The consultation on Saturday was successful with lots of shared ideas and enthusiasm. Visit the White Lion Meadow page for a short report, click here.

This March Diary is a bumper edition - lots happening out there. Well done all contributors and especially Julia. Click here.

The Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay is confirmed to visit Herefordshire during its final journey through England this summer, as the full route is revealed.

Click HERE to follow the link

Do you need advice on debt, benefits, energy, housing or anything else?

The Citizens Advice Bureau can help! Please contact them to have a chat with an advisor and book an appointment. Here's how:

1. Telephone - If you’d like to speak to someone, you can call us on 0344 826 9685.
The telephone advice service is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday from 10am – 3pm.

2. Text - on 0786 00 77 311
Stating (i) your name (ii) your postcode (iii) the type of advice needed (for example DEBT, HOUSING or BENEFITS). They will then call you back on your mobile phone.

3. Email - Online at advice@citizensadviceherefordshire.org.uk for initial contact by email. Please also give a contact phone number in case we need to contact you for more information.

The latest April sightings and photos of Lyonshall wildlife is available. There is also a story of a local hedgehog adventure. Thanks to all contributors. Click here.

The Local Plan 2021-2041 Policy Options consultation will run for 6 weeks from Monday 4 April to 16 May 2022.

It sets out a summary of the context around each of the policy areas and includes range of possible approaches that the new local plan could include.

As part of the preparation of the new Local Plan for Herefordshire the existing County-wide planning policies need to be reviewed, to determine their effectiveness, consistency with national planning policy and whether they would help to deliver key aspirations of the Herefordshire County Plan. 

Consideration also needs to be given as to whether there is a need to include additional policies in the local plan in instances where there are gaps in the current policies.

The policies will be key in determining planning applications and so it is important that this consultation provides the opportunity for everyone to have their say early in the process of plan making. 

The paper does not set out detailed policy wording at this stage, which will come later in the process, but does look at different ways that the policies could be applied in the new plan. 

The policy options within the consultation paper cover general and county-wide matters they do not refer to specific places or areas within Herefordshire. Consultation on the policy options for specific places and areas, including the rural settlement hierarchy will take place later this year.

The responses received during this consultation, together with a number of evidence base studies, will help form the draft Local Plan.

For more information about the Local Plan 2021-2041 Policy Options and how to take part, go to:

https://hlp.commonplace.is/

Herefordshire Council Website

Plant a tree for the Green Canopy

As part of the Queen's Jubilee celebrations, parishioners are invited to plant a tree as part of the Green Canopy.

If you think you can find space for a tree and would like to consider planting one can you please contact tree warden David Griffiths - he has some trees & guards available.

Please email - porthcelyn@btinternet.com

Things have been happening on White Lion Meadow over the autumn and winter months. There will be regular news items to keep you all updated. For the first report click here. 

Herefordshire Council Support information Page Click HERE

Lyonshall Gardening Club is a newly established group open to everyone. We meet on the first Thursday of every month at 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall.

The club’s aim is to keep things informal, sociable, affordable and enjoyable.

Whether you are a keen gardener, a new enthusiast, or just curious, we aim to share the love and knowledge of horticulture.

There are no subs to pay, just £2.50 entry fee on the door.

Refreshments provided, raffle and seasonal plant stall.

Dates for your diary…

April 7th Robin Pearce “Crazy Daisies” - Exploring the world of daisy like flowers available to gardeners May

5th Cary Goode Cary, a garden designer, talks about the creation of Rhodds Farm in Lyonshall and gives an insight into opening your garden for the NGS

June 2nd Quiz and social evening We start the Platinum Jubilee celebration weekend with a gardening themed quiz evening with a Royal twist

Herefordshire Council would like to know of any property has been affected by recent flooding?  

By letting them know where & what happened, especially if it hasn't been reported, Herefordshire Council & their partners can use the information which may help reduce the future impacts of flooding.

Report it here: https://myaccount.herefordshire.gov.uk/record-a-flooding-incident  

Or contact TalkCommunityEnquiries@herefordshire.gov.uk

Qwell is available across Herefordshire and Worcestershire with free, safe and anonymous, online support and wellbeing advice for adults. 

Below is a link to a free session which is taking place on Friday 18 February 2022 at 11:00.  for you to discover more about the services available and gain resources to help signpost adults to Qwell.

Qwell Information Session for Adults in Herefordshire & Worcestershire Tickets, Fri 18 Feb 2022 at 11:00 | Eventbrite

Where we live plays a big part in helping us feel happy and secure. Being involved in and having a say about our local neighbourhood can play a valuable part in being a part of our local community.

The Local Plan 2021-2041 will be a new document that will help shape growth and development across the county over the next 20 years. This is your chance to get involved at an early stage in the local plan update, to have an influence. Herefordshire Council want to hear your views.

Take a look at the draft vision and objectives, and explore the options on how residential development can be distributed across the county. You can take the survey in handy bite sized chunks, or all at once.

Have your say by visiting the Herefordshire Local Plan website. Consultation on the location and scale of new development throughout Herefordshire will run until Monday 28 February.

Did you know that people living in a low income household that receives Universal Credit (at a level below the threshold for free school meals and/or free prescriptions), can now apply for a one-off payment of £60 to help with food, energy and other essential costs?

The one-off payment is available through Herefordshire Council, which has been allocated over £1million by the government as part of a new Household Support Fund to help vulnerable people and families this winter.

Applications close on Monday 28 February 2022. For information and to apply for the grant, visit the Herefordshire Council website.

Do you know anyone that has lost work or been made redundant due to Covid-19? Anyone that has struggled going back to work after being furloughed, or are feeling isolated working from home?

If so, The Cart Shed have a fantastic free programme to help people get back on their feet, to build their confidence and connections back. A fresh start for anyone that’s feeling anxious due to the impact of Covid-19 on their work.

The Post Covid Employment programme offers people a day a week (for 4 to 12 weeks), to take part in woodland activities in our beautiful Herefordshire countryside. Enriching, engaging, supporting wellbeing – all run by the amazing, experienced Cart Shed team.

Businesses can access the free support too, who have employees that have struggled during Covid. Sessions can also help employers who are having to make employees redundant due to Covid-19, to support a successful moving on for their staff.

For more information, contact The Cart Shed on info@thecartshed.co.uk, call 01544 318231, or visit The Cart Shed website. 

Herefordshire Healthy Minds are currently looking for feedback on their “Now We’re Talking for Healthy Minds” website, which they are looking to update.

Healthy Minds have a short survey on their website, which runs until Wednesday 9 February. They would appreciate it if people could take a few minutes to give some feedback through their survey. It’s a great chance to say what you do and don’t like about the website, how easy you find it to navigate around the website, and what suggestions you may have for improvements. 

Complete the survey - thank you for your time.

Road Closure

The C1031 Lyonshall From A480 To Cabal Lane, Lyonshall, between Rhyse Villa and Spondleigh. Grid Ref : 334821 / 257185

The said closure is required due to blockage removal works being carried out  and the likelihood of danger to the public while the works are taking place.

Rhyse Lane C1031 will be closed for approx. 1 day on 28th February 2022

The next Lyonshall Parish Council meeting planned on 13th January is POSTPONED and will not go ahead due to the national and local concerns with the spread of the omicron variant of COVID.

The next meeting will be held February 10th 2022. 

Have Your Say...

The Parish has been gifted a piece of land between White Lion Meadow and Curl Brook for a wildlife area. The Council would like the community to be involved in the process from start to finish so would ask you to give us your thoughts and comments on the outlined essentials below and offer your ideas.

The Parish Council is seeking advice from various bodies. Herefordshire Wildlife Trust has advised us on preparing the ground and the essentials for a wildlife haven. These are native trees and plants, a pond and wildlife habitats such as log piles, insect houses, hedgehog boxes etc. with possibly a more formal area and seating near the roadside.

Let us know if you are interested in volunteering on the project for various roles, ranging from physical work, fund raising, planning and facilitating, to providing tea and biscuits!

In the first instance we are hoping to apply for a Herefordshire Council Grant with a very tight timescale for the groundworks (clearing the brook bank of overgrowth, digging a wildlife pond and ploughing the land).  

To submit a quote for the groundworks or to send your ideas or volunteer contact: Project lead Cllr Lomax katelomax4@gmail.com or Clerklyonshallparishclerk@gmail.com

Herefordshire Council has commissioned a new digital mental health service for all adults aged 19 and over to access in the county. 

Qwell, which is delivered by Kooth, the UK’s leading digital mental health and wellbeing organisation, offers free and confidential digital counselling and emotional support.

The service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year via computer, tablet or smartphone.  There are no waiting lists or referrals needed, which will enable people to quickly and easily access support, at a time that is convenient for them.

There are one to one counselling support sessions available, with fully qualified wellbeing practitioners (12pm to 10pm weekdays and 6pm to 10pm weekends and holidays), alongside an extensive range of self-care and psychoeducational materials, peer to peer support via moderated community forums, helpful articles and personal tools, such as an online journal.

To find out more about the new service, take a look at our newsroom article at www.talkcommunitydirectory.org/qwell

Work on repairing Offa's Dyke Bridge, Spond Lane will start on Thursday 4th November and will continue for a number of weeks. The contractors hope to maintain access for pedestrians through the roadworks but, as heavy machinery is involved, there are likely to be occasions when this is not possible.

November 21 Newsletter from Kington Surgery

Click HERE to view

If you spot a problem on the roads or with drainage or a footpath there are a number of ways you can report it to Herefordshire Council

Your one-stop-shop for up to date information is the Herefordshire Council website.

• If you spot a defect on the network, you’ve got two options for reporting it:
• You can raise a report on the council website, via the Travel and Transport page, then subsection Roads.
• Or, you can call our Customer Services Team on 01432 261800. For emergencies, you should always report by telephone.
• When you report issues this way, we can make sure everything is properly logged, assessed, and allocated to the right teams as quickly as possible.
• You can check the progress of a defect, or see if it’s already been logged, via the progress map on council website.

For things to do with Public Rights of Way, including reporting defects, you can check out the dedicated section of the council website. 

• You can also find up to date information about Herefordshire highway works, including road closures and diversions, on one.network.
• Balfour Beatty tweet to @HfdsStreets to let road users know about all things highways. Follow and tell your family and friends too, so you’ll always know when to take extra care.

You can also find on Facebook – check out our Herefordshire Highways page.

The Rural Crime Team is about to begin using the Neighbourhood Matters website to disseminate crime prevention information and broadcast good news stories. P

Please sign up to the bespoke West Mercia Police Neighbourhood Matters website at www.neighbourhoodmatters.co.uk.

This will enable you to receive crime prevention notices as soon as they are posted. In addition, you may wish to have a look at the West Mercia Police Rural Matters Facebook site which already highlights our activities and includes videos, visits and advice delivered by the team across the rural parts Herefordshire.

Be Amazing. Become a Foster Carer in 2022

If you have been thinking about fostering, the New Year is a great time to start your journey. By next Christmas, you could be giving the ultimate gift to a child by transforming their lives.

Fostering ranges from short emergency stays, weekends or holidays, to longer term placements, which means you can find an option which fits in with your work and family commitments.

You will be fully trained and supported, and receive an excellent financial package, plus full allowance to cover all the child’s costs.

Options include:

• Short breaks in your home for children with disabilities
• Supporting a young adult with life skills like cooking, laundry and budgeting
• Therapeutic fostering - working with children with complex behaviours
• Being the forever home that some children need

Call the fostering team on 01432 383240, email us at fostering@herefordshire.gov.uk or visit www.herefordshire.gov.uk/fostering

Balfour Beatty has refreshed the Riparian Responsibilities information to further engage riparian owners to take responsibility for their ditches and drains through awareness, support and guidance.   

Where there is a lack of cooperation and there is a safety risk to highway users, or significant damage to highway, they have now put in a place a process to enable a more formal approach.

Check out these information documents;

Riparian owner good maintenance guide

Ditches and drainage - your responsibilities

Balfour Beatty has also updated the Herefordshire Council website which includes a refresher and updates the information leaflets.

The one-stop-shop for up to date information is the Herefordshire Council website.

• If you spot a defect on the network, you have two options for reporting it:
• You can raise a report on the council website, via the Travel and Transport page, then subsection Roads.
• Or, you can call our Customer Services Team on 01432 261800. For emergencies, you should always report by telephone.
• When you report issues this way,  everything is properly logged, assessed, and allocated to the right teams as quickly as possible.
• You can check the progress of a defect, or see if it’s already been logged, via the progress map on Herefordshire Council website.
• For things to do with Public Rights of Way, including reporting defects, you can check out the dedicated section of the Herefordshire council website.

Did you know?

• You can find up to date information about Herefordshire highway works, including road closures and diversions, on one.network.
• Tweets to @HfdsStreets to let road users know about all things highways. Follow us and tell your family and friends too, so you’ll always know when to take extra care.
• Also on Facebook – check out  Herefordshire Highways page.

As part of the continued development of Talk Community and building on the great work to date, Herefordshire Council are delighted to announce the launch of the Talk Community website - www.talkcommunity.org

The website provides key information about Talk Community including videos, good news stories and launch the summer volunteering campaign – ‘give an hour this summer,’ and provides three areas that support in bringing Herefordshire together:

• How can I help myself?
• How can I help my community?
• How can my community help me?

Herefordshire Council are also changing the name of WISH to become the Talk Community Directory, this will still provide the same great service and functionality but with some minor amendments and name change.  WISH continues to be a highly-valued resource to our communities with its success growing and experiencing a record 59% increase in website visitors in 2020, compared to 2019. The new website address is - www.talkcommunitydirectory.org

Please take the time to visit the website and if you have any feedback email talkcommunitydirectory@herefordshire.gov.uk

Due to the impact of Coronavirus over 5.5 million people are claiming Universal Credit.

Many of them are new to claiming Universal Credit having been negatively impacted by Coronavirus.

For a guide and help to claim please follow this link

Job Centre Plus Link

Keep Herefordshire Warm

As winter’s cold weather starts to bite, we all need to stay warm and healthy in our homes. For many families, higher energy bills and keeping warm is going to be a struggle in the coming months. Keep Herefordshire Warm are pleased to offer a series of short webinars aimed at helping you to support struggling families this winter.

The webinars are free and last 20 minutes with a Q&A session at the end.  You can register for each session by simply clicking through to the Eventbrite link below each topic.

They cover a range of relevant topics; 

• Health in a cold home and COVID19

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/health-in-a-cold-home-and-covid19-tickets-128386536587    

• When should you be concerned about energy welfare?- signs to look out for.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/when-should-you-be-concerned-about-energy-welfare-tickets-128389110285 

• How can we save money on home energy this winter?

 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-can-we-save-money-and-energy-on-home-energy-this-winter-tickets-128389657923

• What Funding is available for improving your home?

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/what-funding-is-available-for-improving-your-home-tickets-128390598737 

Early Help Hub

Herefordshire Council’s Early Help Hub offers a confidential support service to Herefordshire families with children aged 0 to 19 years. 

The Early Help team can provide families and professionals (working with families) with advice and guidance to support them through the difficult times and help them to get back on track.

Difficulties could include:

• Family relationships

• Challenging behaviours

• Domestic abuse

• Housing issues

• Struggling with finances

• Emotional and mental health

• Safety in the community

• Substance abuse

The Early Help Hub team are available on 01432 260261 (9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday, closed on bank holidays) or email earlyhelpcontacts@herefordshire.gov.uk

To find out more about the Early Help service visit: www.herefordshire.gov.uk/earlyhelp

For information about local support services for families, visit the WISH website www.wisherefordshire.org

Warmer homes Herefordshire Council is working with E.ON to help people across the county improve the heating of their homes by installing free first-time gas central heating systems in around 300 eligible residents’ homes. 

The project follows a successful funding bid by the Council to the £150 million Warm Homes Fund, established by National Grid, and administered by community interest company Affordable Warmth Solutions. 

Eligible households not connected to mains gas and currently relying on inefficient ways of heating their homes, for example electric storage or panel heaters, could be eligible for the measures, which are part of the Warmer Homes Herefordshire scheme. Subject to eligibility, where there is no existing gas supply to the property, a new gas network connection will also be provided by Affordable Warmth Solutions, usually at no cost. Still funded by Affordable Warmth Solutions, eligible properties (must be without existing central heating, unless the existing system uses solid fuel). Under this rural programme they would be able to support the installation of heating systems– e.g. LPG Gas, or Renewable heating (e.g. heat pumps or biomass systems).

For the full eligibility criteria and to apply, they would encourage any residents to call Keep Herefordshire Warm on 0800 677 1432 or email khw@severnwye.org.uk and take a look at: https://keepherefordshirewarm.co.uk/

Leominster Food bank offer support to those who meet the criteria for food parcels.

A short briefing note is attached which explains how someone gets referred and how it works. 

Please read the attached document HERE to see how to find out if you qualify. 

Contact Details: Food bank mobile is 07715410575 and email address is leominsterfoodbank@gmail.com

If you walk the Parish Footpaths for your daily exercise please stick the the public footpaths.

Keep your dog on a lead and pick up it's poop and take it home with you please!!

Please click for the  Definitive Footpath Map  and just enter your postcode.

Stop Loan Sharks Helpline Information

In these difficult times its important to ensure you know who you are lending money from.

The Stop Loan Sharks helpline is available to all and full details can be found by following this LINK

Look out for local news here