The idea of a new higher education centre for Hereford has been re-ignited after Herefordshire Council awarded a contract to local architects to draw up development options.

The council has put forward its Blackfriars site – worth £1.2 million – as part of its commitment to realising a higher education gateway for the city. In total, an alliance of partners has already allocated around £3 million to enhance degree-level education, opportunities and skills levels in the county.

Hereford architectural design practice Architype has been commissioned to deliver a feasibility study by the end of March 2010 - funded by regional development agency Advantage West Midlands (AWM).  

Architype, which has a 25-year track record in developing environmentally sustainable learning facilities, will develop options for a multi-use site for higher and further education. This could include, student residential accommodation, union bar and Internet cafe and a modern technologically developed library. The firm is already developing the £2.9-million showcase library at Ledbury and the new primary school at Staunton-on-Wye.

The council would like the new higher education gateway to be built in the ESG regeneration area of the city on the site of the current Blackfriars Education Centre – between the new leisure and retail quarter and the new urban village in Hereford.

“The council would make the Blackfriars site available for the new build gateway project because it supports our vision of creating a new land of opportunity in Herefordshire”, said Councillor Adrian Blackshaw, cabinet member for economic development and community services.

“We need to be able to offer accessible higher education to our talented young people who leave our successful schools and would otherwise move to universities outside of the county, most likely never to return.
 
“With an attractive facility here in Hereford we may well bring in more talented individuals from outside of the county too, which in turn provides the right skills base to make the city attractive to enterprises already here or thinking of locating to Hereford. It is all about creating the right environment for everyone in Herefordshire to have the chance to shine, thrive and prosper in the future”.

Other benefits include making higher education more affordable for local young people and also for mature members of the community that may also have wanted the chance to go to university.

Jonathan Bretherton, chief executive of ESG Herefordshire, added: “The regeneration of the city potentially offers a great deal for our young people. A new higher education facility, combined with a multi-screen cinema, exciting new nightlife, bars and venues, together with residential accommodation and affordable housing in the urban village, could present a compelling proposition for staying, studying and succeeding in Herefordshire”.

“There is a commitment to use local architects and design practices wherever possible, so it is particularly good news that Hereford-based Architype has been chosen to deliver a feasibility study”.

Jonathan Hines, director of Architype, said: “We are delighted to be working with Herefordshire Council on this innovative project. As a local practice we are committed to supporting forward thinking and environmentally sustainable initiatives designed to enhance the future of this county”

The Blackfriars site will be available when employees move to the proposed new administrative centre for the council and the primary care trust in Plough Lane, Hereford. The purchase of Plough Lane will save the council £1.4 million a year in divesting itself of older more expensive to maintain premises.

Herefordshire’s partners in the enterprise are likely to include not only Herefordshire Council, but also NHS Herefordshire, Herefordshire College of Art, the Robert Owen Society and others.

Nearly 1000 people made their views known by completing questionnaires distributed to shops and businesses, libraries and information centres, and taking part in an online survey. Nearly two thirds favoured a traditional Victorian interior, while 17 per cent preferred a ‘more modern style’. Almost all the responses (95 per cent) were from people who live in Herefordshire, half of which visit the market about once a week. Most people spend £5 or less each visit.

Herefordshire Council wants to increase the numbers of visitors, the frequency of visits and the amount they spend in the Buttermarket and surrounding businesses in High Town and the City centre. It sees the improvement of the interior of the Buttermarket as key to its plans to support the historic core of the city as a destination for shoppers, visitors and tourists.
 
An upgrading of the interior market, which started trading in the city in 1860 in butter, cheese and other dairy products, would help underpin the future of independent shops in the city centre, along with other markets.

The survey found that shoppers are more likely to buy fruit and vegetables, meat, fish and game, bread, cakes and dairy products in a refurbished Buttermarket.

Councillor Adrian Blackshaw, cabinet member for economic development, said: “People love the Buttermarket but feel it could be improved and made more attractive, particularly as a focal point for the sale of locally produced products and services in a traditional Victorian setting.

“The council agrees strongly that this landmark building needs to be safeguarded, promoted and polished as ‘the jewel in the crown’ for High Town. This is an integral part of the council’s overall vision for enhancing Hereford as a shopping experience and we are looking forward to discussing with traders and other groups how we might move forward to act on the results of the consultation”.

The council is also developing a new look to adjacent Widemarsh Street in the city centre, which is a key gateway to the Buttermarket. The pedestrian friendly route will encourage visitors to the city to move between the historic core and the new retail and leisure development. 

Schools, playgroups and people who work with children and young people will be converging on the Courtyard, Hereford next month for a huge Arts Supermarket event.

Nineteen local artists including musicians, poets, dancers, visual artists, potters, painters to name a few, will be there displaying some of the work they have done with children and young people.  

Organised by Herefordshire Council, this is the third year the event has taken place.  The aim is to provide people who work with children and young people the opportunity to get some creative ideas and meet the professionals to see how they can work together on curriculum or non-curriculum based topics.

Annie Millen, Herefordshire Council, said: “These supermarkets have proved to be very popular in the past and I’m sure this year’s will be another big hit with schools.  It’s a free informal networking event and all artists have been selected on the basis of the quality of their work and their proven ability to work well with young people.

“Utilising the arts can bring many classroom projects alive across the curriculum and enhance learning.  Using local artists is a good way of involving local communities, encouraging creativity and providing new experiences for children, which is why schools generally love to work with professional artists.  At the supermarket staff can talk directly to the professionals, explore ideas and discuss project work.”

The event takes place from 3.30pm to 6pm on Friday October 9 at The Courtyard, Hereford. 

A public meeting is being hosted by the Hereford City Partnership to gather views on the future development of Hereford city centre as a place to visit, live and enjoy.

The public meeting will be used to gather views on a framework being put in place to ensure the long-term viability of the city centre which is such an important element of the county.

Cllr Adrian Blackshaw, Herefordshire Council cabinet member for economic development and community services, said: “We’ve been working with a number of stakeholder groups including retailers involved in the city centre to initially establish aims and objectives towards the regeneration of the Hereford City Centre.  The aim of this public meeting is to outline the feedback we have had to date and debate some of the issues in a public forum.”

“The partnership approach we have adopted with all stakeholders has worked well in gathering ideas, views and concerns.  This is the chance for anyone with an interest in Hereford city centre to have a say”.

The public meeting will be on Wednesday, April 30, at 5.45pm in Hereford Town Hall.

For any further information contact Natalia Silver, head of economic and community services, on 01432 260732.

The Annual Parish meeting of the City of Hereford will immediately follow this meeting, commencing at 7.15pm.

Residents of Hereford will be able to further debate the issues raised at the previous meeting and also discuss any other local issues with members of Hereford City Council.

Any local government elector for the area of the parish of the City of Hereford is entitled by law to be in attendance and to vote on any matter that is discussed at the Annual Assembly of the Parish Meeting.

For further information about this meeting please call Mark Inglis on 01432 260454.

Herefordshire Council’s cabinet has agreed to allocate £751,000 in capital resources to spend on further refurbishment of Hereford city centre.

Refurbishment of the city centre started in 2005 when £1million was spent on improving High Street and High Town.

As part of the works, High Town was repaved, new lighting columns installed, street clutter cleared, new street furniture installed and the surroundings of the Old House enhanced.
 
The money now allocated will be used to refurbish Widemarsh Street to provide a pedestrian-friendly surface from High Town to Blue School Street.

Following cabinet’s decision to allocate £750,000 to the project, along with £250,000 left over from the previous work carried out, it means the council now has £1 million for the works.

Councillor Brian Wilcox, Herefordshire Council’s cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: “Widemarsh Street is going to be an important link between the Edgar Street Grid retail quarter and High Town and, as such, it is crucial that shoppers can easily get from one to the other.

“This scheme will build on what we have already done to make Hereford city centre a more welcoming and safe environment for shoppers.

“This is a real opportunity to ensure that visitors to the city centre have one seamless shopping experience; our aim is to integrate all vital elements of the city centre – those we have already and those that will be created through the EGS project – into
one,” he added.

It is hoped the scheme will be completed in 2009-2010.

Don’t know your wormeries from your mulch? Then why not come along to a series of free composting roadshows and find out more,

Paul Konig, a Herefordshire Master Composter, will be holding monthly composting roadshow at Morrisons in Hereford, starting next Wednesday, April 9 from 10am until 2pm.

Paul will be attending all of the roadshows and other volunteers will be helping at some of them. Next week Ann Marriott will be going along to help out.

The subsequent roadshow dates are as follows:

Wednesday, May 14: 10am until 2pm
Wednesday, June11: 10am until 2pm
Wednesday, July 9: 10am until 2pm
Wednesday, August 13, 10am until 2pm
Wednesday, September 10, 10am until 2pm
Wednesday, October 8: 10am until 2pm

The Master Composters Programme involves volunteers from Herefordshire and Worcestershire giving up their time to promote home composting and to advise those who are new to the "art".

Master Composters are coming to the aid of all those residents struggling with their composting.

This series of free Composting Roadshows have been organised by volunteers for residents that don't know their wormeries from their mulch. The roadshows staffed by Master Composter volunteers will provide practical support and advice for old and new composters and will answer any questions for those who are thinking of buying a compost bin.

The Composting Roadshows will be held at Morrisons store in Hereford on the second Wednesday of every month from April through to October. Master Composters will be on hand to prescribe treatment to solve any compost ailments and help make better compost from 10am until 2pm.

Paul Konig, Herefordshire Master Composter said: “Composting is an inexpensive, natural process that transforms your kitchen and garden waste into a valuable and nutrient rich food for your garden.

“It’s easy to make and even easier to use. Over one third of the contents of an average UK household bin can be home composted, not to mention all the garden waste that can also be added to a compost bin. What's more, composting at home prevents waste being sent to landfill.

“I hope everyone will take full advantage of these free roadshows and, as an extra incentive, everyone who visits us at the April roadshow will receive a free pack of sunflower seeds.”

The Waste Prevention Team covering Herefordshire and Worcestershire are urging residents who are not already composting to get a compost bin and start composting.

Compost bins are available from as little as £12, and residents can find out how to order a bin by visiting www.wastemissionimpossible.org.uk or by calling the hotline on 01905 766883.

Hereford Art Gallery will host an exciting exhibition dedicated to the work of the talented Hereford artist Brian Hatton from Saturday, November 10 until Wednesday, January 9.

Brian showed exceptional promise as a young artist and achieved some early recognition, but his life was tragically cut short when he was killed-in-action during the First World War.

This show will focus on the influence of his family and his home county, both of which are frequently represented in his work.