News Updates

Thursday 5^th March at 7pm.

The committee of Walford Village Hall would like to invite all Walford community members to come along to a meeting on March 5^th at 7pm to meet their fellow villagers and help plan an event for the village.

With regular bookings and one off events, the Village Hall runs as a successful community centre, but at its heart it is a facility for the village and we would love to see more village events bringing Walford together. With a well equipped kitchen, main hall and separate meeting room and extensive grassy area and children’s playground we have excellent facilities for many types of events.

Maybe you fancy a pub night or a quiz night?  Or how about a May Fayre as our previous playgroup used to run?  In the summer, perhaps a family rounders match and BBQ on Friday nights would appeal?  Or what about a monthly Produce Market on a Saturday morning with bacon butties, coffee and chance to catch up?  Or a quarterly community lunch as some other local village halls have done?

Whatever the event, let’s have some fun together as a community!

This meeting is open to anyone who wants to be involved in helping set up or run events.  Bring a bottle, nibbles will be provided.

The Walford Village Hall Committee

For any queries please contact Jenny Long at mrandmrslong@yahoo.co.uk

Click on the Image to open a full PDF version of the plan

Herefordshire Council has issued the County Plan for 2020-2024

The priorities as outlined in the plan cover the follow areas:

ENVIRONMENT – Protect and enhance our environment and keep Herefordshire a great place to live

COMMUNITY – Strengthen communities to ensure that everyone lives well and safely together

ECONOMY- Support an economy which builds on the county’s strengths and resources

Click on the image to open and read the full PDF document.

As you may know road safety is a high priority of mine and as the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner I am launching my draft Road Safety Strategy for consultation. This strategy has three key themes:

• Reducing Casualties through Prevention;
• Effective Enforcement; and
• Offender Rehabilitation and Victim Support.

Whilst our roads are comparatively safer than others, too many people are still being killed and seriously injured in West Mercia. We must work together to see this number consistently reduce.

Your views are important to me and the feedback I receive will help inform the development of my finalised Road Safety Strategy. I see this as a real opportunity for the strategy to truly reflect the concerns and priorities of all of West Mercia’s communities.

The survey only takes a few minutes to complete so please help me to make West Mercia’s roads safer. A copy of the draft strategy is attached and the survey can be found through this link

https://www.surveygizmo.eu/s3/90214147/Road-Safety-Strategy-Consultation

The consultation will close on Friday 20^th March, information can be found at www.westmercia-pcc.gov.uk

Click on the image to open a full PDF copy.

Click on the image to open a full PDF version

Don’t forget we are holding two Neighbourhood Development Plan ‘drop in’ sessions for all residents to give us  your opinions on:

• The proposed  vision  and  objectives for our NDP.
• The criteria for selecting sites for future development.
• Specific items that you think are special to our Parish and deserve protecting, such as a piece of woodland, a view, or a building.

The two ‘drop-in’ sessions will be held on Saturdays 22nd February at Walford Village Hall & 29th February at Bishopswood Village Hall, both open between 10:00am and 2:00pm.   It will take 30-45 minutes to input to all the questions,  but members of the NDP steering group will be on hand to assist and there will be tea and coffee available if you would like to sit and chat for a bit.

As your own input is vital, if you can’t make either date please let us know through the contact page so we can find a way for you to provide your opinion.

Parts of Herefordshire continue to experience significant and widespread flooding from high river levels and deep surface flooding. A number of agencies including Herefordshire Council, Environment Agency, West Mercia Police and Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service and West Midlands Ambulance Service and health partners, are working together to protect Herefordshire residents, focusing on the most vulnerable members of the community.

With parts of Herefordshire still suffering the impacts of Storm Dennis, the recovery effort is already under way in many parts of the county.

Councillor David Hitchiner, Leader of Herefordshire Council, said: “We have all been shocked to see the level of devastation inflicted by Storm Dennis, which has caused disruption to the entire county and untold damage to those directly affected. I would urge all residents to please follow official guidance and do not put yourself in any unnecessary risk.

“I would like to thank our partner agencies for their tireless work to protect local residents. The situation is still live but it is important that we begin planning for the recovery now so that support is in place as soon as possible.”

Using emergency provisions, the council has now confirmed that it will set up a new Community Relief Scheme, which will offer up to £500 for eligible affected properties and up to £2,500 eligible affected businesses. Applications are now open and we encourage everyone who is entitled to make an application.

Council tax relief and Business rate relief is available for properties affected by the recent floods.

For more information or to apply, please visit the Herefordshire Council website.

For the latest updates, please keep checking the Herefordshire Council website and follow @HfdsCouncil on Facebook and Twitter.

To find out more about the support and guidance available please visit www.herefordshire.gov.uk/floods

Please do not enter flood water or put yourself at unnecessary risk. If your home has been flooded and there is no threat to life, dial 01432 260000. If you are in danger, always call 999.