Herefordshire Council is seeking views on a range of possible active travel improvements (including walking and cycling) in the South Wye area of Hereford.

Now I know this is a frequent topic of conversation but actually I want to thank Civil Enforcement for applying common sense.

Yesterday I parked up at St.Martin's and dutifully placed my ticket in the window of my trusty transport. Grabbing my gym gear from the boot I headed for Halo ready to thrash out my frustrations on the concept two rowing machine.

On my return to the car I saw that cursed yellow plastic docket and immediately thought why.Looking at the ticket it had clearly turned itself over when I closed the boot. I nearly always check this because the other trick is for it to blow off the dashboard but on this day I did not.

Anywayz I immediately appealed and to be fair these guys have accepted my explanation and cancelled the notice...all within 24 hours.

Now I know our Council gets a lot of grief on this site however this is one member who appreciates their common sense and compassion on this occasion.

I shall probably check the ticket three times now...not good for my OCD.

The groundworks for the new Asda garage have begun.

The original planning application and discussions you will find here - here and also here

Here is the original planning application submitted in January 2012

AppForm 3854-2.pdf

Well here is one topic that gets me every time.

According to the latest media reports our relatively small hospital is now only second to Guildford for the most expensive 'first hour' in England.

A order have been put in to have Double yellows by the co-op, about time as well. It is a accident waiting to happen and I am surprised that we have not had one yet, or maybe have.

West Mercia police are looking to use drones to help with policing…is this a good idea or are we now moving even more into the world of a big brother society?

Today mini me noticed that the big swing was missing, after being vandalised months ago by teenagers.

I did some digging and found out that it has probably been removed for safety purposes after Keepmoat complained to HH about it months ago!! Who has removed it has not become apparent yet, and it was news to Keepmoat themselves.

Subsequent information divulged to me was that HH do not want to take ownership of this park! They (HH) rarely litter pick or empty the bins, and it is left to keepmoat to do so, along with Sir Jim.

So my question is..... Why do HH not want to take ownership of the park after keepmoat has rebuffed it and completed it to Stringent HH standards and subsequently maintained it for those that are living on the development out of good nature. Also HH have neglected their own grounds and shrubbery since it was put in!

Now that it is also encroaching on my property, I have no qualms obtaining a landscaping technician to blitz it and send an invoice to HH for services rendered. I am well within my rights to do so. The shrubbery has now be strangled, overgrown and overwhelmed by weeds. The areas in question have already been completed and handed over to HH.

Anyone in council authority who would like to enlighten me?

Our local bobby is off to quieter pastures. Always stopped for a chat. Hope his replacement will be just as friendly and consistent. All the best Bradders.

From the 10th october to mid January from newtown roundabout to Blackfriers ST it will be one way only because of development work for the housing and new road.Just read it on Bulls news.

Please find attached St Martins | Redhill | Lower Bullingham and Hinton  Safer Network Team October 2016 Newsletter.

Who lets all these Syrian's into Germany I wonder? 

Three people have been seriously injured after a man carrying a backpack "deliberately" detonated a device in a city centre.

A suspected suicide bomber has killed himself and injured 12 others, three seriously, in an explosion outside a wine bar in the German city of Ansbach.

In the minutes of Belmont Rural Parish Council for 8 September 2016 item137/16, Belmont Community Centre are to get salt bin, very diserving as it can be dangerous to elderly going to library or to Tesco.

I have also noted that at the bottom of 137/16, the Parish Council are going to consider other places.  I recon if you want a salt bin now the chance to make a request, and if you are in a hilly area of Belmont in get first. 

Remember they have over £114k

Please find attached Belmont and Newton Farm Safer Network Team October 2016 Newsletter.

BELMONT SNT NEWS LETTER Oct 2016.pdf

Why is the bank balance of the BRPC showing over £100k?

Why is OUR money Not being used within the Belmont Rural Parish?

The concentration of effort appears to be limited on or around the Jubilee fields.

I requested a Salt Bin back last November for Glastonbury Close and it was refused/deferred now this is something that would cost less than £100 to buy and very little to maintain. I also highlighted the lack of gritting in Belmont way back in 2010 in this topic about No Gritting.

We have overgrown tree's and bushes which the council do not have the money to maintain unless it becomes and health and safety issue. Some of these trees are that tall and overgrown they prevent street light for illuminating the footpath below.

We also have various public open spaces of long grass which has not be cut or maintained for sometime, Sydwall Road is a good example. The long grass and bushes around the length of the brook could do with being sorted out and the rubbish that is in the brook and causing blockages along the route could also be cleaned up with Parish money which is just sat in the bank account.

The BRPC are advertising for a handyman, who could possibly tackle some of these jobs and do this work but from my understanding this position is ONLY for only 5 hours a week! To be totally realistic what is a single person going to be able to do in just 5 hours a week? Why not use some of this money to actually employ someone full time? Pay them a wage!

I am sure that there are many other things that this money that the BRPC are reluctant to spend could be used on, after all, it is OUR MONEY! 

Please add your suggestions and idea's on what this money could be used on within the parish and I will gladly put these idea's forward at a future meeting.

We have recently returned from Calella, which is a very busy and popular town on the Costa Brava.

While travelling around we could not help but notice that in most of the very busy streets particularly around the commercial centres that there were very few disabled parking bays (unlike the UK where there are far too many in my opinion) and where there were disabled bays they seemed to be always empty. It was the same in Barcelona. So am I to believe that there are less genuine disabled people in Spain or are there just more scammers here in the UK?

The local NHS, funded by yet another PFI arrangement, are about to rubber stamp the construction of a special purpose building, costed at around 18million, that'll be built upon the Railway Station Approach in near or close proximity to the new Road To Nowhere in the City centre.

The following general medical practices are in line to leave their current places of business that serve their patients and become a part of the new central hub for general medical care....Quay House, Moorfields, Sarum House & Greyfriars Surgeries.

It's my understanding that the medical practices that have already agreed to this will sell their existing premises, pocket the equity which they are perfectly entitled to do and pay the going rate to rent their space within this new community centralised medical treatment hub.

As to why this has happened and why it's happening? In years gone by qualified Doctors would be on the look out to buy their way into an established practice who owned their own premises. One old Doctor would retire, a new one would come in, the fifty thousand quid would be given to the retiring Doctor and so on and so on. That's the way it used to work.

Now, in these days of austerity, Doctor shortages, no money available to buy out the old retiring Doctor and a public service thirst for centralisation, privatisation and transformation, we've now reached a tipping point of no inward or outward investment and a model of care for the community that can be run from the centre with little or no sense of community or care about us the service users.

In short, slowly but surely every single public service, including our much cherished Health Service is being transformed toward privatisation through the backdoor and there seems no way we the people can halt this slide toward the surrender of everything we once held dear and took for granted.

***DRAMA WORKSHOP WEEK***
After a great response to my Drama Workshop Weeks throughout the summer holidays, I am now able to offer places for a Drama week in Hereford!
£70 per child for the week!

Monday 24th - Friday 28th October 2016! 9.30am - 3.30pm!

My name is Melissa and I'm a London based professional actor originally from Ledbury. I got into drama school in London when I was 19 and have lived there ever since. I've worked in both TV and theatre and In between acting jobs I run drama workshops for children and young people and will be running a drama workshop week in Hereford in the October half term Monday 24th -Friday 28th October at Hereford lads club.

The week will be full of drama games & warm ups, acting techniques, impro & comedy and a show for parents at the end of the week.

We welcome children and young people aged 7-16 (They will be put into one of 2 groups, 7-10 and 11-16)
It doesn't matter if this is their first drama experience or if they're a little pro! Drama really can be for everyone. It's about forming a group and finding out what their skills are and what they can bring to a theatre company. It's about building self esteem, friendships and HAVING FUN! The cost will be £70 per child for the week with a deposit of £10 by October 8th to secure a place :)

SUMMARY
What: Drama Workshop week
When: Mon 24th Fri 28th October
Where: Hereford Lads Club
Cost: £70 per child for the week
Deposit: £10 by October 8th
Contact: Melissa - 07500801337


Many Thanks,
Melissa Johns :)