It is great news that the Hereford Library building on Broad Street has at last reopened its doors to the public, after a longer-than-expected process of cleaning out its old asbestos.

Together with many other MPs, Ministers and people around the country, I watched last week as Lord Neuberger summarised the Supreme Court's judgment, by a vote of 8-3, ruling that the decision to trigger the UK's withdrawal from the EU must be subject to a vote in Parliament.

As Hereford Times readers may have know, on January 9th I was made Energy Minister, as part of a ministerial mini-reshuffle which moved Baroness Neville-Rolfe to the Treasury.

Last week I had the great pleasure of visiting Hopes Ash Farm.

Let me start by wishing all Hereford Times readers, and their friends and family, a very happy New Year!

Happy 150th birthday to the Ross Gazette!

It is amazing to think that in 1867, just as Benjamin Disraeli was framing the second Reform Act and giving the vote to millions of people for the first time, so the roots of the Gazette was being established in Ross-on-Wye.

A very Merry Christmas to all Gazette readers!

Opinions will vary as to whether 2016 has been a year to cherish or to forget. Both nationally and internationally, we have had 12 months of dramatic, indeed wrenching, change.

Every year winter brings high rainfall and increased risk of flooding.

Flooding across the UK last winter was the most extreme on record, with ‘Storm Desmond’ alone leaving over 5,000 homes in Cumbria and Lancashire flooded.

Readers will know that the High Court has recently ruled that the Government cannot trigger Article 50, the formal two-year mechanism for leaving the EU, without a vote in Parliament. The case will come before the Supreme Court next month.