Greens in Herefordshire – Updates

Dear Chancellor 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… Read more: inheritance tax for farms: Letter from cllr. diana toynbee to the chancellor, Rachel Reeves

Come and ask Rebecca anything! 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… Read more: Life as a new Herefordshire Councillor

At the Herefordshire Council meeting on 7th March, Conservatives withdrew a motion which would have allowed full council to show cross-party support for all Herefordshire farmers 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… Read more: Sensible Measures For Farmers!

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… Read more: Herefordshire Budget 2025: Greens stand for prudence and transparency

Green Councillor Rebecca Tully has joined fellow Green Councillor Mark on one of the ‘IDB’s in our county – the RIver Lugg Internal Drainage Board. 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/… Read more: Rebecca joins Lugg Drainage Board

Why are young people calling for Votes at 16? Local member Haydn has written an article for the intergenerational foundation explaining. Haydn and other Greens have been to fresher’s fairs in Hereford and are busy getting a Young Greens branch set up here in Herefordshire. Get in touch for more info. “In 1867, John Stuart… Read more: Herefordshire Young Green’s Call for Votes at 16

The Herefordshire Green party Executive Committee have been planning and feasting this weekend – with a great spread of food, lots of company and lots of ideas for a great Herefordshire in 2025. Herefordshire Green Party focus on social and environmental justice, policies that improve the environment and wellbeing for everyone, and of course electing… Read more: Making Plans and Feasting!

Stef, Green councillor and deputy group leader, has spearheaded a ‘bus summit’ agreed at full council in December ’24. This follows an agreement from the Department of Transport to allocate more money to buses in Herefordshire. Stef says “we need more frequent services, and greater connections when and where people want to travel and I’m… Read more: Stef Simmons – Championing Buses

Green Party councillor Toni Fagan has been reporting local flooding, poor road surfaces and potholes, broken signs, and full litterbins to Herefordshire Council when she’s made aware. But you can help speed up responses by reporting problems online as soon as possible via the council’s website. Local residents in Hereford’s Grayfriers Ward had been reporting… Read more: Flooding, potholes and bins – how reporting issues makes a difference

Ellie has been speaking out on flooding on behalf of local residents. On 17th October, Ellie raised the issue in Parliament and called for a debate on flood resilience. On the same day she wrote to the Secretary of State urging action. Ellie is calling for: Tackling river pollution is also one of Ellie’s key… Read more: Ellie in Parliament: Urgent action on flooding

In Birch Ward councillor Toni Fagan is delighted that, after much campaigning, Openreach will be signficantly improving internet access to Little Birch, Much Birch, Wormelow, and Orcop Hill residents who are desperate for a good broadband service. The upgrade scheme has already started and will be complete by the end of March 2025! “I’m delighted… Read more: Better Broadband for Birch

Herefordshire residents in Aconbury, Much Birch, Little Birch, Llanwarne and St Weonards, and Sandyway called for help as traffic gets heavier and faster. Green Party councillor Toni Fagan worked with parish councils to make roads safer. Wins include: One resident wrote: ‘Fabulous news! Thank you so much for your help.’ In St Weonards, Toni is… Read more: Action for residents on road safety in Birch Ward and Bishops Frome and Cradley

Ellie: “On Tuesday, I met with a group of farmers from Herefordshire in Parliament to listen to their concerns about the Government’s changes to inheritance tax. Yesterday, I wrote to the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, to urge her to meet with the NFU, to press for an urgent independent impact assessment of the changes, and to… Read more: Ellie in Parliament: Herefordshire Farmers

For years Barton Road in Hereford’s Grayfriars Ward has been littered with potholes and faded markings which encouraged dangerous parking. Green Party councillor Diana Toynbee is delighted to see that the road has been resurfaced with new lines. This work will make the road much safer for everyone who uses it. Thank you to everyone… Read more: Delight at new surface and markings on Hereford’s Barton Road

Thanks to the hard work of our supporters Rebecca Tully won the by-election to succeed Ellie as councillor for Bishops Frome & Cradley ward with 60% of the vote on a strong turn out! Thank you to everyone for all the wonderful support and positive energy through-out the campaign. You can read about Rebecca and… Read more: ByElection Success

Councillor Catherine Gennard (Central Ward) worked hard with Green Party Hereford City councillor Jeremy Milln to see that proposed new electrical transformers at the Green Street entrance to Bartonsham Meadows were rejected by Herefordshire Council’s planning Committee. Jeremy at the proposed site showing just how tall the transformers would be. The units would have ruined… Read more: Ugly transformer plans rejected for Hereford’s Bartonsham Meadows

Hope End Ward councillor Helen Heathfield shares the concerns she hears from many residents about speeding on Herefordshire’s roads. She’s been enjoying working with parish councils on various speed calming measures. But sometimes it just needs a bit of elbow grease to help remind drivers of the speed limit. For example, a couple of Staplow’s… Read more: Hard work on reducing speeding in Hope End Ward from Green Party councillor

Central Ward Green Party councillor Catherine Gennard is supporting the plan to restore a derelict site by Hereford’s Widemarsh Brook into an urban wetland. This would benefit nature and local people.  The surrounding area is earmarked for housing and a wetland would enhance its economic potential. Catherine joined Cllr Diana Toynbee, volunteers and CEO of… Read more: Economic boost from a new wetland for Hereford City?