies now available for the new Hereford store include Team Leaders and Retail Assistants full details and how to apply here 👇 https://www.thefoodwarehouse.com/vacancies/

The Food Warehouse (Iceland) are due to open here soon!

West Mercia Police have confirmed that today, Ben Armstrong, aged 48, from Dyfed, Wales, has been charged with murder and assaulting an emergency worker. He has been charged in relation to the murder of a 78-year-old woman that occurred on Thursday 6 January in Moreton Eye, Herefordshire. The area is still cordoned off whilst their enquiries are ongoing.

Janet Edwards from Tillington in Herefordshire was last seen one month ago today. In a statement to West Mercia Police, the family said: "We dearly miss Jan. Christmas without her was painfully sad. "We are infinitely grateful for the support of Jan's friends, and the community, the volunteers, and the emergency services. Everyone involved has worked tirelessly to look for Jan. "Very sadly, we are no closer to finding her. We would be so very grateful if everyone seeing this would continue to look out for anything, however small, that might aid the search efforts. We thank everyone sincerely for their support." Janet was last seen in the area of Beechwood Court, Hereford at 3pm on Friday 10 December 2021. CCTV images of her on the day she went missing show her wearing a green Raab jacket, blue jeans and casual brown boots with a white trim and sole. The 66-year-old is a well-known and well-liked member of the Herefordshire Community and served with the NHS. She is also healthy and a keen runner. Officers from West Mercia Police have been conducting enquiries and carrying out searches using specially trained officers, police dogs and volunteer rescue groups. Supt Edd Williams said: “We’re appealing for information, no matter how small, from members of the public that might help us find Janet. "The social media engagement has been brilliant and I’d like to thank the communities of Herefordshire who’ve been sharing our appeals and ask that they continue to do so. "Janet’s disappearance is completely out of character and we are extremely concerned. We’re continuing to work with and support the family at this very difficult time with specialist officers.” Anyone who may have seen Janet or come into contact with her is asked to contact us. We also ask that anyone who was driving in the area of Beechwood Court, Penn Grove Road, Venns Lane, College Road, Aylestone Hill, Folly Lane, or Bodenham Road between 3pm and 7pm on 10 December who has dash-cam footage, to please review it to see if they can see Janet and if so to contact officers. Similarly, we ask anyone with CCTV/or a doorbell camera in the above areas who has not yet received a visit from the police to review the footage from that day and time bearing in mind the description of Janet; and if they see someone fitting her description then to contact the police. Anyone who has any information is urged to call 101 or visit our website, quoting incident 654i of 10 December, 2021, or report it online via our website www.westmerciapolice.uk/tua/tell-us-about/ 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 IP address. You can contact them online or by calling 0800 555 111.

Hereford City Council agreed to release this year’s grant of £15,000 to Close House in order to help fund their numerous projects, following a report presented by Ben Lea. Close House is a Youth Centre located in Hereford City Centre, and Hereford City Council have long been proud to support their brilliant work with young people. The Close House Project aims to be a safe, supportive and inspiring place for Hereford’s youth, breaking the cycle of negative experience and behaviour that some young people face, helping them find hope and aspiration and enabling them to control the direction their own lives take. The ongoing funding from the City Council covers the cost of running their drop-in service, as well as the Idle Hands programme. Close House also help run the Hereford City Youth Council, which gives young people a voice on the Parish Council and helps introduce them to the inner workings of Council and office environments. As unfortunately expected, the Covid-19 pandemic has made the work of Close House very difficult. Face-to-face appointments and meetings have not been possible, leaving many young people without the support they need without Close House. Though the group is now making a fresh start after the recent lifting of lockdowns, it has been difficult for staff to manage as several staff members have moved on and there is a marked lack of gap year students and volunteers. However, Close House has made progress on branching out to more young people to seek able and willing help, and business is picking up rapidly. It’s no surprise that young people are keen to delve into Close House’s inspiring work. The Idle Hands project has worked through three outreach programmes in large spaces to enable meetings during the pandemic; this helps tackle risks posed to young people such as County Lines drawing them into drug-related issues and associated crime. Close House enables those vulnerable to these issues turn negative behaviour into positive behaviour; a truly applaudable goal. City Councillors agreed that Close House’s work in the City is vital for young people in Hereford, and many spoke to express their appreciation for their ongoing work and support. It was agreed that the annual grant of £15,000 be released to help Close House continue their projects. For more information on Close House, visit: www.closehouse.org

Hereford City Council awarded an annual grant of £10,000 to the Hereford Citizen’s Advice Bureau, to help them continue providing their vital services. Hereford Citizen’s Advice Bureau work to give local people advice on issues which are causing them problems in life, whatever that problem may be. From unemployment and benefits, to relationship troubles and child support, Hereford CAB tackle issues in every corner of our community. When Hereford City Councillors last caught up with Hereford Citizen’s Advice Bureau in May 2021, they asked how their previous £10,000 grant had been put to use since awarded it in 2020. As expected, the pandemic had put a huge strain on the team, and enquiries had risen substantially. From people losing their jobs to housing evictions and money issues, the Citizen’s Advice Bureau had dealt with a variety of unforeseen circumstances, aiding those who had been hardest hit by the lockdowns. Sadly, many more people throughout 2021 have had to deal with these challenges. The team have dealt with a massive amount of cases, most of which were due to Covid-19. Many who had never had experience of the benefits system had been forced to claim universal credit after entering troubled times, and in a number of cases those people did not have access to the internet or knowledge of how to navigate the system. Now that the eviction moratorium has been lifted, the courts have a backlog of cases and the CAB maintain a desk at the court to offer advice, which often achieves last minute stays of action while better solutions are found. Roughly 44% of cases are related to benefits and 40% of claimants have a long term disability. People in crisis are currently desperate for help, and the City Council fully supports the work the CAB do in helping them. It was agreed by City Councillors that the annual grant of £10,000 be released to Hereford Citizen’s Advice Bureau to help these incredible efforts continue. For more information on Hereford CAB, visit: www.herefordshirecab.org.uk

Construction will soon begin on a new Retirement Village development on Roman Road on the outskirts of Hereford. The site in Holmer will provide 80 one and two-bedroom apartments for affordable rent and is being brought to the city by Vistry Partnerships and Platform Housing Group. Platform, who run a similar development at Harling Court in Ledbury, will also provide onsite care and support services plus various communal facilities for the residents. Cllr Ange Tyler, Cabinet member for Housing, regulatory services, and community safety, said: “Providing affordable housing is a key issue for Local Authorities across Britain, and Herefordshire is no different. One of our key priorities is to deliver safe, comfortable and affordable housing, particularly for vulnerable people. We are therefore delighted to be working in partnership with Vistry Partnerships and Platform Housing Group on this project, and look forward to the new Retirement Village taking shape.” Darren Beale, Regional Managing Director at Vistry Partnerships West Midlands said, “We have extensive experience designing and constructing extra care schemes and we’re very pleased to be working in partnership again with Platform Housing. As one of the country’s leading regeneration specialists we recognise the need to support our partners to build homes across all tenures, particularly homes and care services for older people.” Steve Eaves, Director of Regeneration at Platform Housing said, “This is a fantastic partnership that will provide much needed older persons housing in a very popular and strategically important area for our partners at Herefordshire Council. We are also very much looking forward to working with Vistry again. They have a great rack record of successfully delivering large schemes with Platform.“ Some £19m is being spent on the project which is anticipated to begin in the spring.

Several reports had been received between 18 December and 3 January but no injuries had been reported. Officers carried out enquiries and yesterday (Wednesday 5 January) arrested a 34-year-old man from Hereford on suspicion of sexual assault. . He was bailed pending further enquiries. Anyone with any concerns about an incident is urged to visit https://www.westmercia.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/. Always dial 999 in an emergency.

West Mercia Police Statement; Today a murder investigation was launched after a woman was found dead at a property in Herefordshire. At around 8am this morning, we received a report of a collision whereby a car crashed into a telegraph pole on Eye Lane, Luston in Herefordshire. Officers responded and, following enquiries, attended an address in Moreton Eye, Herefordshire with colleagues from West Midlands Ambulance Service. Sadly, a 78-year-old woman was found dead at the address. The death is being investigated as a murder and a 48-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody. West Mercia Police officers remain at the scene whilst enquiries are ongoing.

Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service crews attended a fire at a derelict building on Eign Street in Hereford this afternoon. 4 sets of breathing apparatus, 1 hose reel jet and 1 covering jet were used to extinguish the fire on the ground floor. There was a fire at this derelict building back in November.

Hereford Cops are appealing for any witnesses or people in the area who may have CCTV/Dash Cam footage following an incident on Belmont Road on the evening of 2nd January at approx 21:35. A female has been approached and followed by a male who is described as 6ft, Olive Skinned, Slim Build with approximately 3/4 weeks of stubble/beard growth. The male is believed to have walked from the Poole Close area and approached the female near to Farm Foods. He has then followed her for a short time and left the area running up Belmont Road towards the bridge. Anyone with any information or footage should contact police immediately with reference 00529_I_02012022.