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The Society's Chair is

Jeremy Milln

Contact details

Tel: 01432 357085; Mob: 07779 034457

E-mail: Jeremy.Milln@gmail.com

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The Society’s Chair, at the invitation of the Editor of the Hereford Times, contributes an occasional “Opinion Piece” for Herefordshire’s principle weekly newspaper of record.

 

Previous articles see Topics Tab E-K   Hereford Times Opinion Pieces​

 

TALKING POINT HEREFORD TIMES - 28th May 2026 

Over dinner last week my family speculated what we would do if offered £20 million on the proviso it be spent to benefit our community over the next ten years. It may have been the heatwave but popular suggestions were street trees for cooling shade and a lido for outdoor bathing, something Herefordshire as a whole lacks for those not inclined to risk a dip in the River.

 

This 'Pride of Place' grant is no idle daydream but a genuine opportunity for the people of the Hunderton and Newton Farm area of Hereford where we live.

 

Everyone has a vision of the future they would like for their family and friends. It starts with access to decent housing, education and healthcare but it is the things which strengthen the sense of community, build well-being, provide opportunity, and reveal the genius loci that really matter.

 

The civic society movement seeks to improve quality of life, foster community pride, strive for good design and give residents a voice. This is best done by local people working together and it is perhaps no accident that the most successful of Hereford's Stronger Towns Funded projects have been relatively modest and community-led like the Pavilion on Castle Green and the Grow Local market garden, while big ticket Council ones like the library and museum have languished.

 

Would you support Riverside School's sports hall project with its extra-curricular promise?  With so few local pubs perhaps we need more social space to tackle isolation? What about street redesign so that walking and cycling to school become viable, safe and attractive options in an effort to improve general health and cut traffic generated by the 'school run'?  Perhaps public art or living local history are your thing and you seek funding for a mural or oral history project?

 

Hereford's Pride of Place Board is shortly to be announced and will welcome your input. Check out the website https://www.prideinplacehfds.org/