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.