Updates on Thursday 4 February 2016
News, sport, travel and weather updates to resume at 08:00 on Friday
Two trees have been planted at Fort Royal park in Worcester, to mark its centenary.
Image source, Worcester City CouncilAn elm and a rowan tree were planted by the Friends of Fort Royal Park and the canon of Worcester Cathedral, Dr Alvyn Pettersen.
During the Battle of Worcester, the hill, overlooking the cathedral, contained a battery of guns.
A deal has been signed between Herefordshire Council and Creative England to try and bring more film and TV projects to the area.
The council says it would raise the profile of the county as a tourist destination, and also brings investment in terms of employment, work experience, and the retail and hospitality industry.
An ITV production of Midwinter of the Spirit recently brought an estimated £100,000 to the county’s economy, the council says.
Quote MessageIt’s time Herefordshire was put on the filming map - the outstanding natural beauty and heritage of the area makes it an attractive prospect for new film projects
Councillor Graham Powell, Herefordshire Council
When the fire service first arrived at the fire on the Haigh industrial estate in Ross-on-Wye, a woodburning stove was suspected as one of the possible causes of the fire.
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Alton Road in Ross-on-Wye has re-opened.
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Here are some of the main stories we are looking at in Herefordshire and Worcestershire:
- An investigation team is looking into the cause of what's been described as a severe fire on an industrial estate in Ross-on-Wye
- Council tax being raised in Wychavon to help deal with a big cut in government funding
- A Hereford man and his crew are poised to become first all amputee team to row unaided across the Atlantic
Sara Blizzard
BBC Weather
Skies will stay mostly cloudy and grey though the day but any rain will ease into the afternoon.
Users and staff of an ailing Kidderminster training provider have been left devastated after the centre ceased trading this week after more than 20 years, external.
Image source, Kidderminster ShuttleThere will be knock-on effects for trains after a bridge was struck in Bournville, Birmingham.
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
A Tory MP in Worcestershire who used to work for Google has refused to criticise the internet giant over its tax affairs, external - saying parliament is responsible for the "ground rules".
Services from Hereford are being delayed and altered after the collision.
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Nicola Goodwin
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester
A resident living near the industrial estate in Ross-on-Wye where there was a "severe fire" last night has praised the bravery of firefighters who tackled the blaze.
Alan Tandy said gas cylinders at the business were "going off like little bombs".
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Quote MessageThere's a great big cylinder which would probably have removed most of the buildings on the estate if it had gone up, so they are brave guys."
Alan Tandy
Traffic problems in Hereford last night were caused by faulty traffic lights on a pedestrian crossing, external, the council said.
Hereford FC have been named Midland Football League Team of the Month, external for the third time this season.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe latest award is for December and January, because so many fixtures were cancelled due to bad weather over the Christmas period.
The Bulls also won the September and October awards.
Wychavon councilors are debating plans to cut down 18 trees in the centre of Pershore - a move that has been strongly criticised.
Follow the council debate live on the web stream below.
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
"Misleading" adverts warning patients not to attend Worcester's A&E, external unless they are suffering from a 'life-threatening emergency' have been banned by an independent regulator.
Image source, Worcester NewsAll taxis in Worcester could be tested for safety twice a year, regardless of their age, after "an above average number" failed the current checks.
.
Under current rules, licensed taxis, both hackney carriage and private hire, must be tested annually, with the exception of vehicles over eight years old, which have to be examined every six months.
The city council wants to hear from Worcester’s licensed drivers and operators, members of the public and any other interested parties to ensure "the course of action [it is] proposing is the right one".
Quote MessageWe have raised concerns because an above average number of licensed vehicles are failing the council’s compliance test."
Councillor Allah Ditta, Worcester City Council
Louise Hancock
Newsreader, BBC Hereford & Worcester
Here are some of the main stories we are looking at in Herefordshire and Worcestershire:
- Two crews remain damping down at the scene of a severe fire in Ross-on-Wye
- West Mercia Police say they've made the biggest increase in officer numbers in the country
- Safety checks on taxis in Worcester could be made twice a year after 'an above average' number of failures
The fire service says they still have two crews at the scene of the fire on the Haigh industrial estate in Ross-on-Wye "damping down and turning over".
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
A Hereford man and his crew are expected to become the first all-amputee team to row unaided across the Atlantic later today.
Image source, Ben DuffyNigel Rogoff, who lost his leg in a parachuting accident, is part of the Row2Recovery team taking on the Talisker Atlantic Challenge.
The crew are expected to reach land in Antigua at around lunchtime.
The Environment Agency have been working alongside the fire service.
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
