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Business rates revaluation 2017
(extracts from article)Starbucks is to open its fourth coffee shop on one street - just 300 yards from an independent coffee shop set to be ‘bled dry’ by the business rates overhaul.The coffee giant yesterday unveiled plans to open its fifteenth store in Cardiff, and its fourth along the city’s busy Queen Street – the most on any one street in Britain.The four Starbucks shops will be just 350 yards apart, within a five minute walk of each other.Yesterday Charlotte Barker, the owner of neighbouring Coffee Barker, condemned the announcement as an example of the Government’s failure to stick up for smaller traders in the face of punishing rate hikes.Starbucks ran into a tax controversy in the UK in 2012 when it was accused of paying no tax on sales of £1.2bn in this country over the previous three years.Mrs Barker said it was ‘heartbreaking’ that multi-national companies ‘seem to get away with murder in their tax bill’ while smaller businesses like hers are forced to the wall.‘We are waiting to hear how big our rate rises will be. But it could tip people like us over the edge. The taxman already gets 20 per cent VAT, PAYE and income tax from us along with the rate rises.‘I’m sure people look at my shop and think it is a dream to run that. But, believe me, it is an uphill battle every day and the Government are making it even more difficult for small traders.Dr Eleri Rosier, a senior lecturer in marketing at Cardiff Business School, told how a number of vacant units and short-lived discount shops along the street is a symptom of high-rental costs.She said: ‘They move in to quickly make their money and then leave. We have lots of empty units that can be really off-putting. Obviously seeing everything closed isn’t the most attractive.’MPs fear independent shops be wiped out from Britain’s high streets under planned rate hikes from April. It is feared the larger, multi-national companies will stay because they can easily afford to stay open.
I am sure we are going to hear a lot more of this from small businesses.
Hinton Community Center
Any idea what is happening at Hinton Community Center?, 5 Police vehicles in attendance.
Herefordshire Heroes wanted for Great British Spring Clean
Herefordshire Council is backing a campaign to get half a million people out and about cleaning up their local communities throughout March 2017.The brand new Great British Spring Clean will roll out for the first time in 2017, with a view to it becoming an annual event helping to bring people together and clean up the country.TV wildlife presenter and children’s favourite Steve Backshall is lending his support to the campaign, which is backed by the key anti-litter charities including Keep Britain Tidy, Keep Wales Tidy, Keep Scotland Beautiful, Marine Conservation Society and Surfers Against Sewage.Many other organisations will also be supporting the clean up including the Women’s Institute, the National Trust and the RSPCA, as well as a range of businesses. Local company The Helping Hand Company from Ledbury are the official supporters of the campaign.Herefordshire Council will be encouraging and supporting groups and individuals who want to ‘do their bit’ to help clear up the litter that blights our streets, parks, roads and beautiful countryside.Councillor Rone, Cabinet member for Transport and Roads, and the instigator of the ‘Stop the Drop’ campaign, from Herefordshire Council said:‘We are delighted to be supporting the Great British Spring Clean and we encourage as many groups, individuals and organisations as possible to take part. It will also support our own Stop the Drop litter campaignâ€.To take part in the campaign and set up your own clean up event visit www.greatbritishspringclean.org.uk, you can also register on our website www.herefordshire.gov.uk/stopthedrop so you can advertise your event locally and encourage family, friends and neighbours to join in.As soon as you have registered to organise a litter pick you MUST let Balfour Beatty know by ringing 01432 261800 so they can arrange to collect your bags of litter after your litter pick.Balfour Beatty also have a limited number of litter packs available that can be borrowed free of charge. The Helping Hand Company are sponsoring the campaign by donating some of these packs.Litter remains a huge problem across the country, causing harm to the environment and wildlife, with councils in England having to spend over £700 million on street cleaning services every year. Herefordshire Council spends just over £1 million a year on street cleaning.Follow #GBSpringClean for all the latest news.Let’s all work together to keep Herefordshire beautiful.
Maybe Herefordshire Housing can get some of their tenants to tidy up around Sherborne Close.
Public Parks under threat
Ross Shopekeeper Fined For Selling Illegal Cigarettes
Another....
Herefordshire Council’s trading standards service, in partnership with West Mercia Police, carried out a joint raid at the Europe Quality Food shop in Ross-on-Wye. This resulted in the arrest of Mr. Karzan Elias.
Officers found a secret compartment of illegal tobacco products hidden behind a magnetised stock room fuse box. Most of the cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco were counterfeit and all goods had evaded UK duty.
Karzan Elias, trading as Europe Quality Food, pleaded guilty at Hereford Magistrates’ Court on 16 December to selling illegal fake and smuggled tobacco products. He was ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £2900.
Marc Willimont, head of development management and regulation for Herefordshire Council, said: “This year alone Herefordshire Council’s trading standards service has seized nearly half a million illegal cigarettes and will continue to target those criminals involved. The sale of illegal cigarettes and tobacco harms honest local businesses and costs the UK tax payer up to £2bn a year.“Although all tobacco is harmful, the cheap price of this illegal tobacco makes it easier for children to start smoking, as we find these shop keepers rarely care about who they it sell to. We are finding that fewer people are prepared to turn a blind eye to this practice and Herefordshire Council will therefore work with its partners to keep the pressure up on those who continue to sell it. I would ask anyone with any information on this sort of trade to make a real difference in keeping illegal tobacco off the streets by reporting it us."If anyone has any information regarding the sale of illegal tobacco within Herefordshire, please contact trading standards on 01432 261761.
Yoga Class - BromYoga - Bromyard - Every Thursday - 8pm
Hello everyone,
There is a Yoga Class at the Bromyard Public Hall, every Thursday - 8pm - £2.50.
Please share with anyone who you feel may be interested as these events can only run through local support.
All welcome.
Feel free to contact me on: 07968544452 or on facebook: search for BromYoga for further details.
Hope to see you there.
Kind Regards
Artemis
Skylon Park Tower, Rotherwas
Pubs in Hereford
Great to see the Grapes opening next week...I met the new owners today - very easy going Irish couple - who intend to turn the pub into a friendly old fashioned Irish pub..food music and good ale - oh and proper Irish Guinness brewed in Ireland not the Manchester crop. Having this pub back open alongside Gordon Bennett, The Booth and The Lichfield Vaults is all good news for this part of the city. Best of luck to you all...
Community Fridge (s)
Just an idea.
Many outlets in the city give out free food to those in need (and some who are too needy), an alternative suggestion was shown on TV on Friday - the community fridge. A concept of a public fridge where you can leave food near to its sell by date and take food if needed.
The idea is run by volunteers who visit every day to sort the food - getting rid of old stuff. The fridge is open 1100 to 8pm with many supermarkets and independents donating. The aim is for every town to have at least one community fridge. It takes away the stigma of going to a charity outlet. This is about community participation giving and taking with no restrictions based on an individuals status. Perhaps something the council (doubtful) or churches could do.
Check out community fridge on line or on Jamie & Jimmy's Friday Food
Heineken Pay Six Figure Sum For Polluting
So we get objections from Bulmers regarding this development then this turns up in Hereford Times...
Don't know about anyone else but this is the first iv'e heard about this incident
http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/15070936.Heineken_pays_six_figure_sum_to_charity_after_polluting_nearby_Hereford_brook/
Re-development of 5-7 Kyrle Street - more of John Venn's legacy in danger
Here we have yet another attempt to destroy part of John Venn's legacy - this time the Masonic Housing Trust are applying to demolish No's 5 and 7 Kyrle Street and erect 9 residential apartments with associated car parking, cycles and refuse stores. The scale of the Model Garden street will be destroyed. The Masonic Hall is next door.
Guy Verhofstadt.
During a recent interview on Newsnight, Verhofstadt deliberately or by accident revealed himself to be exactly how he's portrayed by the tabloids and even some of the broadsheets. A slavish follower of Federalism!
Shockingly, he blamed every single problem the European Union had on just three key things. President Trump, President Putin and immigration from across the Mediterranean. For him, and I'm guessing he speaks for Juncker, Schulz and Tusk, he hadn't even considered that the Union itself, the way in which its constructed and the social, political and economic models it follows were problem number four and that Brussels itself had caused and resulted in widespread discontent right across the full geographic area of the Union.
Indeed, rather than even consider changing course, watering down their expansionistic policies and appealing to the millions of citizens who want change and plead for a little patience and understanding, this mad and deluded gap toothed crazy federalist even said that the current model of governance from his home country Belgium was 'Not Fit For Purpose'.
Alarmingly, he explained that having to negotiate the will of Brussels with all of its 28 member states was a hindrance to the federal aims and the answer will ultimately be to end this democratic system and give the member states less say and transform Brussels into a single ruling totalitarian body that governed all with one voice, one currency, one law and one single aim. In short, Verhofstadt prescribes more Europe rather than less.
For those of you who don't follow Brussels as closely as I do, Verhofstadt is the chief EU Brexit negotiator who promises that, and I quote him, 'they're(The British)rats leaving the sinking ship', and the British Government will not under any circumstances undermine the solidarity of the Union unless it accepts its principles of Free Movement Of People.
It's going to be a hard Brexit. This fella Verhofstadt doesn't care about the damage a bad trade deal will have upon jobs of mainland Europe. All he wants is to punish Britain and ensure that no other member state ever plucks up the courage and contemplates doing as we've done and request to leave the EU.
Finally, to those of you who voted to Remain, and I understand your reasoning, hypotheticaly speaking, if we weren't in the Union, would you today, given what you now know, vote to join the European Union?
Hereford Leisure Pool - Diving Pool
I haven't seen anything on here but does any body know the outcome of Halo's Saturday 'customer forum' to disscuss the conversion of e diving pool to another infant learner pool?
Courtyard protest.
I've just walked past a lot of people carrying placards that say "misuse of a centre for the arts", or something along those lines.
They were heading towards the courtyard theatre.
Freedom Church Planning Application
Prevent Donald Trump's State Visit - Petition
Should take you to a very fast moving petition.
Petition: Prevent Donald Trump from making a State Visit to the United Kingdom.
New Fishing Tackle Shop
Hi everyone.
Hope this is ok but I know of a true Herefordshire lad whose about to open his very first shop. He's put everything into this new business venture and I wish both him and his business partners the very best of luck.
Ledbury Tackle & Bait
44 Bye Street Ledbury HR8 2AA
Opening Saturday 4th February 2017 at 8.30 am.
Belmont Library 2017 - 2019 The Next 3 Years
It is my great pleasure to report some good news.
Belmont Rural Parish Council has agreed to support the continued running of the library.
However, instead of the usual 1 year grant support where each year a request comes back to the Parish Council for a further grant to support the next year we have agreed to support this for the next 3 years.
This will also give the Library the opportunity with some security behind them to develop the services they offer even further.
My final note is that during the coming 2017 there are many projects earmarked for the Parish, which you will hopefully see the area being enhanced and improved, plus with our new Handyman out and about you should see a difference.
These will be reported on as they happen.