Michael Ribbeck

Kyre Bridge and its adjacent footbridge in Tenbury Wells have been restored by Worcestershire County Council following inspections that found structural deterioration. The project included steelwork treatment, repainting, brickwork repairs, reconstruction of part of a wingwall, replacement of the footbridge deck and installation of improved drainage. Environmental safeguards were used to protect Kyre Brook and local fish. Although the work was intended to finish by July 6, the delay disrupted town-centre traders, who reported lower footfall and increased costs. The council says the completed scheme will preserve the historic bridge and maintain a safe transport link for decades.

Conservative South Shropshire MP Stuart Anderson has criticised Labour’s 25-year Farming Roadmap as a missed opportunity that lacks urgency and substance. He says farmers are facing rising costs, falling incomes and the impact of a 20% inheritance tax on agricultural and business assets above £2.5 million. Anderson is calling for the government to publish data on UK-sourced food in public-sector procurement, prioritise British farmers and repeal the Family Farm Tax. The government says its roadmap will help farmers access £5 billion in public-sector food contracts, while the National Farmers’ Union argues that the plan lacks concrete action and a credible delivery mechanism.

Hejira – Celebrating Joni Mitchell will perform at Ludlow Assembly Rooms on September 5 as part of a UK tour. The seven-piece band, formed in 2023, focuses on Mitchell’s music from Court and Spark through Wild Things Run Fast and has performed more than 140 shows in the UK and Ireland, as well as a first US tour. Led by guitarist Pete Oxley and featuring rotating vocalists and guitarists Hattie Whitehead, Jana Varga, and Immy Churchill, the group will perform arrangements of songs including “Amelia,” “Help Me,” and “Hejira.” The tour also promotes the band’s acclaimed 2024 album Live @ the Cockpit and marks the 50th anniversary of Mitchell’s 1976 album Hejira.

South Shropshire Conservative MP Stuart Anderson is backing the Conservative Party’s national Pothole Patrol plan, which proposes £100 million for specialist repair machinery and a single national pothole-reporting platform. Anderson’s local survey has identified more than 100 pothole hotspots from over 500 responses, and he has called for better support and clearer funding for rural roads. The Conservatives say the plan would be funded partly by cutting government communications contracts and could reduce repair costs for drivers.

The Hills Ford Stages Rally has selected Shropshire Rural Support as one of its charities for the 2026 event. The partnership aims to highlight volunteering, community connection and support for farming and rural communities. Shropshire Rural Support, which has provided free and confidential assistance in the county for more than 35 years, will attend the Hills Ford Stages Rally Festival at Weston Park on September 19. The collaboration forms part of a broader campaign celebrating the charities, clubs and volunteers that help build resilient communities across Shropshire.

A price comparison identifies the cheapest petrol and diesel stations in and around Ludlow using information from petrolprices.com. Essar Leintwardine is listed as the cheapest for both unleaded petrol, at 149.9p per litre, and diesel, at 173.9p per litre. Prices are noted as accurate at the time of writing and subject to change.