Month: November 2023
Applications now open for the Visitor Experience Fund
Local tourism businesses are being encouraged to check their eligibility for the Herefordshire Visitor Experience Fund, which is now open for applications.
The Herefordshire Visitor Experience Fund is a capital grant scheme that has been funded by the UK Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF). It aims to support the tourism sector through providing business growth for small or micro businesses, job creation and the development of tourist infrastructure.
Eligible costs include:
- Capital items – purchase of equipment which must be specific to the project
- Building works – alterations to existing commercial buildings, not including maintenance, or groundworks to create a trail. Note: we will require confirmation of the necessary approvals such as planning permission, landlord’s consent and building regulations (if applicable for your project)
- Individual items must cost a minimum of £250
Capital grants are available for businesses up to 70% of the total project costs.
The grant has to be match funded by the applicant’s business. This is the difference between the grant being sought and the remaining cost of the project. The source of the match funding cannot be from other public funds for the item being purchased.
Councillor Graham Biggs, Cabinet Member Economy and Growth, said: “Tourism is a key part of both Herefordshire’s identity as a county and our local economy, and so the opportunities for growth and job creation are something we are eager to promote as an authority. I would encourage anybody who may be eligible to check the criteria, and, if they qualify, to submit their application.”
The deadline for applications is midnight on Sunday 3 December 2023. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.
For more information and to apply, please visit the VEF page of our website.
If you have any queries about the grant scheme or need some help with a technical issue e.g. trouble with the formatting of the application form or spreadsheet, please contact the delegated grants team: delegatedgrants@herefordshire.gov.uk
Other funding available from UKSPF can be found on the council website including Rural Enterprise Fund.
For updates on other funding opportunities please visit the Marches Growth Hub website or contact the Herefordshire Marches Growth Hub Team 01432 383343 or email: business@herefordshire.gov.uk
Bereaved by Suicide Service Herefordshire
Victim Support is offering a free and confidential service for anyone who has been bereaved by suicide and living in Herefordshire. The service is able to support anyone from age 4+ (relevant DBS checks are in place) and the support goes beyond family members to include friends, colleagues etc., it does not matter when they were bereaved, it could have been yesterday or 10 years ago. The support is tailored to an individual’s needs and we work closely with a number of other charities and organisations in Herefordshire so we are able to easily signpost if necessary.
The Bereaved by Suicide Service offers support to anyone who has been bereaved or affected by suicide. Regardless of when the suicide took place, we can help to support you.
The service is free, confidential and tailored to your needs.
Phone: 01432 800867
Email: hre.bbs@victimsupport.org.uk
www.victimsupport.org.uk/bereaved-by-suicide-services
Our national Supportline service is available 24/7 on:
08 08 16 89 111
Museum service turns Inside-Out
Herefordshire museum service has launched an exciting new project that uses interactive digital technology to showcase museum items that would otherwise be unseen.
The ‘Inside-Out’ project will be showcasing unseen artefacts from the museums’ collection, currently housed at the Hereford city centre Resource and Learning Centre.
The project is an innovative way of using digital art to provide people with an opportunity to see some of the thousands of objects currently in storage while the museum is closed for re-development.
As many of the stored artefacts are too delicate to take to non-museum community venues the use of digital art is an excellent way for people to see and experience them.
The museum team have worked with local artists who’ve used digital technology to showcase the chosen artefacts, starting with an early 19th century handmade Victorian wooden Noah’s Ark that includes a selection of intricately carved animals.
The digital interpretation of the Victorian Ark entitled ‘Noah’s Ark Interactive’ has been created by the first of three artists involved, Andy Round of Paradise Multimedia and takes the shape of a classic 1980’s arcade game that takes the player on a journey to discover more about the features animals, climate change, Victorian Britain, the flood story and much more.
See a demo of Noah’s Ark interactive online
Following a launch event at Leominster Library on Friday 17 November, the digital exhibit will be there until the end of the year before continuing its tour around some of the other libraries in the county.
The Inside-Out project is part of the Hidden Gems programme originally funded by The Arts Council and National Lottery Heritage Fund to create projects that raise the profile of local heritage through arts, digital technology and community involvement.
Hereford’s Museum Service will be announcing more interactive displays of yet unseen museum items again soon.
Find directions to Leominster Library, opening times and contact information on our website.
Have your say on county garden waste collections
Residents are being encouraged to take part in a consultation on the future of garden waste collections in the county.
Following recent confirmation from government regarding their waste strategy, we now know that all local councils will be asked to provide a separate garden waste collection service.
Introducing a separate garden waste collection service will support the council’s vision to increase recycling rates as set out in our Integrated Waste Management Strategy 2021-2035.
We are assessing future options for the collection of garden waste from residential properties, and are evaluating the option of a paid-for, subscription-based collection service to be introduced from April 2025.
Subscribing properties would be provided with a 240 litre brown bin. Collections would take place on a fortnightly basis between March and October giving 18 collections in total. All garden waste collected would be composted.
Should this service be introduced it will replace the current arrangement and green sacks for garden waste will no longer be available for purchase and will not be collected alongside the black bin.
Legislation allows for a charge to be made to cover the cost of running a separate garden waste service and current evaluation anticipates that the annual subscription fee would be £55.
Cllr Elissa Swinglehurst, Cabinet Member Environment, said: “The consultation on the future of garden waste collections in Herefordshire is now open, and we are keen to hear from as many residents as possible to help inform decision-making. The introduction of a subscription scheme would help us to improve efficiency of the service and promote greater levels of composting, but would look quite different to the service that users currently experience.
“The closing date for responses is Friday 19 January 2024, so I would encourage anybody interested in the future of waste services in the county to take part.”
For more information and to take part in the survey, please visit the consultation page on our website.
Herefordshire Council signs ground breaking cross border partnership
Herefordshire Council has signed a ground breaking agreement with three other English and Welsh local authorities today (10 November).
The Marches Forward Partnership became a reality at an official event held at Hay Castle on the Welsh and English border. The new partnership sees Herefordshire Council join forces with Shropshire Council and Monmouthshire and Powys county councils, to take on some of the big challenges they all share.
The four local authorities will now work even more closely together with both UK and Welsh governments to progress this exciting cross border collaboration.
This will include working jointly to secure funding support from both governments as well as with a wide range of other partners to unlock more investment and explore new approaches to make major projects that benefit the Marches region become reality.
Covering 80% of the English/Welsh borderland, the local authorities have similar characteristics and geography as well as an overriding mutual ambition for the region as a whole. The Partnership provides a unique commitment to work cross border, cross country and cross party on major projects that are in the overall best interests of the region.
Transport, skills and housing, alongside energy, climate change, tourism and digital connectivity are high on the agenda, all common issues for the area’s population of almost 750,000. By working together the four local authorities hope to deliver cross border successes and unlock millions of pounds for identified initiatives that support the Marches rural economy and green growth.
Leader of Herefordshire Council, Cllr Jonathan Lester, said: “This partnership offers a great opportunity to work with our neighbours on issues that are common to us all.
“While all the councils will continue to run for the benefit of their residents, the partnership provides a really helpful framework for collaboration on areas where we can get the most benefit and make the biggest difference by working together.
“These are very early days but we’ve already started discussion around what we would like to achieve and will be moving at pace to turn these ambitions into actions.”
Free Christmas Parking is back
Residents and visitors can make the most of fairs, events and late night shopping in the run-up to Christmas in Herefordshire, thanks to free parking that has been arranged and funded by Herefordshire Council.
The dates are:
- Kington Winter Food & Drink Festival: Saturday, 2 and 23 December 2023 (second date funded by Kington Chamber of Trade/Town Council)
- Ledbury Christmas Shopping Event: Saturday 2 December 2023
- Leominster Victorian Fair: Saturday 9 December 2023
- Ross-on-Wye Christmas shopping: Saturday 2 December 2023
- Hereford late night shopping: after 4pm on Wednesdays 6, 13 and 20 December 2023
This includes all council public car parks and on-street pay and display bays. Please note this free parking offer does not apply to any private car parks, unless stated. If in doubt look for the ‘free parking’ information signs and check local restrictions.
As usual, it’s free parking in our market towns after 6pm every day and all day on Sundays.
Councillor Durkin, Cabinet Member for Roads and Regulatory Services, said: “Herefordshire Council are pleased to be able to continue supporting our County residents and businesses by offering free parking this Christmas. Each year, the Council liaises with Town Councils and the Hereford City BID, to determine the date to enable the best use the time offered to support their business.
“I hope that residents will take the opportunity to support local businesses over the festive period.”
Search for other seasonal events, visit: herefordshire.gov.uk/events
Change to voting legislation
The way to apply to vote by post or by proxy has changed following a change in legislation.
To help prevent fraud all applicants are now asked to provide their national insurance number to verify their identity.
You can now apply for most types of absent votes online via: www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote and www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote
The maximum time a postal vote can now be held is up to three years. Proxy voters can continue to put in place a proxy arrangement for an indefinite period subject to a three yearly eligibility check and five yearly signature refresh.
Applications for postal proxy voting, some proxy voting and emergency proxy voting will still need to be applied for through a paper application. You can find details on how to do this on the Herefordshire Council website
If you are unable to apply online you can call the Electoral Services Office on 01432 260107.
For more information on how to vote, see www.herefordshire.gov.uk/elections