A LEDBURY pensioner is calling for a mass Council Tax boycott, describing it as a "poverty trap" for older people. Michael Jolley, 74, is also launching a local branch of the new Hereford Against Council Tax group, which is linked to the national 'Is
THE couple most effected by a long-running attempt to build a housing estate in Albert Road, Ledbury, say they are thinking of moving out. Duncan and Linda Isaacs, who have lived in the street for 20 years, fear they will be overlooked and hemmed in by
Shaw Healthcare has met with relatives of residents in Leadon Bank to outline its plans for the future of the old people's home. The company will take over the running of the home from Herefordshire Council next month. Spokesman Stephen Crisp said around
Ledbury Primary School is a more colourful place, after the youngsters illustrated favourite learning topics by making some stunning batik wall hangings. Batik expert Marie-Therese King has been coming into school to share her knowledge and skills with
A DRIVER suffered serious back injuries after his car left the road at Court-y-Parc near Ledbury. The A438 was closed for three hours while police examined the scene. The incident happened on Tuesday around 11.55am between Durlow Common and Trumpet crossroads
A FORMER mayor of Led-bury says he would support a private planning application for permission to install a lift onto the Market House. Coun Clive Jupp says he has a "sense of shame" that the town council has decided to make no alterations to the building
A butcher trained by Andy Callwood during the 1970s is taking over his shop in Ledbury High Street. The move comes despite a planning application by a Birmingham businessman to change the shop to a tandoori takeaway. Tony Steel and partner Lesley Goodhind
The historic manor house of Hellens, Much Marcle, will feature in a new Central TV show Sky High on Thursday at 7.30pm. Hellens' spokesman Blanca Rey-Surman said: "The television crew landed at Hellens last autumn, as part of their aerial journey from
A butcher's bangers will give a boost to the launch of the Ledbury English Festival. Andy Waller's culinary creations will be unveiled at the start of the event on Wednesday, April 21. The recipe for the Ledbury Sausage has been specially produced for
Ledbury Town Council is considering launching its own internet website and newsletter for local residents. The initial set-up fee for the website is estimated to be more than £2,000 and annual service and maintenance costs would be around £600. The aim
Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Trust is resisting calls to publish a revised route of the waterway through the Ledbury area. Cliff Penny, editor of the trust's magazine The Wharfinger, said some members had asked for such a map. He said: "The
Urgent repair work costing £30,000 could be completed at the Church of St Philip and St James, Tarrington, by Easter next year. A recent Lottery grant put £18,000 into the kitty and parishioners are to launch a fundraising drive to find the balance. Tarrington
World Book Day was a colourful and stimulating success for youngsters at Ledbury Library. Around 12 pre-school children from Ledbury's Playstation Day Nursery came to the event on Thursday and enjoyed stories highlighted on the World Book Day website,
A Staplow man hopes to raise £1,500 for the charity National Asthma by tackling the London Marathon on April 18. Tim Walton, of Priors Court, has already secured around £900 in sponsorship and he hopes that more people in the Ledbury area will dig deep
A QUILT produced by two members of Bromyard Afternoon Club was raffled for charity this week. Joan Rowat and Vera Ayres made the cream and blue patchwork quilt entirely by hand as the first prize in a raffle for Acorns Children's Hospice. It was won by
BROMYARD and District Local History Society is appealing for donations of memorabilia from local schools. The society is looking for any photographs or other objects from up to and including the 1970s. The areas concerned are Bromyard and district, Thornbury
CLAY throwing, poetry writing and music making were among the activities enjoyed by pupils at a Colwall school. The Elms School held its annual arts festival last weekend, which this year had a jazz theme. Children's author Heather Buchanan, writer and
THE death of Colwall's Jean Robertson has broken a link with a terrible ordeal experienced by thousands of women during World War Two. Mrs Robertson, whose funeral was due to be held in Worcester yesterday (Thursday), spent the bulk of the war in a Japanese
LONDON CIVIL SERVICE VETERANS (FEZ) 10pts, LEDBURY XV 41pts LEDBURY travelled to London fairly certain that this year's match was going to be very close. They were fielding three untried youngsters, plus about half a dozen players who had not really played
Newent is set to enter the Best Kept Village Competition next year after key changes have been made to the town. The town council was invited to enter this year's event but has decided to delay for 12 months. Mayor Fred Passant, is concerned major housing
Spiderman found Nemo when youngsters at the Glebe Infants' School in Newent celebrated World Book Day with a mask-making session. All 194 children took part on Thursday, reception class pupils were thrilled with the theme of princesses, dragons, soldiers
The ornamental top of Newent's fibreglass flagpole has gone missing having been blown away by recent strong winds. The town council has complained to the manufacturers about having to fund a replacement, so soon after it was installed. The cost would
A 17-year-OLD motorcyclist was seriously injured in a collision with a pick-up truck. The accident closed the B4220 between Bosbury House Farm and Nash End Farm, near Bosbury, for five hours on Monday evening. Police are appealing for witnesses and would
A trust could be formed to take on Ledbury's empty and underused buildings and put them to community use. The idea is being considered by the Ledbury Partnership, which includes mayor Keith Francis and retailer Len Huff, its chairman. A planning consultant
This weekend is a big diary date for Dymock, thanks to its annual spring fayre and daffodil walks. The event will draw in the crowds with trading tables in the parish hall tomorrow (Saturday), from 2pm to 5pm. On Sunday, there will be a Golden Valley
The Young Shakespeare Company will visit The Barn Theatre at the historic manor house of Hellens, Much Marcle, on March 25. It will offer primary age youngsters masterclass sessions in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Children from local primary schools including
PLANS for a swimming pool in Bromyard will not progress until a Government inquiry is held next year. The release of land at Hardwicke Close relies on permission for a development of 36 houses on the same site being granted by Herefordshire Council. But
A MEETING of the Herefordshire User Group (HUG) will take place in Bromyard later this month. HUG is a self-help charity run by and for users of mental health services in the county. The meeting is at 10.30am on Tuesday, March 23, at the Public Hall on
YEAR seven pupils at Queen Elizabeth High School were to hear a first-hand account of the workings of Parliament from their local MP. Bill Wiggin, MP for Leominster, was due to take a citizenship class at the Bromyard school today (Friday). "I describe
CHILDREN at Burley Gate CE Primary School designed and made hats based on their favourite book characters this week. The project was part of the school's book week and the entries were due to be judged in assembly today (Friday). BLOOD donors are being
COLWALL Players' annual fun quiz takes place on Friday, March 19, at 7.30pm, at Colwall Village Hall. Teams of four £6. Refreshments and bar available. Register your team on (01684) 564872 or on the night. The village spring cleaning day takes place on
STEVE Guinan admits Chester City are red-hot favourites to lift the title but insists Hereford United must be ready to pounce if they trip up on the home straight. Hereford's top marksman will lead his side's attack in tomorrow's Nationwide Conference
WINCEY Willis, the former TV-am weather presenter, has spent the past 20 years working with conservation organisations around the world and is now putting that experience to use with BTCV - People Working with the Environment - as their outreach training
Gloucestershire Coun-ty Council is proposing a 30mph speed limit on the main road to Newent through Clifford's Mesne. The restriction would also apply on a number of other feeder roads that form an approximate loop around the village. Currently, the national
NEWENT Wine Circle's success continued at its annual meeting. The club is probably the biggest of its kind in Gloucestershire, with a record 72 regulars and people travelling in from as far away as Ross and Coleford. Chairman Tony Parsons said: "We have
A developer has contacted Newent Town Council over informal proposals for five holiday homes to the rear of The Travellers Rest at Malswick. The matter came before a full council meeting on Monday, when Coun Len Lawton won support when he said: "This
The Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust will host a Go Compost Crazy open day on Thursday in Newent Memorial Hall. The initiative runs from 2pm to 5.30pm and will be a promotional event with information and displays on composting and wildlife gardening. There
Newent Millennium Trust is considering an all-year surface for the paths around Newent Lake. Money for the work could come from the Countryside Agency and although the path would be tarmacadam, it is is designed to look gravelled.
The Newent parish annual meeting will take place on Monday from 7.30pm, in the library. Town councillors will be at hand to answer questions from parishioners.
Gorsley Village Hall will host a Flicks in the Sticks screening of The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers, on Thursday, April 1, from 7.30pm. Details on 01989 720221.
n The Newent Initiative has been successful in providing 13 out of a planned 15 kissing gates for rural walks in the area. Now the plan is to publish two walking guides for Newent, to go on sale in local shops this summer. The total cost of the guides
