NEWS FROM WARD CoUNCILLoR CAROLE...

WARD COUNCILLOR UPDATE LINGEN WEB SPRING 2021 

At last, after a pretty grim winter, spring has arrived, days are getting longer and our spring flowers are there to cheer us up. For me, Spring is my favourite season and this year more than ever. It brings me hope for a better year ahead and the chance for us to really get out into our beautiful countryside and enjoy ourselves.

As I write this article many of you will have received at least your first Covid vaccination and many more are waiting patiently. I must congratulate all those involved in the mammoth task at Leominster Sports Centre for the friendly and efficient way in which they are operating. I was really impressed. We are lucky in Herefordshire that the vast majority of residents offered the jab have taken up that offer and we are outperforming many other authorities. However, we are not out of the woods yet and many people will have experienced great hardship over the past year. 

Once again grants are available for businesses and registered charities within Herefordshire that do not have a business rate assessment and that have been mandated to close during the lockdown from the start of the new year, or have lost at least 50% of business turnover as a result of Covid restriction. If that is you and you have not claimed or been contacted, please go onto the Herefordshire Council website.

I have not yet been advised of the Balfour Beatty Annual road maintenance plan for 2021/22. As their budget has been cut again this year, despite submitting a number of roads for resurfacing, I am not optimistic that many, if any will be in the Plan. If you wish to keep up to date on what work is being carried out by Balfour Beatty, they now have a Facebook page Herefordshire Highways.

The Council set its Budget and Council Tax increase of 4.99% on the 12th February 2021. For some of you there will be eligibility for up to a 100% rebate for ALL banded properties as part of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme but for some who fall just outside the criteria for this, the increase could, particularly as a result of the pandemic make life financially very difficult. If that is you, please look on the Herefordshire Council website at the Council Tax Discretionary Hardship Payment where it is possible the Council may be able to reduce the amount you have to pay. If you cannot access the site then please phone 01432 260360 for advice.

Since my last article many events in the area have been cancelled and I know that you, like me have been disappointed that they could not go ahead, particularly as so much work is put in planning such events. However, let us hope that when I write my Summer article the country and the world will be well on its way to coming out of this pandemic and life can return to some sort of normality. 

Finally, I would like to thank all those volunteers who are supporting the more vulnerable residents in the parish by doing their shopping, picking up prescriptions and just giving them a phone call from time to time. Many in the parish will not be aware of what you are doing but for those you are assisting they are extremely grateful.

As ever if you have a council related problem or just want a chat, please do not hesitate to contact me at carole.gandy@herefordshire.gov.ukor phone 01568 780583/ 07792882133