Hereford Voice

M50 RTC UPDATE: West Mercia Police have today confirmed the sad news that a man in his thirties has sadly died. Officers are still in attendance at a collision site on the M50 near Ledbury. One lane remains closed but police are working with their partners to get this opened as soon ads possible. Our thoughts are with his friends and family at this difficult time.

West Mercia Police have advised that they are at the scene of a fatal collision during the early hours on the M50 near Ledbury where two lanes Eastbound are currently closed. Please avoid this area is possible. The lanes are expected to be reopened early this afternoon. Please check before you travel. #HerefordVoice #Herefordshire

Competition: We think it's about time that we gave our Hereford Bull Statue a name! 🐃 So come on folks, start suggesting names for him and next weekend we will compile a short list of all the favourite names listed below. 👇 So if you like one of the names suggested by someone please 'REPEAT' that name in your comment below. 👇 Once we have a short list of names, we will run a poll on our website for a week and finally come up with a winning name! (all unofficially of course, but if it's good enough maybe we can persuade the Council to make it official! Who knows) We will start, as he is of the 'Border Rory' breed of Hereford's we will suggest 'Rory' Good luck!

A seller of illegal tobacco has been banned from Hereford and Worcester following a successful investigation by Herefordshire Council’s Trading Standards Service. Tarik Abdullah Dosky, 54, was sentenced at Worcester Crown Court on Friday 7 August 2020 following the investigation into the sale of illegal tobacco in the region. Dosky was arrested in November 2019 during a Multi-Agency Targeted Enforcement Strategy (MATES) Operation led by Trading Standards, with West Mercia Police and Herefordshire and Worcestershire Fire and Rescue Service. Dosky, who has a history of selling illegal tobacco, pleaded guilty to nine offences at a previous hearing, which included selling counterfeit tobacco products to undercover Trading Standards Officers. His Honour Judge James Burbidge QC handed Dosky a 10 month prison sentence (suspended for two years), an exclusion order banning him from entering any part of Hereford and Worcester for two years, a four month curfew and ordered him to pay £250 costs. Previously on 29 May 2020, a separate Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) case, also led by Herefordshire Trading Standards, saw investigators recover £14,376.00 from Dosky’s bank account which had been frozen following confiscation proceedings. Trading Standards Service Manager David Hough said: To report a seller of illegal tobacco in Herefordshire, please contact Trading Standards on 01432 261761.

McDonald's outlet on Belmont Road Hereford could soon become Hereford's first 24 hour McDonalds if planning is granted following their application.

Spotted in Tesco Belmont today.. It's still Summer and we're only in August, surely this is not the start of the Christmas stock, is it?? 🎅🌲🎁 What are your thoughts on this?

Welcome to the forum and thanks you for your contribution, hope to see you on here with ur other regulars. There are some changes in the city at the moment and to be fair to the council that had to implement these within a tight time frame. This was all funded from Central Government who are also guiding many councils across the country to do similar things, I am aware that this is happening on Gloucester at the moment also. Not sure about Commercial Road however, the bus lane was totally unnecessary and quite bizarre too. I think the verdict is out at the moment and we have to give these temporary measures more time, the council are listening to people and adjusting and constantly reviewing these measures which can only be a good thing. People do not like change and we do not agree with all of the changes so it will interesting to see how it all pans out. There will be more changes and adjustments for sure. We try to put a positive spin on thing where we can and we do get frustrated with all the constant moaning all the time without giving it a chance..

Before and after photographs of Blackmarston Road play area safe, tidy and open. This is great to see 👏👏 thanks to Cllr Kevin Tillett for Hinton & Hunderton for the photographs Before And after, wow what a difference!

Yes we're also looking forward to seeing it

We will be grabbing a nice coffee here later today

Last week to enjoy so extra discount, remember to pre book

Another busy day in Hereford! It's great to see so many people about again. We took all of these photographs within the last hour (15.30-1600), the shops including the Hereford Butter Market are all busy which is great to see. We walked into the City Centre and virtually every street was busy with people as you can see from all the various photographs we have taken. Lots of people all walking or relaxing and enjoying the patchy but warm weather. Have a wonderful weekend 🌞 😎 #HerefordVoice #Hereford #PositiveHereford

Herefordshire Council have removed the ugly red barriers along Broad St, King St and Bridge Street and replaced them will more aesthetically pleasing plants, which are much better. All this is necessary so pedestrians can socially-distance and cyclists can ride their bikes safely. These measures are necessary in the fight against this dreadful Coronavirus pandemic as directed and funded by central Government. Once again the city is busy with people which is great to see.

Grange Heating have agreed to sponsor the Hereford FC Media Backdrop for the upcoming season extending their long-standing relationship with the Football Club, as the Bulls prepare for the upcoming 2020/2021 season. Grange Heating who are a specialist heating and plumbing company from Hereford and experts in domestic and commercial heating have committed to sponsor the Club once again. Grange Heating Managing Director, Ewen Grange, said: “I want to continue to support the local Football Club for another season to build on the success it has had since it was first formed. The Football Club gives so much pleasure to the local community and that is something we want to be a part of for the Club’s future success” Hereford FC General Manager James Watts said: “We are delighted that Grange Heating have, once again, sponsored Hereford FC for another season with their sponsorship of our Media Backdrop and I look forward to working with them during the 2020/2021 campaign and beyond.”. For more information on Grange Heating, visit www.grangeheating.co.uk

Exclusive Breaking News: We rang Cllr Harrington this afternoon to get an update on the Emergency Active Travel Measures and to ask him if there were any changes in the pipeline. He said that following on meeting with City and County Cllrs that was agreed at Full Council and after feedback from the BiD, businesses and taxi drivers he made the following changes last week. These orders were agreed last week but take 8 days to make and will take effect from this Saturday. 🔹The Old Bridge will be open northbound from Saturday to licensed Hackney Carriages like it is for buses because the taxi association members made very valid comments about access and their role within the public transport service. 🔹Extra parking bays have been re-introduced on Broad Street. 🔹Newmarket and Blueschool Street will not go ahead at present because Highways England who control the A49 and the Tesco/Steels roundabout have not planned any safety changes to the junction and so instead they will proceed with a contra-flow up St.Owens Street, down Offa St, St.John's Street and across Cathedral Green to cross the A49 by the New Bridge instead (via underpass or across a much easier junction to navigate - onto Barton Road) 🔹There will be special 'food and other goods' collection bays put in on King Street to help the temporary takeaway operations of restaurants and other traders, like the florists. The utility barriers will continue to be replaced with planters (started yesterday) 🔹Aylestone Hill - going towards the colleges - will be considered for a wider safer cycle lane uphill only. 🔹Ledbury Road will be getting lanes put in along its length up to the Cock of Tupsley (probably uphill only again for now after Cllr feedback) 🔹Commercial Road's lanes will be removed, hopefully by the end of the next weekend, as the scheme is not proving helpful but is actually, in his opinion and many others, counterproductive He said he and the administration do take feedback from specific sectors seriously but they have a duty as Cllrs to respond to the request from government to implement these measures and to listen to all views - responding to valid concerns when raised. He appreciates all the feedback and questions put to him and supports all groups, regardless of agenda, who wish to best express their views in a clear and rational manner. He will keep us updated of any further changes or additions. #HerefordVoice #HerefordNews #Hereford

Making more space to move around Hereford safely – we’re listening As the shops re-opened, people returned to work and visitor numbers increased, temporary measures were introduced in Hereford and the market towns to give pedestrians and cyclists the space they need to maintain social distancing and travel safely. The measures, which include temporary barriers and signage to widen footways, partial road closures and dedicated cycle lanes, allow more space to walk and cycle in busy areas, helping pedestrians and cyclists feel safer where space is shared. Following feedback from businesses and individuals on the initial measures in Hereford, a number of revisions have been made: · The temporary barriers to widen footways on Bridge St, King St and Broad St are being replaced with planters to enhance the appearance of the measures in these historic streets · Parking bays have been reintroduced in Broad street as parallel bays (disabled and pay and display bays) · Temporary advisory pickup bays have been introduced in King St, which traders have identified as important in current conditions · Taxis will be able to travel northbound across the Old Wye Bridge from Saturday 22 August to support this alternative to private car use · The proposed bus and cycle lanes on Newmarket St and Blueschool St will not be implemented. Cllr John Harrington, Cabinet member infrastructure and transport, explains:

The footbridge on footpath BM5 which links St Michaels’ church to Bodenham Loop Walk has now been completed and it is now fully accessible for all users.

A different perspective .... We have acquired an email sent from Cllr Paul Rone to the 'Independent Group' who hold the largest coalition majority at Herefordshire Council. As you will see in the email he sent on the 28th of July below Councillor Rone says 👉"Closing The Old Bridge Is Fine" 👈 in Hereford however, just a few days later on August 1st in this video published by our friends at Your Herefordshire, he says something completely different... Cllr Paul Rone owns several businesses in Hereford including the Saracens Head Pub where the footpath running along the side of the river remains closed to the public, he also owns his own city taxi. As you know Hereford Voice are very supportive of our local businesses and it’s great to see the recent reports showing footfall has increased in the city. The statement signed by some businesses today about a vote of no confidence, talk about years worth of vanity projects, so is it really fair to blame everything on an administration who have only been in for less than a year. In recent days this story 👉 https://hfd.news/vdo of a road project hit with procurement snag was published by our friends at Sunshine Radio - Herefordshire Council leaders have revealed a procurement failure meant they would not have been able to award the contract to build the £27m southern link road in Hereford. People might not like these new temporary changes which the Government have asked all councils to look at it but at least Herefordshire Council are being honest and transparent about their projects. Online shopping has increased massively across the UK and as a result shops all over the country are closing, it’s not about people not being able to get into the city, it is that many people feel safer shopping online. So regardless of the emergency measures currently in place in Hereford, footfall is increasing, so clearly people can get into the city. What are these businesses and others going to do to attract people into their shops? You simply can’t just blame the council, who to be fair, cannot force people go into shops. #HerefordVoice #HerefordNews

The company had warned at the start of August that it was considering such a move, but had not given precise details. The closures come as the company formally launched a CVA in a bid to restructure the Group and keep it afloat. The company, which currently has around 454 restaurants in the UK, said on Tuesday it has finalised a proposal to reduce its restaurant and rental costs via a company voluntary arrangement (CVA). It said that although the majority of its restaurants were profitable before lockdown was imposed, earnings had been declining across the Pizza Express estate for the last three years. It added that the reduction in revenue caused by the enforced closure of all restaurants, the cost of reopening and the UK’s uncertain economic future meant its rental costs were no longer sustainable. Pizza Express, which is majority owned by Chinese firm Hony Capital, also confirmed it had hired advisers from Lazard to lead a sale process for the business. Here is the full list: Aberdeen - Belmont Street Aylesbury Barnstaple - Three Tuns Biggleswade Billericay Birmingham - Corporation Street Birmingham - Mailbox Bournemouth - Post Office Road Bramhall Bristol - Berkeley Square Bristol - Regent Street Bromsgrove Bruton Place Charlotte Street Chippenham Dalton Park Darlington Dudley - Merry Hill Earls Court - Earls Court Road Edinburgh - Holyrood Formby Fulham Palace Road Glasgow – Princes Square Glossop Gosforth Grantham Halifax Hampstead Hatch End Hereford Heswall Ipswich - Lloyds Avenue Leeds - Crown Street Leeds - Horsforth Ludlow Lymington Melton Mowbray Midhurst Milton Keynes Moseley New Brighton Newcastle Newport - Isle of Wight Newport - South Wales Northallerton Nottingham - Goosegate O2 Finchley Orpington Oxford - Oxford Castle Poole Port Solent Ramsgate Reading - St Mary's Butts Scarborough Sheffield - Devonshire Street Sheffield The Moor Shirley Southport - Old Bank Stafford Staines Stoke Stourbridge Sudbury Torquay Uxbridge Wakefield Walsall Wapping Wardour Street Weston-super-Mare Whiteley Village Whitstable Wrexham

The man who sadly died after being involved in a collision in Whitney on Wye has been named as Peter Lamb aged 42, from Hereford. The collision happened on the A438 at around 12.50am on Sunday 9 August and involved a Skoda and Honda. Peter’s family have paid tribute to him: Police are still appealing for witnesses and anyone with information is urged to contact police on 101 quoting incident 65 of 9 August or call Crimstoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. Alternatively information can be reported on the West Mercia Police website under the section Tell Us About https://www.westmercia.police.uk/

Traffic Lights: We have campaigned for many years to 'trial' turning off some of the traffic lights in Hereford. The main problem we have witnessed is the Asda junction where the A465 Belmont Road meets the A49 Ross Road. As we have always said, when these lights are out of action and you will of heard our slogan many times - 'THE TRAFFIC JUST FLOWS' when the lights are out however, while we wait in anticipation for a possible trial, they could at least change some of the traffic lights to 'Part-Time' between say 7pm-7am, similar to those that have been successful for years in Gloucester. (Pedestrian lights would clearly remain in full operation activated by pressing the button in the usual manner) How many times have you found yourself sat waiting on the traffic lights when there are hardly any vehicles around, especially during the early hours. We have several campaigns about traffic lights and documented details and videos can be accessed via our website here 👉https://hfd.news/a4m👈 ✅ Sign our Part-Time Lights petition 👉 https://bit.ly/3WKVNlB ✅ Sign our 'Lights Out' trial petition 👉 https://bit.ly/3DFrgfY #HerefordVoice #HerefordNews #Hereford