James Thomas

Hay-on-Wye councillor Gareth Ratcliffe has condemned an alleged TikTok challenge encouraging users to start fires, warning that deliberate or careless fires could endanger communities, wildlife, livestock and farmers’ livelihoods. His comments follow a West Mercia Police warning about reported haystack arson attacks in northern England, while firefighters, farmers and volunteers continue tackling wildfires across Wales and the Midlands during exceptionally dry conditions. Ratcliffe called for those responsible to be held accountable and urged the public to avoid unsafe fires, discarded cigarettes and other potential sources of ignition.

Corbett Farms Limited will build a reservoir at Ox House Farm near Shobdon to capture rainfall and surplus winter water for irrigating crops during increasingly dry summers. The 22,600-cubic-metre reservoir, equivalent to about nine Olympic-sized swimming pools, will serve a 1,000-acre holding producing arable crops, apples and blackcurrants. Herefordshire Council ruled that prior approval was not required, finding the development reasonably necessary for the farm and unlikely to harm the local landscape. Diversion of excess flows from Pinsley Brook remains subject to Environment Agency approval.