So much for late night shopping in Hereford city centre, most closed at 8pm! Did I imagine it or something because I thought late night shopping was until 9pm? I was kicked out of Millets, then I went to Regatta and the door was shut as I approached, I went into M&S got upstairs and was then told by a member of staff that they were closed. JD Sports and Boots all closed.

There were many people who thought the same thing, I wish I had stayed at the Old Market now because that was all open for business. 

Herefordshire Council is proposing to invest £1.5m to convert the former Hillside Rehabilitation Unit to nurse residents with dementia.

The Redhill centre, which was run by Wye Valley NHS Trust, Hereford Voice reported on it's closure in April after clinical commissioning group representatives said the move would save some £500,000 which would be re-invested in healthcare provision in the community.

But now the council, who owns the site, hopes to use it to plug the county’s dire need for nursing facilities for residents with dementia.

In a report to this week’s adults and wellbeing scrutiny committee leader Jonathan Lester said: “There is not enough current capacity to meet the high demand for nursing/elderly mental infirm placements.

“The risk of not undertaking the redesign of Hillside will exacerbate the current situation by putting a greater strain on the adults budget and will not plan effectively for the expected increase in future demand.”

Herefordshire Council’s licensing committee granted the permission on Wednesday (December 5) for the sale and consumption of alcohol on and off the Maylord Street premises from Monday to Saturday from 8am to 5pm and Sundays from 10am to 4pm.

This permission is subject to stallholders abiding by terms and conditions and signing a register.

Source Article

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According to the FT Carillion could well go into Administration as early as tomorrow which could well mean the loss of thousands of jobs not just direct employees but also the thousands of sub contracted employees.

Should this be allowed to happen?

Should the Government bail them?

There are so many unanswered questions not least of all why have the Government continued to give them contracts when they should have known about the Company's financial state - due dilligence? 

The Banks have continued to prop them up why?

Whichever way this goes it will affect the whole country

Government holds crunch meeting with Carillion - Financial Times

We're going to the Bunch Of Carrots for Christmas dinner. Dec. 25. My wife has cooked 36 Christmas dinners' in a row and she needs a break! 

Herefordshire Council’s ongoing refurbishment of Commercial Street has been paused for the festive season.

The council and our partners, Balfour Beatty Living Places, have been working to improve Commercial Street over the last six months, and the project is on track to be completed in spring 2019. The works will be put on hold over December to ensure there is no disruption to seasonal shoppers, and to allow Hereford’s local residents, businesses and visitors to celebrate Christmas.

The teams will return in the New Year to complete delivery of a new vibrant shopping area for residents and visitors.

Cllr Barry Durkin, cabinet member transport and regulatory services, said:

Quote

“The refurbishment of Commercial Street has been progressing well and is on course to be completed in May 2019. This planned pause in the works will enable Christmas shoppers to be able to move about safely whilst enjoying their festive shopping.

“The refurbishment will tie in with an upgrade to the whole High Town area, and enhance the city as an attractive and easily accessible destination for visitors and shoppers.

“On behalf of Herefordshire Council and Balfour Beatty Living Places we would like to wish everybody a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”

My Green Bin collection falls on a Wednesday which is Boxing Day. Obviously not much Public Service activity on that day. It has been moved to Saturday 29.12.18. Fair play. That is good service. 

Surviving Winter campaign

The Herefordshire Community Foundation is launching its Surviving Winter campaign to help local people survive the coldest season. It is keen to help as many people -and the organisations they rely on in the winter – to survive this year.   According to Herefordshire Healthy Housing report in 2012 14% (one in seven) of households were considered fuel poor.   The UK has one of the highest increases in deaths amongst the elderly in Europe.  Each winter one older person dies every seven minutes from the cold.  The campaign originally began as a vehicle for generous pensioners to ‘recycle’ their Winter Fuel payments and has now developed into a giving portal for anyone who wants to help support vulnerable people live well during the winter.

The cost to the NHS in Herefordshire owing to cold homes is considerable..  Research from the national charity Age UK suggested that the cost of cold homes to the NHS in England and Wales is £1.36 billion a year.  The figure does not include the cost to other services which much be significant.  Considering this national figure, any activity to reduce fuel poverty and its associated effects in Herefordshire is likely to lead to consequential reductions in local health spend, GP referrals and hospital admissions.

Philippa Spens, CEO of the Community Foundation, said, “This fund is vital, community foundations are one of the few organisations that help with responsive, crisis payments, when people really have nowhere else to turn and are desperate for help.” 

Last year, 59 year old Jane had recently separated from her husband after 30 years of marriage. Jane wasn’t used to supporting herself independently and fell on hard times. She had no money for food or bills. Jane eventually managed to find a job as a receptionist but had to wait a few weeks before being paid and was at rock bottom. Because she was earning nothing she went to the food bank for help and although they did help a few times, there was a limit to the number of times she was entitled to food from there. She’s also diabetic, and without food, she was struggling to manage the condition. She approached her Community Foundation and they assisted immediately by providing her with food vouchers and money for her electricity bill. This helped tide her over until her first pay check. 

90 year old Norman benefited from a grant last year. He lives alone and has a serious heart condition. He said that the money he received from the Surviving Winter appeal ‘has taken a lot of worry from me. My electricity bills are so high as I feel the cold so much and have to keep the house warm. Your grant has helped me feel comfortable’.

Winter Fuel Allowance payments are made in November and December to all pensioners across the UK and is not means tested. If you don’t need yours you can donate it to the Community Foundation and they will help those less fortunate.  There isn't any way to simply divert the payment. Instead, the Foundation is asking for a donation of some or all of the benefit you receive. Even if you don’t qualify for the benefit you can send money. 

To donate online go to https://www.herefordshirecf.org/donate/#form or you can post a cheque made out to the Herefordshire Community Foundation, The Fred Bulmer Centre, Wall Street, Hereford HR4 9HP or ring 01432 272550.

I walked through Venn Gdns / Park between Canel Rd and Commercial Rd a couple of weeks ago and saw that somebody had set up camp  in the corner - quite surprised to see that the camp complete with two occupants is still there .,I fully accept that this is the life some people follow for whatever reason but should they be allowed to remain there ? 

This premises is applying for a booze licence ..... 

Application

Hours applied for are 0800 - 2200 7 days a week ..... Address is 22 Eign Gate .... 

The Police have cordoned off the whole of Clehonger this evening both ends and motorists are being advised to find alternative routes.

We will publish further updates as they come in

Looking through the latest expenditure figures for Herefordshire Council December 2016 and this entry stands out.

£481,700.54 REDACTED / Commissioning Capital (Expense Area) / Capital Expenditure (Cipfa T)

Nearly half a million pounds and we have no idea who is receiving this payment. Is it a person, a business or another? We obviously won't find out. 

A lot of expenses which are redacted are in the following expense areas. Including the above expense, a total of £876,326.27 was paid out in December. The next largest sum paid being £36,875. 

Robert Reich was US Secretary of Labor in the Clinton administration. Time Magazine named him one of the ten most effective cabinet secretaries of the twentieth century. He has been raising concerns about the direction we are heading and what he says, is now also happening here in the UK. 

The plans for a new fire & police station on the Link Road Edgar Street have been scrapped with a new location being found on the former sports field of Painter Bros in Holmer Road.
Up until a few weeks ago this site was still for sale with an asking price in excess of £850,000

Has anyone ever had a parking eye ticket  from Morrisons Hereford?

heard a lot about ignoring them. Paid the car park fee / ticket. But over time limit as we met a friend in the car park. But nothing criminal. 

Can anyone help on this?