November 2009

Christmas is coming to High Town and Commercial Street with five packed days of markets bringing crafts, Victorian and continental products to Hereford – just in time for those who haven’t done their shopping yet!

Herefordshire Council and its service delivery partners Amey are bidding to cut their carbon footprint by trialling a new electric car.

Ross-on-Wye residents had the opportunity to listen to democracy on their doorsteps when one of Herefordshire Council’s committees which looks at proposals and scrutinises decisions met in the town.

Growth is coming to Herefordshire – which may result in over 16,000 new homes, new enterprises, more jobs and prosperity, and a bypass for Hereford and Leominster. But making sure we grow the right way is up to everyone, says Herefordshire Council, which is launching a major consultation in the New Year to shape the future of the county, the city and the market towns.

Herefordshire Council has been working with Herefordshire College of Arts to spread the word about the importance of sustainability.

Herefordshire Council has worked in partnership with volunteer contributors, South Wye Regeneration Partnership, Belmont Rural Parish Council and Hereford City Council, to complete the purchase of Belmont Pools.

Herefordshire Council’s multi-million pound development in St. Katherine’s, Ledbury, has highlighted concerns about the number of parking spaces in the town.

Herefordshire Council has been awarded an extra £44,000 to combat anti-social behaviour in the county – part of a package of support for the region announced by the Minister for the West Midlands Ian Austin.

Herefordshire Council has been urged to complete the compulsory purchase of employment land, which could provide a new home for businesses affected by a proposed link road designed to support regeneration and ease the pressure on traffic in Hereford.

Twenty three pairs of empty shoes made a poignant exhibition at Hereford Cathedral earlier this month and brought home starkly the devastating impact road deaths have on people in the county.

For residents already feeling the pinch from paying for Christmas luxuries, Herefordshire Council’s waste challenge team are reminding the public that local charitable re-use organisations can help keep some of your pennies in your purse.

A Middlesex man has been fined £985 with a £15 surcharge and ordered to pay £1,000 costs to Herefordshire Council after admitting two offences of flytipping.

Celebrated actress Miranda Richardson is supporting Herefordshire Council’s heritage services educational resource website dedicated to the talented Hereford artist Brian Hatton, in which she has recorded a special podcast. The resource will be launched at an event on Thursday, November 26.

Fraudsters have targeted Herefordshire homes attempting to trick people into giving their bank details over the phone.

Visit Herefordshire is to launch its Ambassador Programme at Hampton Court this Thursday, November 26, with many of the high profile ambassadors for the county in attendance.

Another legal bid to push the traditional open retail market out of Hereford High Town has failed.

Herefordshire Council has been given the thumbs up to final plans for the new Hereford Academy and been guaranteed funding of nearly £24million by the government.

Herefordshire Council’s youth workers have been working with young people in Ledbury to organise this year’s Red Ribbon Ball in support of World Aids Day.

Herefordshire Council’s cabinet is to consider the findings of a countywide consultation that will, if approved, provide a framework for planning future school provision over the next ten years.

On Friday 20 November 2009 at Hereford Magistrates Court, David Simmons, formerly of Enderby House, Bromyard was given a six-week custodial sentence and ordered to forfeit around £2,000 worth of goods and computer equipment used in his DVD film and game counterfeiting operation.

The historic Prospect Wall in Ross has now been officially handed over to Herefordshire Council.

Herefordshire Council reports that the following roads are closed due to flooding:

Herefordshire Council reports the following roads have been closed due to flooding:

Herefordshire Council has already had more than 500 people sign up to receive a free text message to remind them when to put their recycling out.

Herefordshire Council is urging all county residents to take a step towards cutting their energy bills this winter by going to their local library and borrowing an energy monitor for free.

Herefordshire Council, through its service delivery partners Amey, has now completed work on the historic Prospect Wall in Ross.

Enjoy a winter wonderland this Christmas at Herefordshire Council’s Queenswood Country Park with lots of fun including Bertie Buzzard’s Christmas Trail throughout the school holidays and much more.

Incey, Wincey Spider, Humpty Dumpty, Hey Diddle Diddle, what’s your favourite?

On Thursday evening (19 November 2009) Herefordshire Council’s archive service will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. The service, which is based in the Record Office in Harold Street, Hereford, has nearly two miles of records of interest to researchers, besides microform, books and electronic databases and indexes.

Herefordshire Council has worked closely with the police and the Herefordshire Taxi Association to deliver major improvements to the busy night time taxi ranks along Commercial Road in Hereford.

 

Herefordshire Council is extending its Special Energy Efficiency Scheme to contribute towards keeping the counties’ households warmer this winter.

Young unemployed people across the county have been given a ray of hope this week as Herefordshire Council has drawn down funding which will pay for 54 new jobs for 18-24 year olds.

Herefordshire Council is holding a series of special surgeries at Belmont Library to make it easier for customers to access information and advice on housing and council tax benefits as well as blue badges.

Huw Irranca-Davies, Minister for the Marine and Natural Environment, officially opened the Ross flood alleviation scheme on Monday, November 16.

Herefordshire Council has the best regeneration team in the region - having beaten off 90 other competition entries to win a prestigious regeneration award this week.

Herefordshire Council would like to extend a big thank you to all county residents for helping us to collect 600 tonnes of recyclable materials in the first two weeks of our new service – three times as much as the 200 tonnes collected in the corresponding period last year.

The partnership approach to working among organisations within Herefordshire sets the county apart from others and benefits many local communities.

Huw Irranca-Davies, Minister for the Marine and Natural Environment, will be officially opening the Ross flood alleviation scheme on Monday, November 16, at 9.30am.

Herefordshire Council’s heritage services team has brought the work of internationally renowned Brazilian-born artist Ana Maria Pacheco to Hereford Museum.

Herefordshire Council has just taken delivery of a new gritter to help ensure it can keep the county’s roads open during the winter months.

The Newton Farm Information Centre has been recognised for its support for local people in South Wye through a £1,000 donation by Herefordshire Council.

Herefordshire Council has strongly reaffirmed its backing for plans to revitalise Hereford and is to launch a major consultation on the future development of both the city and the county early in the New Year. The announcement came in a three-hour debate at a full council meeting on 13 November 2009.

Hereford’s new crematorium, paid for by Herefordshire Council, is to play host to a special concert by the Hereford Police Male Choir which will raise money for the mayor’s charities, the Noah’s Ark Trust and Little Princess Trust.

Incey, Wincey Spider, Humpty Dumpty, Hey Diddle Diddle, what’s your favourite?

Herefordshire Council is fully prepared for whatever this winter brings.

Herefordshire Council has been working with the county-based voluntary team Vinvolve to set up an intergenerational project for the people of Ledbury which is now to feature in a special photograph-led documentary.

NHS Herefordshire, the leader for health in the county, has praised four local pharmacists who have celebrated 50 years since they completed their training and began practising - and they’re not finished yet.

Herefordshire Council and NHS Herefordshire are creating a new customer insight team which will ensure that the views of all residents, patients, carers and visitors are heard, listened to and considered alongside each other, instead of separately as they are now.

People at risk of developing a severe illness through contracting swine flu are being urged to have the vaccine when invited to by their GP.

This week sees the national "Ask Your Pharmacist" Week taking place across the UK and NHS Herefordshire says that pharmacies across the county are well placed to answer your questions.

Herefordshire Council has the best regeneration team in the region - having beaten off 90 other competition entries to win a prestigious regeneration award this week.

Herefordshire Council’s adoption team is launching a campaign to persuade would-be adopters in Herefordshire and immediate surrounding areas to get in touch during national adoption week (November 9-15).

November promises to be a musical month for local youngsters as Herefordshire’s young musicians prepare to perform three major concerts at Hereford’s Shire Hall.

Herefordshire Council is planning a full and open debate on how the city and the county can secure and sustain its economic future.

A big thank you to everyone who joined in the new recycling service which started on Monday, November 2, 2009.

Boys and girls in the Golden Valley can climb walls, slide down poles, swing on ladders and pretend to defend their imaginary castles from the enemy following the opening of a much needed play facility in Peterchurch.

 

With thoughts firmly focused on Christmas, Herefordshire’s Tourist Information Centres are bursting at the seams with local crafts, produce, and gift ideas from locally made jewellery, hampers, calendars, theatre tokens and plenty of ideas for those stocking fillers!

One of Herefordshire Council’s committees which look at proposals, scrutinises decisions made and carries out reviews of services, is to hold a meeting in Ross-on-Wye later this month.

Business and public sector partnership supports jobs, homes and enterprise

ASDA health centre to run walk in service

NHS Herefordshire not only has a responsibility for purchasing and planning healthcare services for county residents, but it needs to make sure that these services are provided in ways that are safe for patients, staff and the public.

Herefordshire Council’s Trading Standards Service is issuing a stark warning to anyone buying a used car that they should always carry out a car data check such as HPI or Experian, to ensure there is no outstanding finance.

Herefordshire Council is pressing on with its rolling programme of housing need surveys and consultations in rural areas, as part of a process to provide more affordable housing.

Traders and residents have welcomed detailed plans for creating a ‘lively and vital streetscape’ between the city core and the new leisure and retail attractions proposed for the old livestock market site.

Herefordshire Council has listened to the views of taxi operators and is to improve the way it deals with taxi licensing issues after taking part in a university-led study.

NHS Herefordshire, the leader for health in the county, has announced that Susan Mead  and Dr Philip Ashurst have been reappointed to serve further terms as non-executive directors of the primary care trust board. The board is responsible for supervising the overall work of NHS Herefordshire and ensuring probity and public service values.

Council issues top ten safety tips for the darker winter months

Young people in Herefordshire are being given the opportunity to inspect the services they receive and recommend changes to how they are provided in the future.

Herefordshire Council is bringing back its popular Saturday Park and Ride service to tempt shoppers into Hereford during the busy run up to Christmas.

Work has begun to administer the swine flu vaccination to health workers who face an increased risk of getting the H1N1 virus and could transmit it to vulnerable patients.

Herefordshire has launched a new partnership to champion the revitalisation of Hereford as an economic power serving the county, the region and mid Wales.

Herefordshire Council’s cabinet member for adult social care Councillor Olwyn Barnett today (Tuesday 3 November 2009) praised the creative courage of older people taking part in the Wellbeing Arts Project Showcase, organised by Herefordshire Housing. The project encouraged people in residential care to explore art as a route to self-expression and social interaction.

Herefordshire Council’s waste management team and contractors Focsa are starting the county’s new refuse and recycling collection contract today (Monday, November 2).