Month: November 2021

Residents and business owners across Herefordshire will be provided with new rubbish and recycling collection arrangements from late 2023. The news follows a decision made by our cabinet members today (Thursday 25 November 2021).

The changes include a new weekly food waste collection service and a fortnightly, seasonal garden waste collection service. Currently, 40 per cent of the contents of residual waste (black bins) could be recycled. We are planning to meet stringent environmental targets identified in our waste strategy and we are introducing the service after residents told us in a consultation on collection options that more needs to be done to help increase recycling.

New rubbish and recycling collections being introduced from late 2023

The enhanced service, providing much more recycling capacity, comprises the following collection “streams”, which will improve both the quantity and quality of recycling:

• New bin. Paper and cardboard will be collected separately in new 240-litre wheelie bins
• Existing green bin. Metals (tins and cans), most plastics (pots, tubs, trays and bottles) and glass
• Existing black bin. Anything that cannot be recycled or put into food waste
• Food waste. We will provide all households with a new, 23-litre food caddy and liners
• Garden waste bin. Residents can opt for a seasonal garden waste collection

How the new collection scheme will work

The council’s enhanced service will improve the quantity and quality of recycling

We will work with managing agents, residents associations and people who live in flats to ensure they have a service that reflects their needs and provides maximum opportunities for them to recycle.

As is currently the case, larger families, families using disposable nappies and those with medical needs will still receive additional capacity. These are considered on a case by case basis.

The cabinet also agreed changes to our waste disposal contract that will see a 95 per cent reduction in waste being sent to landfill to just one per cent from April 2022.

Welcome news

News of the new waste arrangements was welcomed by Cllr Gemma Davies:

“We have listened to our residents who told us they wanted more opportunities to recycle. Our new system provides more capacity to recycle from 2024. We know that for people living in flats or for larger families this will not be easy. We also will be looking for ways to help people in those circumstances and will say more about that in the future.

“This is just one part of our ambitious plans for helping people to reuse more, recycle more and waste less. I am also very pleased to have secured savings on our waste disposal contract and greater protection for when recyclers want to send materials outside of Europe. I am delighted that we will be achieving a 95 per cent reduction in waste going to landfill from next April to just one per cent.”

Details of the agreement can be found on our website.

An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) was originally put in place across the whole of England following a number of confirmed cases among wild and commercial birds. The AIPZ came into force at 5pm on Friday 5 November and means it is now a legal requirement for all bird keepers to follow strict biosecurity measures.

Keepers with more than 500 birds will need to restrict access for non-essential people on their sites, workers will need to change clothing and footwear before entering bird enclosures and site vehicles will need to be cleaned and disinfected regularly to limit the risk of the disease spreading.

Avian influenza circulates naturally in wild birds and when they migrate to the UK from mainland Europe over the winter they can spread the disease to poultry and other captive birds.

Backyard owners with smaller numbers of poultry including chickens, ducks and geese must also take steps to limit the risk of the disease spreading to their animals.

The UK health agencies advise that the risk to public health from the virus is very low and the UK food standards agencies advise that avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for UK consumers. Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.

The national Avian Influenza Prevention Zone means that bird keepers all across the country must:

• Keep domestic ducks and geese separate from other poultry;
• Ensure the areas where birds are kept are unattractive to wild birds, for example by netting ponds, and by removing wild bird food sources;
• Feed and water their birds in enclosed areas to discourage wild birds;
• Minimise movement into and out of bird enclosures;
• Cleanse and disinfect footwear and keep areas where birds live clean and tidy;
• Reduce any existing contamination by cleansing and disinfecting concrete areas, and fencing off wet or boggy areas;
• Keep free ranging birds within fenced areas, and ponds, watercourses and permanent standing water must be fenced off (except in specific circumstances, e.g. zoo birds).

Bird keepers should visit the gov.uk website for full details of the AIPZ and updated biosecurity guidance.

Councillor Ange Tyler, Cabinet member for Housing, Regulatory Services & Community Safety said: “Herefordshire Council would like any keepers of poultry and captive birds in the county to be vigilant for any signs of disease in their birds and any wild birds. If you have any concerns, please seek prompt advice from your vet, and help to prevent avian flu by following the government advice and maintaining good biosecurity on your premises.”

“The introduction of the AIPZ comes after several cases in kept poultry and birds confirmed in the UK and will be in place until further notice and will be kept under regular review as part of our work to monitor the threat of bird flu.”

Poultry keepers and members of the public should report dead wild birds to the Defra helpline on: 03459 33 55 77.

Keepers should report any suspicion of disease to APHA on: 03000 200 301

Six people have been successfully prosecuted for using someone else’s Blue Badge in separate cases brought by Herefordshire Council in October 2021.

We issue Blue Badges to residents who are disabled and often have severe mobility problems. This enables them to park close to the vital services they need to use.

Misusing a Blue Badge is a criminal offence and the fines for the six guilty parties, which included costs, totalled over £4,000.

Two of the six people have been prosecuted previously for committing the same offence and one was found to be using a stolen badge.

The guilty parties were in breach of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. Those prosecuted misused a disabled persons parking badge by displaying it in their own vehicles. In doing so, the guilty parties’ vehicles were parked in a space that was specifically allocated to someone with a disability or to avoid parking charges.

A council spokesperson, said:

“Blue Badges are issued to residents with a disability, so they are able to park close to services they need to use.

”Unfortunately, the system is open to abuse, especially by partners, relatives or friends of Blue Badge holders, who want to gain access to free and convenient parking.

“Those who misuse a Blue Badge may not think it will affect anyone. But, removing an accessible parking space for those who need it can seriously hinder their ability to live an independent life.”

Blue Badge holders in Herefordshire have access to up to three hours free parking in council car parks as well as a number of nationwide on-street parking concessions. However, a Blue Badge can only be used by the named badge holder, or by a person who has dropped off or is collecting the badge holder from the place where the vehicle is parked.

We take Blue Badge abuse very seriously. Its civil enforcement officers carry out regular spot checks on vehicles and the council will continue to prosecute those who misuse them.

If you are aware of someone misusing a blue badge please report it to the council’s parking services section by calling 01432 260974 (option 1).

Disabled people including those with hidden disabilities and those with severe mobility problems who have difficulty using public transport can apply for a Blue Badge from the council’s website: herefordshire.gov.uk/parking-1/blue-badge-scheme.

Free parking is available on Friday 3 and Saturday 4 December, when the council’s public car parks in Kington waive their fees.

We have been working with town councils, Hereford City Council and Hereford Business Improvement District to offer free parking in council car parks for the following events:

• Kington winter food and drink festival: Saturday 4 December (the event has hired the car parks for a second day of free parking on Friday 3 December)
• Ledbury Christmas lights switch on: Saturday 4 December
• Leominster Victorian Fair: Saturday 11 December
• Support Ross on Wye shopping: Saturday 11 December
• Hereford late night shopping: after 4pm in Hereford on Wednesdays 8, 15 and 22 December (including the Old Market).

This includes all council public car parks and on-street pay and display bays. The free parking offered does not apply to any private car parks unless stated.

As usual, it is free parking in the market towns every Sunday and after 6pm.

Search for other seasonal events across the county here: www.herefordshire.gov.uk/events.

Cllr Harrington says:

“We have liaised with the city and town councils and key stakeholders to offer some free parking in the run up to Christmas.

“I encourage all those who can to visit your local shops and support them after what has been a challenging period. As well as the free parking on certain days and evenings, it’s worth reminding people to take advantage of our free weekend bus travel.”

The Bromyard Centre, which is owned by Herefordshire Council and managed by Social Enterprise and Registered Charity Halo Leisure, has been closed for several months following damage caused by vandalism and flooding.

With the extensive repair work now coming to an end, staff at the Centre are looking forward to welcoming existing and new members back.

Alex Haines, Halo’s Partnership Manager said:

“The building has been given a clean bill of health, now it’s time for Halo to look after yours. The gym and group exercise classes will be available from Friday 19 November followed by Library services on Monday 22 November.

“As a thank you to the people of Bromyard for being so patient whilst the Centre was closed we are offering FREE membership at the Bromyard Centre for the rest of 2021 to existing members AND new members.”

More information for existing members can be found HERE.  New members can sign up and get the remainder of 2021 free:

•  Online HERE
•  Call 01432 842075
•  Pop into the Centre

Cllr Gemma Davies, Cabinet Member for Commissioning, Procurement and Assets, said: 

“I would like to sincerely thank the residents of Bromyard, once again, for their patience and understanding whilst the Centre has been closed.  I know that Halo customers and the local community will be delighted to see the Centre open again at a time when the benefits of activity, exercise and community cohesion have never been more essential and appreciated.”

Areas of common interest and future joint working were topics of discussion when the Leaders, Cabinet members and Chief Executives of Herefordshire Council and Powys County Council met this week.

As well as a border, the two counties share many other interests such as the Rivers Wye and Lugg which flow through both counties, transport infrastructure, local communities and economic development. Powys is also without a hospital so places some reliance Hereford’s hospital, and many students travel from Powys to the very successful colleges in Hereford.

Both counties have a strong agricultural background and have been similarly impacted by the pandemic and changes in the economic climate. The council leaders discussed areas of funding which could bring mutual benefit such as the Borders Growth Deal and the Levelling-Up Fund.

Key issues of concern to both councils include how to address the impact of phosphates on the environment and caring for an ageing population.

Councillor David Hitchiner, Leader of Herefordshire Council said:

“It was a great pleasure to meet members of Cabinet from Powys. Cabinet members were surprised at the number of issues that we have in common. We look forward to exchanging views, learning from each other and working together in the future.”

Councillor Rosemarie Harris, Leader of Powys County Council said:

“We were delighted to meet colleagues from Herefordshire to discuss areas of mutual interest. Close co-operation between authorities is essential if we are to provide key services to our residents, who frequently live and work in different counties. We look forward to strengthen our future working arrangements.”

A second meeting is planned for December, to continue the discussions and to develop opportunities to for working together.