Toni said:  

“The cost of living is getting more expensive by the day and many people have told me how easy it is to experience isolation and loneliness in our rural communities, which can be particularly hidden. The Tuesday Supper Club provided a lifeline for many people in need of community and tasty food.” 

Toni added: 

“People have also been able to access other services while at the club such as support for carers, advice on mental health and take home seeds to grow at home.” 

Although this project has now come to an end, those involved have been inspired to find other opportunities to work together to support the rural community and continue the good work that began with the Tuesday Supper Club. 

The post Community come together to tackle cost of living and rural isolation  appeared first on Herefordshire Green Party.

As you prepare for this week’s Spring Statement, I know you are aware of nationwide concerns around your planned changes to inheritance tax for farms.  As Leader of the Green Group of Councillors in Herefordshire, I am writing to urge you to reconsider, and listen to the concerns of farmers.  Labour promised not to increase taxes for “working people”, but families running farms in Herefordshire are very hard working people!  

It is not only farmers themselves who are extremely anxious; the residents we represent across the county – in the city, market towns, and rural parishes – are telling us how rushed and out of touch your announcement felt, and how much they value our family-run farms.  

As Greens, we fully support targeting wealth, tax loopholes and land-banking, to redistribute resources and invest in public services, but these policies must be based on clear data and evidence.  

Once family farms are broken up, they – along with local knowledge and communities – have gone for ever, so all potential impacts and unintended consequences must be thoroughly analysed.  

The additional shock of the sudden ending of the SFI risks tipping many farmers over the edge.  

We add our support for the ways forward that have already been suggested to you, including:

• A time limited concession for farmers over 75 years old, exempting them from the 7-year taper rule on gifts to descendants.
• Changes to thresholds and rates, so that the Treasury can better target taxes, deter land being used as a loophole, and help protect small and medium-sized family farms.
• A full IHT exemption for all land within Environmental Land Management schemes (ELMs) or other agri-environment schemes, as long as the land is in the scheme/s at the time of death and remains in scheme for 10 years afterwards.

The UK is made up of farmland – to damage this heritage would bring scorn on this government, but you still have time to introduce fairer systems. Please work with Defra and cabinet colleagues to urgently grasp this opportunity to listen to farmers, IHT experts and local elected politicians like us, to ensure that our tax system enhances landscapes and livelihoods here in Herefordshire and around the country.

With thanks and best wishes from Herefordshire,

Yours Sincerely

Diana Toynbee

Leader of the Green Group of Councillors, Herefordshire Council

The post inheritance tax for farms: Letter from cllr. diana toynbee to the chancellor, Rachel Reeves appeared first on Herefordshire Green Party.

Over 2 events in April, newly elected Herefordshire Councillor, Rebecca Tully, will share her first impressions of working on the council. Rebecca will share what’s been a joy, what’s been a challenge, and what’s been unexpected! 

There will be two opportunities to hear from and ask Rebecca questions. She will be hosting an in-person meeting on Monday 14th April at 7pm at Withington Village Hall. And an online meeting via Zoom on Thursday 17th April at 7pm. 

RSVP here: https://hereford.greenparty.org.uk/events.  

Rebecca Tully, who is hosting the event, said “Please do come along to ask me your questions and find out what it’s like being a councillor! I’d be delighted at answer any questions you have, whether you want to know about how I help residents in the area I represent, the impact I can have in various council meetings or anything else.” 

The post Life as a new Herefordshire Councillor appeared first on Herefordshire Green Party.

The original motion urged government consultation with farmers on inheritance tax changes, and a last minute amendment in isolation from Liberal Democrats led to this being pulled.

Green Councillor Rebecca Tully said: “The Greens are deeply disappointed not to be able to support our local farmers through this process.  Food and our farmers should not be a political football, especially here in Herefordshire”

Greens are still calling for farming support across the board.

Green Councillor Stef Simmons highlights the burden on older and unwell farmers, who must now live for seven years after passing on their family farm to avoid inheritance tax. Otherwise, their farms may be forced into sale.

The Greens also ask for measures to provide more security for the farming community:

·       Fair pay for the food they produce

·       Financial support for nature-friendly farming which will also boost profitability.

·       Supporting future farmers – Encourage those entering farming amid an ageing workforce.

Local tenant farmer Ben Andrews emphasizes that these reforms should have been implemented a decade ago when tenant farms were sold off under Conservative leadership. He also raises concerns over national insurance changes, which will increase costs for seasonal workers.

Stef Simmons adds, “Farmers have told me of their distress over Labour’s inheritance tax plans. They’ve told me of their worries about not being able to pass their family farm onto their children, their struggle with tight profit margins, and their frustration at the lack of support for nature-friendly farming, especially in regard to the Wye. Consulting farmers on policies that impact their livelihoods is a vital first step as raised by Ellie Chowns MP in Parliament.”

Local farmer Ben Andrews says “I’ve been running a tenant farm just outside Leominster for the last 20 years. I know many of my friends will be affected by the inheritance tax changes. But for me, the National Insurance changes will also have a huge impact on how much it costs to employ seasonal workers. Having both these changes at the same time is a real blow to our community.

Jenny Bartlett notes: “The Greens are asking for sensible measures that we needed 10 years ago, when tenant farms were broken up and sold off by the Conservative council.”

The post Sensible Measures For Farmers! appeared first on Herefordshire Green Party.

The Green Group were a voice for prudence and transparency in the capital budget vote for Herefordshire Council’s coming year. Plans include a loan for over £30m towards a southern link road in Hereford, which as yet has no detailed business case.

Jenny Bartlett Leominster East, highlighted the millstone that this will be for two future generations of council tax payers. “I can’t support the amount of borrowing for the residents I represent in Leominster and the north of the county.” Helen Heathfield, Hope End, agreed – “the residents I represent want financial prudence and the capital budget does not provide the detail needed to take on such a huge debt.”

Stef Simmons noted that Ledbury town previously had a bypass – now just an access road for new housing. She and other group members were imagining the possibilities that a well invested £30m could bring – travel initiatives for roads across the county, housing that local people need and want, and more. Helen added “This decision shows a lack of imagination about what infrastructure investment is needed to build 27,000 homes in the county.

The group praised the many difficult decisions that the whole council team have needed to make in the revenue budget, with councils being obliged to take more responsibility while funds shrink for nearly 15 years now. We are proud that our MP for North Herefordshire, who was thanked by Peter Stoddart, cabinet member for finance in the budget meeting, is standing up for our rural county in the Commons!

Green Group Leader Diana Toynbee echoed many others, noting the difficult choices and welcoming funding for play equipment and flood defences. “Greens don’t oppose just for the sake of it. When we agree with decisions it’s not despite our politics, it’s because of our politics.”

Peter Stoddart, cabinet member for finance noted that including something in the capital budget “is not approval to proceed”. Greens will keep pushing for the business case for huge loans, for full transparency, and for investment in measures that WILL get Herefordshire moving. So many Herefordshire residents agree, including all those who provided thoughtful questions to the meeting.

Please keep contributing, asking questions and speaking sense! The Green Group appreciate it!

The post Herefordshire Budget 2025: Greens stand for prudence and transparency appeared first on Herefordshire Green Party.

Councillors sit on the board as well as farmers. The aim of the board is to manage water levels in the areas defined, working in partnership wth other agencies

https://www.shiregroup-idbs.gov.uk/idbs/river-lugg-idb/

Rebecca: “It’s great to be part of this bigger-picture work to manage flows of water in Herefordshire. It’s been great to see how they manage the managing challenging situations we have – including serious regular flooding in my ward, causing traffic issues. I’m looking forward to getting to the bottom of who is able to help! There are so many potential solutions to flood issues we have and we need to push for strong relationships with good contractors, flexibility in ever shorter windows of good weather to do works and good data to back up the need.”

The post Rebecca joins Lugg Drainage Board appeared first on Herefordshire Green Party.

“In 1867, John Stuart Mill led the first ever parliamentary debate on Women’s Suffrage. There was outrage. The all-male 19th century corridors of power argued that there was no way a woman could come to her own logical conclusion as to who she would vote for, and that surely, she would just double her husband’s vote. Today, the same false argument is being applied to discussions around Votes at 16. Opponents of this campaign argue that 16 and 17 year-olds would simply vote how their parents do.

Similarly, on the green benches of 1867, MPs argued that women were too uneducated to vote and were incapable of thinking politically. The same rhetoric is used today concerning 16 and 17 year-olds. Here is why both standpoints are easily proven wrong.

Young people have unprecedented access to news and current affairs

My generation of young people have more access to news and current affairs than any previous generation in large part due to the rise of the internet and social media platforms. Information is more readily available, easier to access and easier to engage with. 

Young people are becoming more politically active

Young people’s political protest groups are growing around the world. In October 2024, a group of young Canadians won a landmark climate change lawsuit against the Ontario government. We all know what Fridays for Future is thanks to the political activism of Greta Thunberg and others. Simply put, politics and action is no longer the domain of older generations.“

More at https://www.if.org.uk/2025/01/14/why-are-young-people-calling-for-votes-at-16/

The post Herefordshire Young Green’s Call for Votes at 16 appeared first on Herefordshire Green Party.

Herefordshire Green Party focus on social and environmental justice, policies that improve the environment and wellbeing for everyone, and of course electing councillors that can make this happen!

Get in touch to be part of a team that works for change across Herefordshire, and makes sure we’re always well fed too 🙂

Pictured – some of the core team of the local Green Party.

The post Making Plans and Feasting! appeared first on Herefordshire Green Party.

If you’re interested in helping out with local campaigns around buses – or campaigns in your area – please get in touch.

The post Stef Simmons – Championing Buses appeared first on Herefordshire Green Party.

Local residents in Hereford’s Grayfriers Ward had been reporting problems with Barton Road. See how Green Party councillor Diana Toynbee is delighted to see that the road has been resurfaced with new lines earlier in the year.

Report problems on Herefordshire’s roads on the County Council website here: https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/report-problem

You can contact Toni at: toni.fagan@herefordshire.go.uk

The post Flooding, potholes and bins – how reporting issues makes a difference appeared first on Herefordshire Green Party.