January 2005

Herefordshire Council and Herefordshire Waste Watchers are left waiting for a decision that will have a crucial impact on the development of a much needed waste treatment plant.

Proposals to pedestrianise Hereford’s Widemarsh Street were given a good hearing at a specially called meeting to hear from individuals and organisations who would be most affected by it.

A “ground breaking” ceremony took place at the new Children’s Centre site at Coningsby Road, Leominster, on Wednesday, January 26 2005.

Herefordshire Council’s Cabinet has agreed to aim for the lowest Council Tax increase in the authority’s history.

Herefordshire Council celebrated the invaluable work of foster carers at its Foster Carer Forum, held twice a year, on January 21, at Hedley Lodge, Belmont Abbey.

Shoppers in Hereford’s Widemarsh Street could get a taste of what a car-free Widemarsh Street would be like if it was pedestrianised.

Herefordshire Council’s Environment Scrutiny Committee has made a measured response to a report which forms the basis for a review of the Council’s car parking strategy.

A review group set up to examine Herefordshire Council’s funding of The Courtyard Centre for the Arts has made its report public.

Herefordshire Council has purchased a groundbreaking search platform as part of its e-Gateway Project.

Herefordshire Council and Stepnell Ltd are celebrating the signing of contracts for provision of the new buildings for Whitecross High School on Three Elms Road.

More than 500 people visited an Independent Living Information Day to find out about a flagship development scheme which is being proposed for the benefit of older people living in Hereford and the surrounding areas.

Herefordshire Council has been monitoring local air quality at Bargates in Leominster to see if it meets nationally set targets for pollution.

Take the opportunity to have your say on the possible pedestrianisation of Widemarsh Street at a public meeting on January 26, 6pm, at the Green Dragon Hotel.

Herefordshire Council continues work on re-shaping children’s services to improve outcomes for all Herefordshire children and young people.

A ‘ground-breaking’ ceremony marks the start of work on Leominster’s new Children’s Centre.

Herefordshire Council has purchased a groundbreaking search platform as part of its e-Gateway Project.

Herefordshire Council has joined over 170 other local authorities across the UK in signing up to the ENCAMS (formerly ‘Tidy Britain’) campaign to prevent abandoned vehicles being dumped on our roadsides and open spaces.

Herefordshire is rich in its quality and quantity of artists and arts businesses, and to support the growth and development of these creative industries the Arts Council for England has awarded funding to Herefordshire Council.

After a change in the law, which allows complaints against Councillors to be heard locally, Herefordshire Council’s Standards Committee has heard its first case following allegations against a Bromyard Town Councillor.

January 27 2005 marks Holocaust Memorial Day, and is the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the former Nazi concentration and extermination camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Tree work will begin on the embankment adjacent to Castle Pool starting next week. The work will ensure that the area is made safe before the silt removal works are undertaken on the Pool.

A new concept in housing to help older people live independent and enriching lives will be under the spotlight later this month.

The proposed refurbishment of Eign Gate received a resounding ‘yes’ vote from the public consultation held in All Saints Church during October.

Amongst the names on the New Years Honours List are two which are likely to be familiar to people associated with Herefordshire Council.

This year’s first round of Local Area Forums are taking place over the next three weeks.

The wraps have come off Herefordshire Council’s new-look website which means it’s even easier to find out more about the 800 different services provided by your local authority.

Herefordshire Council’s Director of Education, Dr Eddie Oram, has retired following a lifetime of working with children and youngsters.

It’s been a busy year for the cultural scene in Herefordshire, with visitors to the county and residents having enjoyed a diverse range of projects.

Herefordshire Council Trading Standards Service is warning consumers to be extremely careful of dangerous toys and counterfeit goods this Christmas.

Young people in foster care from Herefordshire got a taste of London when they met the Minister of State for Children, Margaret Hodge.

Herefordshire Council has maintained the high standards of service it provides and has kept its "Good" rating from the independent Audit Commission.

A consultation day is to be held at Grange House, Leominster, for the public to view plans and pose questions about the proposed temporary accommodation for homeless people in Leominster.

Pick up your spade and join local MP Paul Keetch to help shape Hereford's newest park.

Herefordshire Council has breathed a sigh of relief after learning that its grant from Central Government is to rise by 5.3 per cent.

Herefordshire Council has been awarded a grant of £132,415.41 to help improve the way the county recycles its waste.

Hundreds of festive shoppers are choosing to let the bus take the strain rather than battle the yuletide jams and panic about parking in Hereford.

Residents and motorists who use Ledbury Road are being advised that emergency tree work will take place at the road's junction with Quarry Road on Friday, 10 December, to ensure the safe removal of a hazardous tree.

More than one in ten vehicles stopped during a city centre blitz on cars and lorries last week were found to be defective.

A select committee-style meeting at which expert witnesses will be called to give evidence is to be held before Herefordshire Council makes a decision over the pedestrianisation of Widemarsh Street.

Coca Cola has withdrawn its application for planning permission for a water borehole and pipeline in the Malvern Hills

Works are progressing well on the Roman Road Improvement Scheme on the A4103 between Tillington Road and Stretton Sugwas. The contractor remains on programme to complete the works in Spring 2005.

Personal accounts of the Peninsular War and details of a long running dispute over a family pew are part of a fascinating collection of archives recently purchased by Herefordshire Record Office.

Christmas shoppers in Ross-on-Wye are being invited to join in festive frolics at the town’s Heritage Centre.

A special event is to be held to give information in a fun and friendly way about jobs and training available to people who are considering working with babies and young children.

Opening at Hereford Museum & Art Gallery on Saturday, December 18, will be a touring exhibition from the Foyer Gallery, University College, Farnham, Surrey, featuring the prints and carvings of Jack Coutu.

Stout trunks and bulging branches have given Hereford City two new ‘Champion’ trees.

Herefordshire Council is extremely “dismayed and concerned” at the Department for Transport’s decision to reject its latest bid for the Rotherwas Access Road.

Find out about what's happening in Herefordshire this month!

We've upgraded the Herefordshire Council website to make it easier to use and more informative.