Colin James

I have had long discussions with several Councillors and potential Councillors in the past 24 hours since publishing the tram topic and all are 100% behind the idea. I am pleased that Councillor Chris Chappell agree's too as we will need his support too. During the various discussions held, I covered many area's including how many stops a tram would/could make and I ended up with between 6-8 stops. I have just returned from Istanbul, where like in Germany (Referring to Mick's comments) the trams are sponsored with advertisements, almost like wraps on them (which actually looks quite good) and from the experience I gained there, 8 stops took no more than 10 minutes and some of those distance in between were far greater than what there would be along the GWW. A tram starting at the top of Newton Farm and stoping 8 times ending either at the back of Curry's or at the train station would take no more than 10-15 mins and that is if the tram stopped at every stop, so you are looking at a maximum waiting time of 20-30 mins for it to return to that first point in Newton Farm, you do not need 2 trams necessarily. I saw many cyclists too and there is no problem with cyclists catching their wheels or any problems with pedestrians either, bare in mind the amount of people, vehicles, cyclists, tourists and animals in a busy Istanbul street and you will appreciate that actually, this would be NO PROBLEM at all in reality, if it can work in a mental place like that it can certainly work in little place like Hereford. A recent photo from Istanbul:

I think so and so do quite a few other people, I am sure they will be those who try to poo poo it but if enough of us get behind this campaign, tweet and share as much as possible we may just get some real serious action. Its all about spreading the word and gaining momentum, everyone I have spoken with this past 24 hours since I published the idea have been 100% behind it too which is really positive. Several Councillors from various parties are also on board )no pun intended lol) we all need to work together to make this really achievable for our city.

I have checked today and the old line is still there in places, if you go over the little bridge by Curry's and look to your left (assuming that you are heading north) you can see the old tracks still there. I would suggest running it from the top of Redhill/Newton Farm to The back of Curry's near Mortimer road, I actually think it curves around there and continues directly to the train station, so it could even end there.

This is good news, thanks for the update Glenda

Its an ideal solution for the traffic problem in my opinion. I do not think anything will be vandalised because the trams would be parked in a garage etc overnight plus I would would imagine some CCTV would be in place along the GWW, which incidentally we have been requesting for several years now. I know that CVP requested it too sometime back but nothing has come of it as yet. Trams could run from 6am-midnight everyday.

Okay brilliant thanks, already had a new member register this morning

Anyone bought the HT yet? I will go a grab one as soon as I can.

That would be good, well I have sent them the topic and a link back so we will see but it would be great to have their support on this too.

Yes Asda roundabout has not flooded like it used too for a long time. I have just emailed the Civic Society

Thanks Denise I will send them an email tonight.

This has reached over 500 people on our Facebook page already, so this is going to have some big interest from these stats at this early stage, only posted this less than an hour ago.

I agree but it is hardly used especially during the hours of dark. This would mean a new electric system from one end to the other and obviously not diesel, still leaving room for pedestrians and cyclylists, I have just returned from Istanbul and the shared space there with trams works perfectly.

These trams come in lots of shapes and sizes;

I have for a long time campaigned to have the traffic lights on the southern routes into Hereford to be turned off becuase from evidence obtained in various formats it has been proved that the traffic certainly flows better when these traffic lights have been off or out of order. They could certainly been made to operate part-time at off peak times 8pm-7am I have also pondered on how to take some of the pressure from these main roads and after a lot of thought I suggested turning the Great Western Way into a road, then after debates with some other members we came up with an even better idea, use a tram system! Back and forth still allowing room for pedestrains and cyclists. The GWW in Hereford runs right from the top of Redhill/Newton Farm and could go all the way down through Hunderton and over the river bridge past the rugby club and Sainsburys, continuing down parallel with Edgar Street at the back of the Theatre, continuing past Currys and almost to the back of Dunlem opposite the Leisure Centre. I am not 100% sure where the track ends but I will take a walk this weekend, weather permitting and have a look. Campaign For Better Transport Website Mr Albert Heijn from the Left Bank, I beleive once offered some years ago to fully fund such a project but from my undersatnding the HC refused the idea. As most of the traffic, according the the HA is 90% for local trips back and forth surely this is an option worth consdering especially as we already have the old railway line available with some work to bring it up to date of course. Your thoughts on this idea/campaign would be appreciated.

Well said Dan and good luck with your application.

Thanks dippy, I'm glad I did too, we will see how it looks tomorrow

With regard to the above comments from Bill, I shared a conversation with him earlier and explained that I had pulled this topic before it really got going, Bill has also commented on fb to someone who would not of had time to of read the comment as it was pulled before the fb thread began, hence why the fb thread was started and I think that is why Bill made the comments above. I am still somewhat confused as to why smartieno1 decided to start a topic on his fb about the topic being pulled here, I can only assume it was to get his allies to agree with him and say I was wrong..but as I said, I am assuming. I make no apology for removing the topic and stand be my reasons for doing so.

I have received many complaints again about the recent topic create by smartieno1 and after taking into account all the comments made within, that the best course of action was in my opinion to remove the topic altogether, which I have now done. If smartieno1 has an issue with this decision then he needs to take that up with me.

The advert will appear in this weeks HT. I have decided to pay a little more and gone for a full half page. I have kept to the advert that we all agreed on but these were what the HT came up with, you can see that I chose not to use them. This first one was portrait, even though I had sent my own artwork which was obviously landscape... I instructed them to just increase my original advert making it bigger for the now half page, I have no idea where this idea came from but I hated it.. So in this weeks HT you will see the advert below covering half page.

Roger this is a separate topic to that of Fusion closing. I have made this a topic of it's own.

Sirius store closed this weekend in Hereford, will this end up being another empty shop for our city?

Today the finally closed the doors after 35 years trading in Hereford, very sad to see...

Topic that was featured in March 2015. The statistics for a recent discussion on the closure of Mothercare in Hereford on our Social Media were unbelievable, this topic has reached almost 17,000 people! 116 comments and 39 shares at the point when I took this screen shot. Hereford Voice has reached almost 24,000 readers this week alone!

HEREFORD LOCALITY WEEKLY BRIEFING WEEK ENDING 27th MARCH 2015 Dear Councillors and Parish Clerks, During the last week we are pleased to report that the reactive team in the locality completed the following works: 119 square metres of carriageway patching (potholes and other surface deterioration) 53 square metres of footway patching 11 gully’s cleared 4 fly tips removed 3 litter picks carried out 14 kerb defects rectified 24 loose footway blocks/slabs re-bedded. Please see below a summary of our key activities within the Hereford Locality over the last week. Update from Shane (City South Belmont, St Martins & Hinton, and Tupsley Wards; Rural Backbury and Hollington Wards) The above mentioned reactive works included Belmont Ward Carriageway patching (potholes) in Kilvert Road and Charles Witts Avenue Kerb repairs in Westholme Road Hedge cutting in Haylease Crescent Footway and Glastonbury Close Fly-tip removed in Dorchester Way St Martins & Hinton Ward Pothole repair on Ross Road Service Road Footway patching in Holme Lacy Road Kerb repair in Norton Avenue Litter pick in Staddlestone Circle Tupsley Ward Pothole repairs in Old Eign Hill, Quarry Road and Hampton Park Road Gully cleansing in Hampton Street and Harold Street Hedge cutting in Litchfield Avenue and Brookside. Planned works in April - Hollington Ward Greenway, Holme Lacy (cycleway works) scheduled for 1st and 2nd April. Some of the issues I have addressed this week Work order raised for a pothole in Eign Road PROW inspection on HB1A Work order raised for 3 x potholes in Old Eign Hill Work order raised in respect of line markings in Haugh Road Order raised for litter pick along Gatehouse Road Order raised for 3 potholes in Haywood Lane Approved dropped crossing application in Goodwin Way and in Carr Lane Order raised for carriageway patching on B4399 just outside of Holme Lacy village Order raised for edge defect repairs in Witherstone Lane, Bolstone Meetings with two residents in Gorsty Lane with regards to hedge cutting in vicinity of pedestrian crossing Liaised with BT over defective inspection cover in Ridgeway Avenue Order raised for kerb damage in Wigmore Grove Order raised for 2 x potholes in Golden Post Order raised for carriageway patching adjacent to bus shelter in Hampton Bishop Orders raised for gully repairs in Holme Lacy Road and Netherwood Road Carried out 8 NRSWA (street works) inspections I have also been involved in PROW training, and recruitment interviews for a Locality Steward. Please note that due to some annual leave and other commitments I will be unavailable until 9th April. Update from Mike (City North – Aylestone, Central, St Nicholas, and Three Elms Wards; Rural Credenhill and Hagley Wards) This week I have · Completed the City Centre monthly walked safety inspection · Reported a dangerous lamp/col to street lighting Staniers Way · Had a meeting with Aylestone Park Association and walkabout the park to discuss future maintenance works · Raised 8 x ad hoc c/way pothole repairs for Sheridan Road and Moor Farm Lane · Addressed overgrown hedge issues in Three Elms Road and Tillington Road · Inspected a Cat 1 emergency for slippery surface in Yazor Road · Supported a volunteering day for the Brandon Trust · Approved a dropped crossing request (Kingsway) · Raised ad hoc c/way pothole defects for C1129 and Withies Road · Attended a site meeting with Breinton Parish Council, Ramblers assn. and Cllr Powers on the BT1 PROW route Hereford Rural Locality Steward I pleased to update you that following a selection process this week an offer will be made to one of the candidates to fill the vacancy left when Steve Churchill moved to another role. All being well the new steward will be in post from early May. I will confirm details when the offer has been formally made and accepted. Herefordshire Council website is the one-stop-shop for up to date information Maps for pot holes are available on the Councils website https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/transport-and-highways/maintenance/potholes We hope the above is of interest. Kind regards Shane, Mike & Phil. Shane Hancock | Senior Locality Steward (Hereford City South) Balfour Beatty Living Places | Unit 3, Thorn Business Park | Rotherwas | Hereford | HR2 6JT

That's a shame Bob I was looking forward to meeting you tonight. An interesting meeting to be fair, turn out was only 70 but some good debates all the same.