November 2008

Herefordshire Council is celebrating the official opening of a new children's centre which delivers its services from the heart of one the market town communities.

Herefordshire Council has asked utility companies not to carry out street works in the county's major shopping towns during the busy run-up to Christmas.

An archaeological dig will be taking place at the Master's House, Ledbury, as part of Herefordshire Council's plans for a new library in the town.

Herefordshire Council is proud to announce it has some of the most outstanding schools in the country according to government regulatory body, Ofsted.

Herefordshire Council has been building on the success of its eco-schools scheme by staging a conference to share good practice and inspire people to commit to becoming even more sustainable.

Herefordshire Council is having to restrict the A44, Barons Cross Road from Pierrepont Road to Morrisons roundabout for two evenings at the start of December.

Herefordshire Council is running a special open day at the Museum Resource and Learning Centre in Friar Street, Hereford, aimed at families wanting to create their own Christmas decorations.

Herefordshire Council is calling on residents to recycle this Christmas and give the county the gift of a cleaner, greener future.

The exciting archaeological finds at The Prospect in Ross-on-Wye are to go on view to the public during December.

Herefordshire Council is inviting the public to have their say on the use of signs on the county's highways.

Herefordshire Council is extending its Special Energy Efficiency Scheme (SEES) to all private homeowners and private tenants aged 60 plus.

People in Herefordshire should make sure have their say in a major planning consultation which aims to tackle the challenges faced by the rural parts of the West Midlands such as affordable housing, transport and accessibility.

Herefordshire Council has prosecuted a man who claimed council tax benefit but failed to declare he had more than £16,000 in a bank account.

Herefordshire Council has cracked down on five benefits cheats who failed to declare they were living with their partners.

Plans for the continued use of land as a yard and construction of a storage building at Cross Cottage, Upper Hill, near Leominster, were approved by members of the northern area sub-committee at their meeting on Wednesday, November 19.

Plans for a terrace of seven homes and associated car parking at the rear of The Homend service station, The Homend, Ledbury, were approved by members of the northern area planning sub-committee at their meeting on Wednesday, November 19.

Plans to convert redundant traditional farm buildings at The Farm, Aymestrey, were approved by members of the northern area planning sub-committee at their meeting on Wednesday, November 19.

Planning permission for a building to house an animal incinerator at Lyonshall, near Kington, was approved by members of the northern area planning sub-committee at their meeting on Wednesday, November 19.

Planning permission for two detached homes to be built at New Street, Ledbury, were approved by members of the northern area planning sub-committee at their meeting on Wednesday, November 19.

Residents who live along Hereford's Holme Lacy Road will be breathing a sigh of relief on Monday next week, November 24.

Herefordshire Council has welcomed proposals for a community-led, long-term business plan designed to reopen a local education authority pool that was closed in 2007 for safety reasons.

Selected schools in Herefordshire are due to start on a journey of creativity this autumn. Eighteen schools will take part in the national Creative Partnerships Enquiry Schools programme, which is delivered by Bright Space. The Enquiry Schools programme enables schools to run a single, short term project involving creative professionals.

Herefordshire businesses are being asked to complete a brief questionnaire about how accessible their premises are. The information will be used to develop a countywide database to help both residents and visitors to the county.

Collectors of antiques and collectables will be hot-footing it to Leominster next year when a new regular market begins.

Brass, wind and strings are all coming together in two big concerts to celebrate the county's young musical talent this week.

Expertise among Herefordshire Council's members of staff was augmented by the use of consultants who filled in "knowledge gaps" 75 times during the last year.

A licensing officer from Herefordshire Council has recently been the principal speaker at two training seminars aimed at improving the way local authorities tackle alcohol-related problems.

Public spaces charity 'Living Streets' has been commissioned by Herefordshire Council to carry out a series of community street audits in the St.Owen Street area of Hereford next week.

Herefordshire Council has been encouraging cyclists in Leominster to make sure they are safe and can be seen on the county's roads.

Football and sport are being given a boost at Riverside Primary school following the award of Football Association Club Link School status.

Herefordshire Council is planning to celebrate this year's International Day of Disabled People (December 3 2008) with lots of fun activities, workshops and information stands around Hereford and Leominster.

Herefordshire Council's new social care case management system, Frameworki, came into operation as planned this week and is now being used by almost 400 social care professionals to underpin their daily work.

Herefordshire Primary Care Trust's school nurses have immunised more than 700 12 and 13 year old girls across the county this term as part of a huge nationwide HPV immunisation campaign to protect girls against the future risk of cervical cancer.

As part of their close partnership working, Herefordshire Council and Herefordshire Primary Care Trust have appointed a new assistant chief executive.

Herefordshire Council is making changes to the way we collect your rubbish and will be making it far easier to recycle.

Nursery and primary school children in Leominster are making a heart-felt plea to local teenagers to stop vandalising their school.

Young people at Ledbury youth centre are organising their second Red Ribbon Ball to raise awareness for World Aids Day.

Members of the southern area planning sub-committee at their meeting on Wednesday, November 12 were minded to approve plans to build six affordable homes at Etna, Orcop Hill, Much Dewchurch.

Herefordshire Primary Care Trust - the leader for the NHS in the county - is to host a pilot project aimed at improving services and support for cancer survivors and their carers.

Planning permission to construct a retaining wall at Thorny Orchard, Coughton,near Ross-on-Wye was approved by members of the southern area planning sub-committee at their meeting on Wednesday, November 12.

Planning permission to convert a barn at Upper House, Craswall, into holiday accommodation, was approved by members of the southern area planning sub-committee at their meeting on Wednesday, November 12.

Herefordshire has shone through in the "Oscars" of the tourism world landing two silver and three highly commended awards in the regional Excellence in Tourism Awards 2008.

Radiocarbon dating carried out on charcoal from the Rotherwas Ribbon has confirmed the feature was created before the Early Bronze Age.

Herefordshire Council's record office will be closed for its annual stock take from Monday 24 November to Friday 12 December inclusive, reopening at 9:15 on Monday 15 December.

Christmas parties, themed meals and restaurant bookings offer people the promise of a great night of food, fun and entertainment - but what happens if something goes wrong, people drop out or you need to cancel? Consumer Direct, working in Partnership with Herefordshire Council's trading standards department, advises on the issues often affecting a large booking for such occasions.

Trainers, tracksuits, football kits and the latest fashions are often at the top of many Christmas wish lists, but do you know what your rights are if you have bought a gift and it is the wrong size, wrong style or the item is faulty? As part of National Consumer Week 2008 (November 17 to 22), Consumer Direct has teamed up with Herefordshire Council's trading standards department to help county residents become a savvy shopper this Christmas.

Making your money go further at Christmas can be important, so if you are thinking about buying an electrical item as a present this Christmas, make sure you know the true cost of extended warranties advises Consumer Direct working in partnership with Herefordshire Council's trading standards department.

Herefordshire rail passengers are to get a full hourly train service in each direction between Hereford and Birmingham.

A new regeneration strategy for Hereford city centre has been launched with ambitious plans to see the city centre grow and expand during the next ten years.

A new initiative is being launched by Hereford Primary Care Trust and Herefordshire Hospitals NHS Trust to help doctors' surgeries with weight management advice sessions.

Please find below details of roads affected by flooding as at 11am, Friday, November 14.

Doctors in Herefordshire prescribe fewer antibiotics than anywhere else in the West Midlands as this helps stem the spread of 'super bugs' that have developed immunity to treatment.

It's back due to popular demand - Herefordshire Council's successful Christmas Saturday Park and Ride service is back again to offer shoppers free and easy parking during one of Hereford's busiest times of the year.

Herefordshire Council has won a prestigious national award for its partnership work with county company Border Oak under the Local Authority Building Control Partner Authority Scheme. The collaboration between the Council and Border Oak won the Best Partnership award. This scheme allows the partner company to use the services and experience of this council in plan checking of its projects outside the County.

Herefordshire Council is urging motorists to slow down and be patient at roadworks so both workers and members of the public can stay safe.

Herefordshire Council has warned that the county has to be vigilant to prevent further post office closures, which will isolate the most vulnerable members of the community. The warning follows today's news that Tudorville Post Office in Ross is to be closed after all by Post Office Limited, despite being spared the axe the closure of ten post offices in Herefordshire was announced last week (29 October 2008).

As this year's National Adoption Week gets underway (10th - 16th November) Herefordshire Council's adoption team says the need for permanent families for children in Herefordshire is as great as ever. The team is seeking new members for their adoption panel as well as new adopters.

Some of Herefordshire's most talented young musicians are taking on some of the world's greatest composers in a concert organised by Herefordshire Council's Music Service.

Some of Ledbury's budding young designers and performers have been working with professionals over the last six weeks to prepare for a feast of fashion, dance and music.

Plans for an additional wing at Oaklands Nursing Home, Hereford, were approved by members of the central area planning sub-committee at their meeting on Wednesday, November 5.

Do you enjoy a drink? Ninety percent of adults in the West Midlands do and for many of us it simply means a glass of wine with a meal or a pint with some friends in the pub. However, for many others it means regularly drinking above the recommended daily limits, and this can and often does lead to problems. Excessive drinking can not only have a negative impact on your health, but can also affect the safety and well being of individuals and communities.

Herefordshire Primary Care Trust, the leader for the NHS in the county, has announced that Alan Curless OBE and Jane Rogers will serve further four-year terms as non-executive directors of the PCT board from 12 October 2008 to 11 October 2012.

An order designating areas of Kington as alcohol-free was made permanent by Herefordshire Council's regulatory committee at their meeting on Tuesday, November 4.

Herefordshire Council has reviewed the premise licence of McColls, The Oval, Hereford, after sales were made to under age persons on three separate occasions.

Herefordshire Council has reviewed the premise licence of Stokes Stores, Hoarwithy Road, Putson, after sales were made to under age persons on three separate occasions.

Herefordshire Council has reviewed the premise licence of the Somerfield store in Dishley Street, Leominster, after sales were made to under age persons on two separate occasions.

Herefordshire Council's regulatory committee revoked two premise licences issued under the Gambling Act 2005 at its meeting on Tuesday, November 4.

Some of the last works of art created by celebrated French artist Henri Matisse are going on display at Hereford Museum and Art Gallery.

Bookstart Day was celebrated in the Herefordshire Council run Bromyard Centre and Coningsby Children's Centre with youngsters enjoying pirate themed storytimes.

Herefordshire Council is to close the A4111 from Parton junction to Headbrook roundabout, Kington, to carry out resurfacing and drainage works.

A powerful drama aimed at raising awareness of road safety among teenagers will be staged across Herefordshire schools.