Red carpet opening for new designer store Flannels

Designer store Flannels rolled out the red carpet and celebrated in style with a VIP launch party in Hereford on Commercial Street last night.  

The glittering guest list included Paralympian gold medal winner Sascha Kindred, Hereford’s local Mayor Jim Kenyon and Mike Truelove from the city’s Business Improvement District, along with a wealth of other guests from the local business community.  

The OLM is due to open soon - an ugly building, which in my opinion will split the city in two, and most certainly have a detrimental effect on High Town.

It has been built with no thought for the environment in which it sits, and is regarded by many as a blot on the landscape.

We have some truly beautiful buildings in our city, and one of them is now at great risk of being demolished. I know many of you will not give two hoots about it, but I do! So much so, that I have challenged myself to write my very first thread!

The Working Boys Home was erected between 1878 and 1895. English Heritage has refused to recommend its listing on the questionable grounds that it is "not sufficiently intact or of sufficient architectural merit". It is within a designated Conservation Area, and is close to several other significant buildings with "Venn" connections. That's John Venn - surely one of this cities greatest ever citizens.

Many believe, myself included, that this building would lend itself to a sympathetic conversion for residential housing, in much the same way as the former General Hospital, and Eye Hospital.

Although I have made several phone calls, and spoken to a number of people, I have been unable to discover if Herefordshire Council has even invited offers from property developers.

Here is where it all gets a tad murky for my liking. Whether you care about this building or not, the following should ring alarm bells.

The notorious "land swap" deal between Herefordshire Council and the Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority has been stitched up, for want of a better phrase, between Cllr Johnson, and a Cllr Podger - who is the chair of Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority.

From what I can find out, this has been without the local ward councillor - Mark Hubbard - either being present, or even consulted!

This is an extremely one sided deal.

HWFA get an enormous 1.6 acre site.

Herefordshire Council get a site half that size, plus the bill for demolishing the existing fire station! Then, yes you guessed it, it will become a surface level car park!

This is not a good deal by anybodys standards!!

Copied from the HC website:

Herefordshire Council has agreed to extend the time frame for the Hereford Library Users Group to formulate their proposals for the refurbishment of the library and museum building.

The group has been campaigning for many years for a better library facility for Hereford and proposals include transforming the building into a centre for recreational, public and cultural services.

In December, the council’s Cabinet committed to work with the users group as they come up with future options for the library building, which also houses the Museum and Art Gallery and the Woolhope Club.

Since then the users group has been engaged in extensive consultation to find out if a major redevelopment is possible and feasible.  This included a public meeting where overwhelming support was expressed for exploring a major improvement scheme to turn the building into a cultural centre for Hereford.

John Faulkner of the Hereford Library Users Group, said:

“We have received considerable support for pursuing a significant development of the site and the council has agreed for us to have an extension of time until the end of March, to formulate the proposals in more detail.â€

 

A report on the initial options for the future operation of the museum service, based on a recent independent service review, will be discussed by Cabinet this month. The report is available on the Cabinet agenda webpage.

Work to remove the asbestos is under way by Hereford Asbestos Services and it’s anticipated to be completed later this month.

Bartonsham History Group  invite you to a talk by David Clarke on John Venn: Hereford's Great Social Reformer

Hereford's Black & White House also known as The Old House is due for a refurbishment, once complete the new name will be Black and White House museum but which name do you prefer to use? Please vote 

Typical the first year the HV decide not to run their annual empty shop count in Hereford and the HT pick up on this story

I attended the BRPC Meeting last night at the Northolme Community Centre. During the public participation I asked if we could have at least 3 salt/grit bins for Glastonbury Close.

One to be situated at the top of the close near Sydwall Road, another at the bottom of Glastonbury Close situated in the turning point on the final bend and the 3rd positioned near to the open space at the very end.

Last Winter I drove to Tesco and collected grit on a few occasions and gritted the whole of the close from top to bottom as it is like an ice rink when the temperatures fall below zero. Over the years I have seen the bin lorry struggle and slide like you would not believe as well as vans and cars.

I remember seeing some yellow bins some years back but they have since disappeared. I will also write to the clerk to request a few additional bins in and around Belmont too.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our members for their continued support and wish you all a safe and

Happy New Year 2017.

Colin

A Herefordshire family from Wellington have had their planning application for a small bungalow
for their disabled child refused.


From ClaireSnead's facebook page

Our planning application for a disabled bungalow on the site of an old shed and yard has been turned down by Herefordshire Planning Department: Not redirected either because the 11 neighbours who supported it were "not significant" and our need for disabled access "not unusual". Sorrow is not a strong enough word.... This is us... we are a family... share, we need everyones help

Story

Hereford's historic city centre Green Dragon hotel has gone on the market for £3.5million with Bristol estate agents Christie and Co. it is the largest hotel in the city centre.

Some interesting history:

Owen Tudor

Body found in search for missing Hereford woman

Extended lease for Hereford FC.

Herefordshire Council and Hereford Football Club have negotiated an extended lease term which will assure Hereford FC’s tenancy for a minimum of 10 years from the commencement date.

The club’s stadium and surrounding area continue to improve following the opening of the new shopping development and the construction of the new City Link Road. There is also an opportunity for the redevelopment of the Blackfriars Terrace end, as part of the proposed ‘Urban Village’ project. This would mean a new spectator stand and facilities, alongside other retail outlets, and would see the stadium being returned to four sides.

Speaking today, Hereford FC’s CEO Ken Kinnersley said: “It is quite apparent that the council recognises the work of many local people who volunteer at the club and also the financial investment in stadium renovation since April 2015. A longer lease time will justify further investment to fund improvements, allow time for a return on the investment and ensure we are eligible to apply for grant funding that may be available for future projects.”

Councillor Harry Bramer, cabinet member for contracts and assets said: “Hereford FC continue to make a great contribution to the city and its supporters. Many local traders benefit from increased trade on match days and the football club is an employer and a contributor to the local economy. The stadium is within the area designated for regeneration as part of the Urban Village redevelopment project. Herefordshire Council are seeking a development partner and it is to be hoped this will include some improved facilities for Hereford FC.”

 

Plans have been submitted to convert How Caple Grange Hotel into a boarding house for Hereford Cathedral School.

The planning application to convert the former military barracks and council records office in Harold Street Hereford were refused earlier this week by Hereford planners however, a new planning application has now been submitted for change of use of an existing Georgian Country House Hotel (C1 Hotels) to a boarding house for Hereford Cathedral School (C2 Residential Institutions).

Hereford police Inspector Nick Semper who has been awarded for his work to help keep the city's night-time economy safe is to retire today.

I would like to personally thank Nick for his massive contribution to Hereford and for all of the hard work he has put in over the years, enjoy your well deserved retirement, you will be missed my friend and I look forward to joining you later for your retirement reception.

Now I wish to open a can of worms and I want opinion.

A lot of negotiations went on regarding this site and on balance it looks like a good result.

I however learnt something last week which throws a dirty rag over the whole site.

Herefordshire Council will not be adopting the site.....street lighting,maintenance,play areas,balancing ponds, everything in fact will be managed by a third party.

The cost...a staggering £360 per year fee for all properties including unaffordable homes. No doubt yearly increases will be capped however what action would be taken against those that wont/cant pay.

So unless you can advise differently your council tax on this site will be paying for just a fortnightly bin collection.

Very short sighted by the council and a guaranteed problem development for the future.

If they ain't dancing in the Blackpool Tower Ballroom, they're doing it on ice, and if they ain't baking a bloody fruit cake to entertain us, they're on a quiz show, on a rotten bus, in a bloody house falling out with one another or in the Australian North East coast jungle eating all manner of creatures just to earn their fee, win the barstard competition and get the chance to advertise for Iceland Foods and move on to the next pointless celebrity programme where we the bloody viewers are invited to phone in and decide whether or not we want them to carry on doing buggar all that supposedly thrills us and entertains our poor souls. The barstards!

There was a time, not so long ago, when their star would dim, the calls dried up, their agent told them to 'clear off and don't come back' and they ended up on the end of a coastal rotten pier playing Widow Twanky in pantomime. Not anymore mores the pity. Nowadays, when their voice goes, they can't sing a bloody note or something else prevents them performing and getting a generous round of applause, it signals the beginning of their second career of the celebrity programme entertainment circuit.

What bloody next? We've already got the bloody celebrity President. It'll be bloody Pope next. The barstards!

If I had anything to do with it I'd certainly introduce something harsher, some dreadful alternative that'd make them think twice about signing up for Celebrity this and Celebrity that. Shoot the barstards. By Firing Squad. If the public don't phone in on Premium Rates and acknowledge 'we like you', then take them out of the house, off the dance floor or out of the jungle, and shoot um! That'd sort it out and it'd definitely increase the viewing numbers.

And if death by Firing Squad is a little to harsh for some then amputate a limb or sever a toe or finger. Anything! Beat them senseless and roll them in nettles but just stop this celebrity culture that's dominating my television screen.

I know if I were a celebrity and I was fully cognisant that there was a very good chance that I could walk into the Celebrity programme and end up hopping out, I'd give it some serious consideration. And as for the Firing Squad bit, which I personally don't think is particularly harsh or excessive, we could involve our brave Armed Forces Men and Women to do the shooting,which, they've been highly trained to do in their past service to us,and then and at the same time raise some much needed revenue to help them.