Would you like to find out more about hate crime, how to report it and the support available to victims?

I have received reports today that Billy Reynolds has sold Play Nightclub to Luminar Group.

The Deltic Group Limited (formerly The Luminar Group Limited) is a private company with an estate of approximately 59 nightclubs and has the largest square footage of nightclub capacity in the United Kingdom.

Remember where you heard it first! 

Dear friends, Blackmarston School is an extraordinary great place of care and learning and it provides a great education for our little ones who have disabilities that prevent them from attending a mainstream place of education.

I hope you'll all fully understand that a place like Blackmarston is unlike most places of learning that most of you will have encountered in your lives. Because of the many needs of the pupils, many of whom require a great deal of care and attention, the staffing levels are considerable higher than all mainstream Schools and consequently, when it comes to adequate funding, it's near on impossible to compare their needs and their staffing levels with any other typical School. Indeed, the largest slice of this Schools funding is spent on staff and whilst, in these hard times of austerity, mainstream Schools can withstand cuts in spending, a place like Blackmarston cannot without it having an extreme impact upon the pupils, the staff and the parents and carers.

The last three years have been hard on Blackmarston because the funding to support the School has remained static and it's anticipated that for the next five years there will be no increase in funding from the Government which means, sadly, through no fault of the School or its Administration, they will no longer be able to continue with the number of staff that are required to deliver the care and education our little ones need and deserve. Quite simply, based upon the funding that the School currently receives and is likely to receive throughout the next five years, their position is untenable unless the axe is wielded and staff are cut from the budget.

My Grandaughter is a pupil at this wonderful School and because of her special needs, she requires constant supervision, care and attention in just about any area of daily life that you can think of and so, I'm hoping that you will all make your comments, support this School and if at all possible communicate your views of concern to the Headteacher Mrs Sian Bailey who, on the 10th, July will be meeting our MP Mr Jesse Norman who is and will continue to be a great supporter of the School.

Her email is...sbailey@blackmarston.hereford.sch.uk. The postal address is....Blackmarston School, Honddu Close, Hereford.

The aim? Simply to push the Government and the Local Authority into rethinking their low level of funding to Blackmarston School. This is not just a School! These are not just typical pupils and the staff who are now aware that their jobs may be threatened are not just ordinary Teaching Staff. The School, the pupils, the staff and all who are connected with this wonderful place of care and learning are far from ordinary. Extraordinary is the word I'd use! They are the best of the best and they deserve to be properly and fully funded so that the little ones receive the very best that we can offer, so, please communicate your support and views to the Head of this wonderful School Mrs Sian Bailey.

Congratulations goes to the Crown at Woolhope winner of the Cider Pub of the Year award 2015.

What are your thoughts on Jeremy Corbyn's idea of women only train carriages? Personally, in this day and age, we shouldn't be even considering the idea of segregated train travel in my opinion, is the man crackers? 

Well this is going to be a biggy and no doubt employers are already reviewing contracts of employment.

For some like myself who work from home and travel to meet people the EU has stated that work starts as soon as you leave the house and finishes I believe once you return home which for many runs well over a 48 hour week and therefore in breach of the working time directive.

I'm sure that megilleland will provide further info but this has major implications for employers and "people of the road".

Paula Radcliffe denies ‘cheating in any form’ after allusions in parliament

A “devastated†Paula Radcliffe has insisted she has never cheated “in any form whatsoever at any time in my careerâ€, following a parliamentary select committee hearing into doping allegations she claimed forced her to speak out.

The marathon world record holder, one of Britain’s best-loved athletes whoretired from competition this year because of injury, had not been named in connection with the recent spate of allegations regarding blood doping that have engulfed the sport. But after Jesse Norman, the Tory MP who chairs the culture, media and sport select committee, asked questions that appeared to suggest a British winner of the London Marathon was “potentially†implicated, Radcliffe said she had no choice but to speak out in order to clear her name.

“These accusations threaten to undermine all I have stood and competed for, as well as my hard-earned reputation. By linking me to allegations of cheating, damage done to my name and reputation can never be fully repaired, no matter how untrue I know them to be,†said Radcliffe, whose 2003 marathon world record of 2hr 15min 25sec in London remains almost three minutes faster than any other woman in history. “Whilst I have the greatest of respect for anyone responsibly trying to uncover cheating in sport, and of course for parliament itself, it is profoundly disappointing that the cloak of parliamentary privilege has been used to effectively implicate me, tarnishing my reputation, with full knowledge that I have no recourse against anyone for repeating what has been said at the committee hearing.â€

At a hearing of the culture, media and sport select committee, convened to look into recent allegations by the German broadcaster ARD and the Sunday Times that a third of endurance medallists over a 10-year period had suspicious blood values, Norman was in the process of questioning the UK Anti-Doping Agency chairman, David Kenworthy, towards the end of a three-hour hearing when he appeared to raise suspicions about a prominent British marathon runner. “When you hear the London Marathon, potentially the winners or medallists at the London Marathon, potentially British athletes are under suspicion for very high levels of blood doping … When you think of the effect that has on young people and the community nature of that event, what are your emotions about that, how do you feel about that?â€

Guardian

In response to a press statement by Paula Radcliffe, Mr Norman said:

Parliament.uk

The cheapest beers in the UK revealed after price of a pint rises 4.3%. Article

More rounds to the pound in Herefordshire - Another good reason to support local pubs.

It’s enough to leave southern beer drinkers frothing - for the price of a pint is 82p dearer than the north.

Statement from First Midlands

Monday 29th June 2015

Bus operator, First, has announced proposals to discontinue its bus services in Hereford. This includes the withdrawal of all its services and the closure of its depot on Friars Street from 5 September, 2015. 

First said that its operations in Hereford have not been viable for a number of years. Despite working hard to turn the business around and the introduction of a wide ranging Transformation Plan which included measures to attract more customers, there remains insufficient passenger demand. The continuing challenging economy has also contributed to Firsts proposed withdrawal. 

Nigel Eggleton, Managing Director of First Midlands, said: "Im disappointed that we are proposing to withdraw services in Hereford, but regrettably, we see no alternative. Despite our best efforts and hard work, only 3,500 customers per day travel on our buses. That level of demand is not enough to warrant a stand-alone bus operation. 

"We will continue to operate services as normal up to and including 5 September, however we are today engaging with Herefordshire Council on the future of bus services in the area. Given the volume of other bus operators that operate in and around Hereford, Im confident that customers shouldnt be left without a service."

As a result of the proposed closure of the Hereford depot First has started the collective consultation process with trade unions on the possibility of redundancies, with up to 40 jobs at risk.

Nigel Eggleton added: "Our proposals do not, in any way, reflect on the commitment of colleagues in Hereford who have worked tirelessly to provide the best possible service to the local community. Id like to thank them for their hard work and loyalty. We will be doing everything we can to assist everyone affected and will actively support any of employees who may wish to transfer to other First operations." 

First Group

I took this picture of today's sunrise from Haywood Lane overlooking Hereford

Just for info a fair few landies are being stolen at the moment particularly Defenders and the old series. Another one was stolen last night in Much Cowerne Vehicle Reg:K319KEX

New wards

Herefordshire is currently divided into 53 wards represented by 53 councillors. You can find maps of all the new wards HERE

Dear Councillors and Parish Clerks,

I would like to take this opportunity to let you all know that I have been appointed as the Locality Steward for the Hereford City South Locality.  I love working in Hereford City and I hope that I can make a difference.

Please see below an update on work carried out this week in the locality:

The sink hole on Folly Lane just before the traffic lights – This  has been fix and  I will keep an eye on this.

Works that have been carried out by the reactive teams in the last week:

Saxon Gate

• Norton Avenue Re set Kerb  5

Eign Hill

• 10mm Wearing Course 1 sq. meter

Hinton and Hunderton

•  Remove Mud / 100 meter
•  Drybridge Walk   Remove Mud / Spoil 100 meter

Newton Farm 

• Empty Overflowing Bin 1

Some of the matters I have been involved with this week include  :

• Carried out driven statutory inspections
• Closed footpath HER18 running from the sewage works to HER17 ( This will remain closed for the foreseeable future)
• Enquiries 
• Drop Crossing  application

Please feel free to ring or email me at any time and I will be happy to help. Have a lovely weekend.

Many thanks 

Matthew Heeley 

Matthew Heeley

Acting Locality Steward Hereford City South| Balfour Beatty | Services | Living Places

I Have telephoned Herefordshire Council this morning on the number listed Tel 260500. Automated answer, (which really bugs me because now I am paying to listen to their silly messages) I waited over 14 minutes and all I kept hearing was a message saying a customer service representative will be with your shortly, alternatively I can go to their website. I waited and waited, eventually after 18 minutes I hung up in frustration. 18 minutes!! This is a joke it really is.

I have had to send a letter of complaint to Herefordshire council as they tried to close the Housing Solutions Team early on Monday and were potentially turning homeless people away unlawfully....for anyone interested here's my letter of complaint plase feel free to ask any sensible questions...anything unconnected to the topic or about me personaly will be reported to Colin so please behave fairly and sensibly or leave my post alone:

Dear Christine,

I write further to my telephone-call and I confirm that I wish to complain about the fact, that I found the Housing Solutions service closed early on Monday and people presenting to Franklin House were being told by untrained and inexperienced receptionists to return the following day (see link to my Facebook page:)

.https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10203943757248913&set=a.10203942151368767.1073741832.1071611993&type=1

I noted that after having taken the photo, four members of the Housing Solutions team, managed to come down and clear the back-log of people waiting to use the Housing solutions Service, so it is clear to me that the sticker should never have been placed on the machine.

I also wish to complain about Kevin Badham approaching me outside of Franklin House to demand why I took a photo of the sticker.  My personal business has nothing to do with Mr Badham or any other member of the Housing Solutions Team and I would have preferred it, if he had left me alone especially as I was busy supporting a homeless person outside of your building.  It should be remembered that I no longer make direct contact with your colleagues from the Housing Solutions Team because of the complaint that is with the LGO and also because Mr Hughes has asked me not too.  So I cannot for the life of me, understand why Kevin would approach me, unless he intended to provoke me and belittle me in front of members of the public.  If that was indeed his intention, then he succeeded and it was for that reason I told him to, "Shut up and go away from me."
 
This kind of behaviour by the Housing solutions Team is outrageous, wrong and indicative of everything that is rotten with this service.  As I pointed out to the receptionists yesterday, if someone vulnerable had read that sticker, they would have probably left and returned to the streets or to some other place that was unsuitable, life threatening or down right dangerous to live-in.  And your organisation would be responsible in part for any DEATH that would have happened.

I want something done about the Housing Solutions Service and I want it done quickly because they have proved themselves to once again be unfit for purpose and I should not be having to micro-manage this service, especially as I am untrained, uninsured and ill equipped to police them.

I will be happy to have a full written apology from Collette and Kevin and I would like a letter of thanks from Helen and Geoff for once again, having saved Herefordshire Council from breaking the law and being involved in unsavoury and potentially life-threatening practices.

Yours truly,

Phil Smart  

Does the Tupsley Community Group now own the old "Whitehouse Pub" up at Whittern Way?? Or is it owned by some other group??

I ask, because it is an absolute eye sore....a magnet for vandalism and appears to have been empty for months if not years with no clear plan for what it's future holds. I had a conversation today the gist of which was the good folks who run The Cock Of Tupsley very successfully, have enquired about buying it, as they would like to re open it, and run it as an extension to their thriving business.

No. Was the answer. Apparently just one person gets to say "No". No committee meeting, no vote, just one persons say so.(Who does that remind you of???)

So whoever does own this.....either get it tidied up, and open....or let someone else do it!!!

Letting it fall into an even greater state of disrepair should not be an option!

Following on from Ian R Crane's excellent lecture on Fracking in Hereford earlier this year and the activity down in Balcombe, West Sussex where Cuadrilla are drilling for shale gas this latest video - Ian R Crane: The UK's Fracking Nightmare spells out the dangers and special interests of those involved. An excellent insight into how fracking came about and how it could affect our water supplies in the future.

The above mentioned, has finally been taken over by a family and will continue its path as a going concern. It is not making huge profits but nor is it losing money. It is not being changed into a care home which was the major concern, neither will it turn into an Indian sit down restaurant.

Maybe it will get a overhaul of the rather drab interior though?

Best wishes to the new owners and no doubt I'll see you soon.