A 10-foot-tall Goddess of the Wye this morning (February 9) welcomed a vessel of water from the river into Herefordshire Council’s Plough Lane offices.

The ceremony, which followed a full meeting of councillors to set the county’s budget for the year ahead marked what the council said was “our commitment to protect and restore the health of our county’s rivers”.

Council chairman Coun Roger Phillips told performers and councillors: “We welcome the opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to our river which runs through our county, and to all her tributaries.

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“It’s important for us to realise what we over the years have done to it, and how we should value it, and we should do that in a sensible sustainable way that works with everyone and doesn’t vilify anyone.”

Council leader Coun Jonathan Lester and cabinet member for environment Coun Elissa Swinglehurst then each read poems on the Wye and its meaning to them and to the county.

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Coun Swinglehurst said afterwards: “Bringing the river Wye into the building where we make our decisions is a reminder of the importance of the health of our rivers.

“The protection and restoration of our rivers should be central to our thinking, discussions and decision making.”

The display will remain in the building’s atrium until Friday February 23 before it moves on to Monmouthshire.