Just a quick reminder that duck pond day part 2 is next Sunday 7th October 9am -3pm.

We will continue painting the metal fencing and have a general clean up of the area.

We also have two new duck feeding signs kindly donated by vets for pets & printed by print plus to put up.we will try & arrange refreshments again.we are sure that castle house will help out like they did last time.

Hi guy's

Just to give you the heads up.

You may have noticed a reduced amount of new topics from me recently. I was on holiday from the 9th - 16th, we were back for just a day before I was admitted to hospital for over a week. 

After various scans etc they found a rather large gallstone 15-16mm. I was in severe pain and had a bad infection with a lot of abdominal swelling. The good news is that I am now recovering at home waiting for my operation scheduled for week commencing the 15th to remove my gallbladder.

I am feeling a lot better than I was a week or so ago, so you will see more activity on the forum because as you can imagine I am getting bored. 

Friday 21 September 2018

100 years ago Allan was killed in action during WW1 and as a result of his bravery was awarded the Victoria Cross. He is the only Herefordshire born person to have been awarded a VC

This Friday there will be two events to commemorate Allan.

At 10.00am in the Lady Arbour Garden at Hereford Cathedral a plaque will be dedicated in his honour.

At 11.00am at the Old Market shopping centre a statue of Allan will be unveiled.

Please try and take some time out to attend these events.

Policies for the People

We are in the party conference season and UKIP held theirs last week, if you didn't notice. They have published an interim manifesto which is worth a read as the next General Election is bearing down on us in 2020 if not before.

Topics covered:

1 Brexit
2 NHS Policy in England
3 Social Care and Mental Health Policy in England
4 Welfare and Disability Policy in England
5 Immigration
6 Housing
7 Education and Training
8 Transport
9 Foreign Affairs and Overseas Aid
10 Defence and Security
11 Veterans’ Issues
12 Police and Criminal Justice
13 The Prison Service
14 Agriculture
15 Fisheries
16 Economy and Trade
17 Industry
18 Energy
19 Environment
20 Small Businesses
21 Taxation
22 Children and Families
23 Sexual Exploitation & Paedophile Gangs
24 Animal Welfare
25 Combating Islamic Literalist & Fundamentalist Extremism
26 Constitutional and Political Reform
27 English Identity and Issues
28 Free Speech and Political Correctness
29 Cost Savings
30 Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland

Probably showing my age, but when I learnt to drive you were taught not to park on corners or opposite junctions. As I live on the test "Route", I am incensed by the sheer number of Driving Instructors who have their pupils pull up anywhere! Surely part of the Highway code is to have respect for other road users. People park where you cannot see round the corner and even facing the wrong way i.e.  towards oncoming traffic when they have to pull right out before they can see if the road is clear. Oh, and why can't people be taught that the spare stick on the steering wheel works those funny coloured lights on the corners of their car! 

From a grumpy old bloke who holds an Advanced Licence and HGV +C.

On Wednesday 19th September 2018 I sent an email to my County Cllr relating to a white line defect in the Parish. To date I hadn't received an acknowledgement ( some say that I should have reported this defect via the Herefordshire CC website - I tried but it was a bit too confusing for me )  As I hadn't receive an acknowledgement for the Cllr I sent a copy to our Parish Council  - received a reply from the PC Clerk stating that the County Cllr has been on holiday prior to the 19th September and will be back from holiday next Monday 8th October .The PC Clerk added that the County Cllr , like the PC Clerk does not ack emails whilst on holiday . I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT - nobody on holiday should be expected to react to business emails on holiday BUT  I would have expected some sort of ack. to my email . I accept fully that for security reasons the Cllr doesn't want the world to know that the home is void , but I would have thought that the council can work out a system whereby the sender of the email receives some sort of reply which doesn't suggest that the Cllrs home is void . Perhaps the email could be diverted to a member of Council Staff to reply or send the email to the Dept who will deal with it .I regularly communicate with a CC Supervisor , if this person is away the reply I get is ********** is away from the office until DATE .So I am sure that they could sort out a secure system for Cllrs on holiday etc without breaching security .

With the exception of only a small handful of members, and I'm not one of them, nobody else seems to care or bother with this forum nowadays. From where I'm sitting it's a shadow of its former self and if this rot continues in its current direction, which shows all the signs of travelling downwards, your man Colin could just as easily throw his hand in and quit leaving us all with nothing but the Hereford Times for our source of what's going on in the shire.

Rather than just read a piece, make a comment. Throw the author a bone and offer up some encouragement. This here place, Hereford Voice, was once the 'must read' social network site for every single member of the Council hierarchy. Why? Because it and we mattered. Many were frightened to death of us and consequently were desperate to know what we were saying and then understand the possibilities that our views might gather momentum influence others and ultimately place them in a poor light.

This should matter to everyone. Cast your minds back to the former Council Offices in Bath Street. If it hadn't been for Hereford Voice and it's more vociferous commentators, notably Dippy, Gridknocker, Cambo and Amanda Martin, then these bast.ards who's mouths are permanently stuck solid to the publics fiscal teat, they'd have flattened it and built a Firehouse on its site. Only because of this place has the old working boys home survived and has the chance of providing the city with a much needed accomadation resource.

Use it or lose it! Do something yourselves before the rot becomes irreversible and people stop visiting this site because like us all they can't be bloody bothered anymore.

Herefordshire CC Press Release Herefordshire Council has launched a new publication to share news and information about council services with residents. Produced four times a year, Herefordshire Now will be available on the council website, with a small number of paper copies available through community outlets such as libraries and council buildings.

The magazine follows on from the positive response to the ‘How your council tax is spent’ publication, which was delivered to every household in March with council tax letters. Residents told us they welcomed finding out more about the council’s priorities and how their council tax is being spent.

Each issue of Herefordshire Now will include news about a range of council services, and information such as details of council-run courses and events. With a large number of people now accessing information on their digital devices, being online means that readers can easily link through to further information and see video content.

For people who would still prefer to read from a paper version, copies of Herefordshire Now will be free to pick up from community outlets such as libraries and council buildings. The cost of printing the magazine (£499) has been met by the council for the first issue, however it is planned to cover this cost in future through advertising.

Herefordshire Now is available at: www.herefordshire.gov.uk/news/herefordshirenow

https://www.herefordtimes.com/news/16951041.fatal-crash-in-hereford-residential-street/

Whilst it not in Herefirdshire Coventry MP Jim Cunningham has been fined for litter . He was served with a £100 fine for dropping a cigerette on Coventry Railway Station. Reduced to £50 50 if paid within two weeks.

Question , who are the Agencey who can issue Litter Tickets , Police or CEOs or both or nobody ?

From HCC News 

Environmental Health team, Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service and West Mercia Police officers worked in partnership to carry out the planned action at Munchies and Maxii on Commercial Road, Hereford. 

Illegal cigarettes seized outside Maxii, Hereford

Trading Standards seized approximately 8,000 cigarettes from a vehicle outside Maxii.

Housing Enforcement entered under warrant, and found persons living in the first floor prohibited accommodation above Munchies, and a further enforcement notice will be issued prohibiting sleeping in the ground floor commercial  areas.

Enforcement notices are being issued by Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service against Munchies for non compliance with previous advice.

One Iraqi Kurd male was arrested an suspicion of being an illegal overstayer since 2011; he was passed on to immigration.

Has this disappeared, or am I just not seeing it? Thought it was an ancient thing, that had to remain in place?

Since April 2011, a total of 2,379 new houses have been completed in Herefordshire as against the County Council strategy to build 3,850 new homes. The target figure shows a shortfall of nearly 1,500 homes or just 62% of the Council’s target for new homes were completed during the past six years.

The provision of affordable homes also shows a derisory outcome. Over the past six years just 29% of completed homes were “affordable” according to the Council’s published figures. Under 700 affordable homes in six years, just an average of 115 homes per year.

Swarovski shop on the old market has shut up shop.

THE LABOUR party in Hereford is hoping readers may be able to help locate the whereabouts of the Sydney Box Trophy.

The trophy, pictured, was established by the Trades Council in memory of Sydney Box, the first parliamentary Labour candidate for Hereford in 1918 and founder of the Hereford Workers' Union.

It was awarded annually to the best apprentice at Hereford College.

Roger Windsor from Hereford and South Herefordshire Labour Party said: "When the Trades Council disbanded the trophy appeared to go missing and we should like to re-introduce it in connection with the Herefordshire and Ludlow College and the Chamber of Commerce but we cannot find it."

He is appealing for help to find it. Do you know anything about it? If you can help, email roger@mailwindsor.co.uk.

Plans for 75 dwellings on the land adjacent to the Volunteer in Marden have been refused.

Full details here

The original application dates back to October 2016

Union Passage & St Peters Square Improvements

Work has been taking place over the past week by Hereford Business Improvement District to make Union Passage (The gateway to Union Street) much more attractive to shoppers. Walls have been repainted to help make the passageway appear lighter.

Union Street has so many great local businesses including Music Plus, Papaya and The Kup-cake Kitchen.

Work has also taken place to paint the railings at the War Memorial in St Peters Square ahead of this year Remembrance Parade.

The green dragon in Broad Street has been bought by a consortium of local investors who are planning to restore it to its former glory.

Work will begin on the restoration later this year.

https://www.herefordtimes.com/news/16589656.county-investors-to-refurbish-green-dragon-hotel/?ref=mr&lp=1