Hereford Voice

A report has been published recommending the selection of a preferred route for the Hereford Bypass. Following Cabinet approval of a short list in January a public consultation was carried out in February and March to assess the public view of the Hereford Transport Package, which included active travel measures and proposed bypass route corridors. In addition, considerable technical work has been undertaken to assess environmental, engineering, economic and traffic factors that affect the different routes. Based on the technical work and the public consultation feedback, more detailed reports have been produced which recommend a preferred route. Based on this assessment the recommendation has been made to opt for the Red Route. If cabinet approve this recommendation the red route will be taken forward for further scheme development and consultation later this year. This next phase of consultation will then enable stakeholders to comment on the detail of a bypass scheme based on the Red Route corridor and complementary active travel measures. The results of this consultation would then inform a future cabinet decision to confirm the bypass scheme and associated active travel measures. These reports are now available on the Herefordshire Council website. Cllr Philip Price, cabinet member infrastructure, said: Herefordshire Council’s Cabinet is due to consider reports and recommendations regarding the Hereford Transport Package which will include considering the preferred route for the bypass at a meeting on Friday 27 July 2018 at 10am. In advance of this, the council’s General Scrutiny Committee has called in the decision for pre-decision scrutiny; and will consider the issue on Wednesday 18 July 2018 at 10am. Both these meetings will be held in public at the Shire Hall in Hereford, and anyone is able to attend to observe the proceedings. Members of the public will be able to ask questions in advance of these meetings and the audio of the meetings will also be broadcast live. Details of how to submit a question and how to attend or listen to the meetings online are available on the council’s website The report for General Scrutiny Committee and all accompanying information is now available to view on the council website. The Cabinet papers, including a proposed response to any recommendations made by General Scrutiny Committee will be published on or before 19 July.

Herefordshire Council’s Cabinet is due to consider reports and recommendations regarding the Hereford Transport Package. This will include considering a preferred route for the bypass at a meeting on Friday 27 July 2018 at 10am. In advance of this, the council’s General Scrutiny Committee has called in the decision for pre-decision scrutiny; and will consider the issue on Wednesday 18 July 2018 at 10am. Both these meetings will be held in public at the Shire Hall in Hereford, and anyone is able to attend to observe the proceedings. Members of the public will be able to ask questions in advance of these meetings and the audio of the meetings will also be broadcast live. Details of how to submit a question and how to attend or listen to the meetings online are available on the council’s website These meetings follow Cabinet approval of a short list of route options for the bypass in January this year which was the subject of public consultation in February and March. The reports detailing the results of the public consultation and the technical work undertaken to assess the options will be included within the agenda papers for the meetings. The agenda papers for the first of these meetings, General Scrutiny Committee, will be published on the council’s website on the evening of Tuesday 10 July 2018. The council is ensuring that potentially affected residents and landowners are made aware of these meetings and how to access the agenda papers and reports.

AGAIN! This is so unnecessary, virtually every week we see the same type of takeaway rubbish in the same place left by the same people. These photographs we took this morning.

There are some vile people in this world unfortunately

Capital investment recommendations to be considered by Full Council in July Herefordshire Council’s Cabinet today (Thursday 28 June) recommended £12.827m for investment in local developments over the coming year. This is in addition to the £92.4m already identified in January for 2018/19. The recommendation will be considered by Full Council on 13 July 2018. The funds have been identified following a review of the capital programme - the money the council expects to spend on key projects over the coming year/s. Of the additional £12.8m considered today for 2018/19, £6.7m is from increased grants and external funding. Most notably, recommendation was given for the following additional investment: £931,455 for pothole repair following the harsh winter weather (giving a total allocation of £1.253m in 2018/19) £3.5m (£2m of which is a short-term loan) to support the development of a Cyber Security Centre by University of Wolverhampton to be based at Hereford Enterprise Zone, providing accommodation space for up to 20 cyber businesses, specialist research, training and educational facilities for businesses and organisations. The centre, which is due to be completed in 2020, would help the growth of a wide network of cyber-based businesses and institutions attracting national and international business investment. £1.116m additional funding for Hereford Enterprise Zone ‘Shell Store’ refurbishment (£294k of which is from external contributions), to create a centre for research, start-up and scale-up engineering and technology businesses and, through the NMiTE University, provide space for students to interface with businesses. In addition, £1.5m was recommended to support the conversion of Hillside rehabilitation centre to provide a nursing home facility for older people with complex mental health needs (such as dementia) in response to rising demand for this type of care. Work to look at the feasibility of converting Hillside for this purpose is in the very early stages, and so the funds identified are only indicative at this time. Councillor Nigel Shaw, Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services, said:

Cabinet agreed a number of measures to ensure the future sustainability of museum, library and archive services Herefordshire Council has expressed its commitment to museums, libraries and archives as the cabinet committee today agreed a number of measures that includes developing a business case for investment in Hereford library and bringing new facilities for users, and funds to promote the Black and White House to boost visitor numbers and tourism along with measures to make the archive more available. The recommendations also included starting a procurement process to see if there is a partner organisation who would run the services on behalf of the council including generating income and bringing in new people to use the centres. The councillors stressed this should only happen if there was a benefit and would not reduce quality of services, with a final decision only made when proposals have been fully evaluated. Councillors at the meeting fully recognised the contribution of parish councils, volunteers and community groups in supporting the council with changes it has made including 6 out of 11 libraries now operating as community run libraries. There was also mention of the significant investment the council has made in these services in the last three years - something unusual amongst authorities facing financial challenges. These include a new library in Ledbury, new archive and record centre, refurbishment of the libraries and investment in the Black and White House museum. Councillor Harry Bramer, Cabinet Member for contracts and assets said:

Typical interior

Hotel Chocolat is due to open on High Town Hereford. The store will be located in the former Vodafone shop in between WH Smith and Marks and Spencer's.

The end of an era for Oswin & Co jewellers in Broad Street Hereford. Oswins the jewellers has been in Broad Street for 130 years, one of the oldest established traders left in the city. Founded by William Henry Oswin in 1888, its ornate varnished shop front is certainly one of the last surviving examples of the many high-class retailers which existed in and around High Town, such as Greenlands and the furriers Augustus C Edwards. The beautiful iconic black gloss store which is a Hereford institute is closing down, but fear not! They are relocating to the former Jones bootmakers shop in Widemarsh Street and is due to open in July nevertheless, this will leave a void in Broad Street for sure. What will become of this stunning building and Broad Street? The Green Dragon is in need of massive investment and is currently up for sale, the Sony shop is still empty, so is this street which is in the heart of Hereford part just going to be offices, banks and estate agents...

Duck Pond Clean Up Day - Sunday 24th June Postponed! Due to unforeseen circumstances the Duck Pond Day this Sunday has had to be postponed. We will advise of a new date over the next few weeks, apologies for any inconvenience.

THE Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire will unveil an arts project inspired by Trafalgar Square’s Fourth Plinth this Friday. Hereford City Council has been co-ordinating the delivery of the project which will showcase the work of students and local artists. The new community project which partners with Hereford Skate Park and the Hereford College of Arts hopes to promote art and culture and showcase the talent of local residents. Lord Lieutenant for Herefordshire The Dowager Countess of Darnley will officially unveil the first sculpture, the Rotherwas Angel, at 4pm on June 22. Brian Stephens, skate park trustee and founder, said: The plinths will catch the eye of people as they enter and exit the City on the A49. Information about the artists and the sculpture will be found in the gallery in the Boom Box on the skate Park. The first sculpture created by students from the Art College is based on a brief relating to the Home Front. Hereford College of Arts course leader Darren Williams said the project is an exceptional opportunity for the students involved to challenge themselves. He said: A lot of work has also be done behind the scenes by Councillor Paul Stevens (Widemarsh).

Just a quick reminder folks only a week to go! We need as many volunteers to helps us as possible! Please as usual bring along a few black bags and some garden equipment, to trim bushes and generally tidy up areas of overgrowth. We will also finish painting the fence, so again the more people that join us next Sunday the sooner it will get finished. Looking forward to another great day

The same applies to when it snows. It is a myth to think you will be prosecuted it someone slips over. In most of Europe it is the law! Getting back to the weed/rubbish problem, if people cleaned outside their homes a lot of these problems would disappear.

Herefordshire Council delivers draft balanced budget Herefordshire Council has today published its draft statement of accounts for public inspection. The statements confirm that the council spent within its budget for 2017/18 and has set aside reserves for future years. The detailed performance for the year will be reported to Cabinet in June. The statements of accounts provide an understanding of the financial position of the council and demonstrate that the financial position is sound and secure. The council’s 2017/18 net revenue budget of £145m was matched with equivalent net spend, after transfers to and from specific reserves. Council reserves are proportionately comparable to similar councils and providing resilience as we face the challenges ahead. Capital investment for 2017/18 totalled £49.2 and included investment in the highways network (£13.7m), Hereford City Transport Package (£6.1m), Colwall Primary School (£4.1m) and Hereford Enterprise Zone (£1.8m). No new long-term borrowing was required to be undertaken. Every day the council helps to protect around 2,500 vulnerable adults and 1,000 children and young people (including 300 children in our care). Recent achievements include: Working with external partners to produce a business case which secured £23m of government funding to establish a new university in Hereford, of which the Council is the accountable body, and During the year the council realised the majority of the sale of its smallholding estate and the Council has approved that these funds (in excess of £40m) will be reinvested in regeneration projects throughout the County. The external auditors, Grant Thornton, will commence their audit work to supply their opinion on whether the draft financial statements present a true and fair view of the financial position of the council, its expenditure and income and whether they have been prepared properly in accordance with accounting practice. This work is schedule to conclude in July. The public are invited to view the accounts from 1 June 2018 to 12 July 2018 inclusive, where you may question the auditor about the accounts, or make an objection to the accounts. A guide to your rights can be found at https://www.nao.org.uk/code-audit-practice/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2015/03/Council-accounts-a-guide-to-your-rights.pdf

Holmer Road Petrol Filling Station In Hereford. (Texaco) A planning application has been submitted for the proposed demolition of the existing retail store/kiosk and car wash facility. The erection of a replacement retail store/kiosk. The removal and replacement of existing petrol pumps and canopy, replacement of fuel tanks, re-configuration of car parking layout and installation of plant within an enclosure. Planning Application P181599/F

Duck Pond Day - Sunday 24th June 10-4pm.POSTPONED We need volunteers! We will continue to paint the remainder of the metal fence, put up two new signs and generally clean up the surrounding area to include weeding and clearing over grown bushes etc. Please bring garden tools and garden bags etc like last time. We will try and arrange refreshments again, I am sure that Castle House Hereford will help out, they have always been excellent.

Plans have been passed for 80 new homes land between Gosmore Road and The Seven Stars Public House Gosmore Road Clehonger Herefordshire by Persimmon Homes East Wales. The original outline planning application P173007/RM & P142349/O - Non Material Amendment submitted P181775/AM.

As the site continues to grow, I am seeking more and more help from our members. I have today added ragwert to our team he will assist in posting news items and moderating alongside @DILLIGAF. Please welcome ragwert to the team, I am sure he will become a valued member of our growing team.

Robust Pothole Plan Rolled Out Across Herefordshire £1.25m additional funding will help to tackle the issue Balfour Beatty Living Places has scaled up their approach to combat the county’s potholes through the delivery of a proactive pothole repair plan. Herefordshire Council’s public realm contractor recorded over five times the number of potholes in March 2018 compared with the previous year, mainly due to the combination of water on the network and extremely cold temperatures caused by the prolonged winter weather. The challenge of tackling the increased number of potholes across the UK has been acknowledged by government, and Herefordshire Council recently secured £1.25m of additional funding to help tackle the issue. This is in addition to the £5m successful funding bid to the Department for Transport’s Local Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund, which will see the second phase of road improvement work on the A4103 and A438 begin in August 2018. Balfour Beatty Living Places’ pothole repair teams have been working hard to overcome the high number of road defects and, since January 2018, have repaired over 13,700 defects, compared to around 3,000 this time last year. The pothole repair plan sees more operational pothole gangs out on the network, and the use of a ‘jetpatcher’ machine enables higher volumes of potholes to be repaired quickly and effectively. Andy Williams, Balfour Beatty Living Places Contract Director, said: Councillor Barry Durkin, Herefordshire Council Cabinet Member for Transport and Regulatory Services, said:

The second phase of work to upgrade Hereford City Centre will begin on Monday 14 May 2018 with the refurbishment of Commercial Street. Balfour Beatty Living Places on behalf of Herefordshire Council will carry out refurbishment works on the Commercial Street area of High Town with neighbouring traders kept informed of progress throughout the works. The work is the second phase of a refurbishment project that will be consistent with the look of Widemarsh Street and High Street. Councillor Barry Durkin, cabinet member for highways and transport said: The work will be phased to ensure minimal disruption to businesses and shoppers. All access to frontages will be maintained. Work will continue through 2018 with a break for the busy Christmas shopping period. The Commercial Street phase of the scheme will be completed in early 2019.

An absolute fantastic day at the River Carnival today in Hereford. The weather and atmosphere were perfect! For all those people that managed to visit, we are sure that you have had a wonderful day and the party on the Castle Green and music from the Nozstock stage continues into the evening. Here are just a few photographs that we took..

We had a walk around the Bishops Meadows, what a fabulous carnival atmosphere, everyone having a wonderful time and the weather is just perfect!

Floats away!