Hereford Voice

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:

Supporting Local Business: 'Free Advertising' on our Social Media platforms with Hereford Voice throughout December covering the whole festive period. This applies to all local businesses, retailers, pubs, restaurants, events etc.. send us your adverts and include your posters, PDF's, special offers and competition prizes and we will do the rest... Our paid sponsors will also gain an extra months advertising FREE! We aim to promote as many local businesses as possible however, we are expecting a high demand, so this offer is subject to availability on a first-come first-served basis and we cannot guarantee to publish all adverts received. Please send us you your advert, poster, pdf, prize etc via messenger or email sales@herefordvoice.co.uk 'Keep It Local' #HerefordVoice #HerefordLocal

This one in Eign Street has been approved P193252/F

Welsh Water Update: Welsh Water have set up water collection points for anyone that requires bottled water. These are located at Tesco Belmont and Asda this evening. They are doing everything that they can to to restore drinking water supplies as soon as possible.

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: 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?

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. 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?

Pepe's new store in Commercial Street Hereford is now open!

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

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.

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

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.

An extra hour in bed tomorrow :)

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 !

Photographs courtesy of The Beefy Boys

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

Pepe's Piri Piri looks likely to be opening in Commercial Street very soon. It is good to see this area becoming more and more busy with new shops

Crest Nicholson (Midlands) Ltd have submitted plans to create a development of 52 homes on land to the east of the A49 Holmer Herefordshire HR4 9RG. Planning Application P193296/RM

Thomas Cook has ceased trading, how will this affect local people from Herefordshire? Thomas Cook has confirmed that all the companies in its group have ceased trading, including Thomas Cook Airlines. As a result, we are sorry to inform you that all holidays and flights provided by these companies have been cancelled and are no longer operating. All Thomas Cook's retail shops have also closed. The Government and the Civil Aviation Authority are now working together to do everything we can to support passengers due to fly back to the UK with Thomas Cook between 23 September 2019 and 6 October 2019. Depending on your location, this will be either on CAA-operated flights or by using existing flights with other airlines. If you are already abroad you will find all the information you need about your arrangements to get home on this website. If you are due to depart from a UK airport with Thomas Cook Airlines, please do not travel to your UK airport as your flight will not be operating and you will not be able to travel. This repatriation is hugely complex and we are working around the clock to support passengers. Customers already abroad If you are currently abroad and your flight was with Thomas Cook we are providing new flights to return you to the UK. These repatriation flights will only be operating for the next two weeks (until 6 October 2019). After this date you will have to make your own travel arrangements. From a small number of locations, passengers will have to book their own return flights. For further advice and details of your return journey please read I am currently abroad. Please note that repatriation flights are only available for passengers whose journey originated in the UK. If you are currently abroad and due to return to the UK after 6 October 2019, please read the additional information section. If you are ATOL-protected and are having difficulties with your hotel, please read managing difficulties with accommodation. PLEASE NOTE: Some of Thomas Cook's package holiday bookings include flights with airlines unrelated to the Thomas Cook Group. If your return flight is not with Thomas Cook's airline, it will still be valid. However other elements of the package, such as accommodation and transfers will be affected. Customers yet to travel out of the UK We are sorry to inform you that all future holidays and flights booked with Thomas Cook are cancelled as of 23 September 2019. If you are booked on a Thomas Cook Airlines flight, please do not go to your UK airport, as your flight will not be operating. The Civil Aviation Authority’s repatriation programme will not include any outbound flights from the UK. If you choose to book a new flight with another airline out of the UK, you will not be eligible for a repatriation flight. PLEASE NOTE: Some of Thomas Cook's package holiday bookings include flights with airlines unrelated to the Thomas Cook Group. If your return flight is not with Thomas Cook's airline it may still be valid. However other elements of the package, such as accommodation and transfers might be affected. Further information is available at I have a future booking and have not traveled yet.

Plans have been submitted, which if approved, would see a completely new service station, demolishing the existing Harvest Energy Service Station on Commercial Road and replacing it with a new modern facility. Plans and Graphics - Adcocks Associates The new garage would include a new larger shop and an additional two car parking spaces taking the number of spaces for cars to six as well as disabled, motorcycle and cycle parking. There would also be a new forecourt and canopy, as well as a three-pump starter gate, and three jet washes. If plans are approved the new facility would create two full-time roles and four part-time positions. Planning application P193011/F

Here is another in Eign Gate planning number P193209/F

Police Statement:

Here are the 5 choices left: Complete your vote online here, deadline 30th September 2019

‘Hereford Free Week’ to celebrate Beryl Bikes success In just the first month after launching its hybrid bike share scheme in the cathedral city, Beryl’s distinctive green bikes have been cycled well over 8,000km in Hereford. To celebrate this success, Beryl and Herefordshire Council are bringing riders a free week of trips across the city. Funded by a grant from the Department of Transport, all rides ending in a Beryl Bay will be free of charge from Monday 9th to Sunday 15 of September. “Hereford Free Week” will enable more residents and visitors to choose a more environmentally-friendly means of transport. Beryl CEO Phillip Ellis says, Cllr John Harrington, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Transport at Herefordshire Council, expects the Hereford Free Week to encourage even more people to hop on a Beryl bike for commuting or leisure rides. Beryl’s hybrid bike share is an innovative scheme where its bikes, that are available to hire through the Beryl app, can be picked up and dropped off in marked ‘Beryl Bays’. Riders have a payment choice of Pay-As-You-Ride (£1 unlock fee + 5p per minute), Minute Bundles (no unlock fee and bundles starting at 100 minutes for £5) or Day Passes (24 hours of unlimited riding for £12). Once their ride is complete, users simply close the lock on the bike to complete their ride and make it available for the next person to use. For more information on Beryl, please visit beryl.cc.