Glenda Powell

I had it confirmed yesterday by Herefordshire Housing Ltd the cornish 2 bedroom flats in Newton Farm are not being demolished they are the most sought after properties Herefordshire Housing own, very spacious inside, and have their own back and front gardens. Victor - I have spoken to quite a few of the families who have moved from the flats, and they are happy with where they now live, some have moved into the cornish flats in newton Farm and in their words "they are lovely"

I have known Bill for the 27 years he was at the HT, I wish him luck in what ever he does next. HT will not be the same without him!

Cambo, yes there are people from FC holding officer positions as well within the council, and the majority of the planning committee are Conservative, that doesn't make the decision right. Herefordshire Council is a law unto themselves. If it was someone elses application that would be a different matter. In the past I have sat for over an hour debating just one application and the wrong decision was made by the committee, the person concerned took it to appeal and won on that occasion costing the council a lot of money!

Steve, you are correct, the flats had 200 families living in them and the houses giving back to HHL is 130 of the 259, the remainder is for sale through Keepmoat the builders. The tenants were asked before the flats came down did they want to stay in Newton Farm or move away, quite a few chose to move away. There are 2,3,and 4 bedroom houses and in the two blocks of flats there are 1 and 2 bedroom properties in the same block, the flats are 4 storey high with only staircases no lifts. There are also 14 one bed bungalows for elderly disabled tenants. A taxi driver asked me tonight was it true the cornish 2 bed flats are being demolished in 5 years time (I live in one of those) I had to say I have not been told, but the 3 storey flats on Ross Road are being demolished in 5 years so it is possible he has been given the wrong information.

Herefordshire Council has broken all their planning rules allowing this application to go through. Having been vice chair of planning a few years ago, you cannot do that, the correct procedure is the planning officer contacts the local ward councillor in this case Cllr Len Tawn, to ask for any comments, it is then discussed whether it should go to the planning committee or dealt with by officers under delegated powers. At that point the Cllr can object to the officer making the decision it has then got to go before the planning committee, and councillors on that committee it is then debated by any councillor(s) and the decision is then made by a show of hands, for or against.

Yes I saw it to, I heard the loud noise and went outside to investigate.

Paul Jones, I chose not to take up my seat and that was my perogative, get over it. Phil Edwards, is not liked by a lot of people on NF, and he only got in by lying and those lies are catching up with him already. I am getting people asking me for my help every day but I have told them they voted him in so they have to contact him.There are no sour grapes in regard to Phil Edwards so there is nothing to get over, infact I feel sorry for him, the people of NF will give him a hard time, the ward is not an easy one. no one is congratulating a Mark Sykes the councillor name is MARK DYKES!

I agree the people are not interested, everyone was sure the election in May would be different, and were shocked that the Tories had a majority, but no one else is to blame but the people who voted for them. I keep in touch with my council colleages and they with me although I am not there anymore, and what I am hearing things have got worse since May so in a way I am glad I am not part of it anymore, but I do miss helping the people of Newton Farm.

Roger, the 1500 I was referring to was the number of properties on Newton Farm therefore with a possibility of 2 people per household it is 2900 as you stated. A lot of people contacted me and ask me who to vote for, I told them that was their decision not mine, as I could not or would not tell them who to vote for.Unfortunately the 11.6% of people voting shows that the people of Newton Farm are not happy, and tell me they haven't been since the elections in May.

Paul Neades, just for clarification I did not cause the city council to waste money, as IOC are the administration of the city council they could of co-opted someone on SO WHY DIDN'T THEY! Personally 4 years of working with IOC was 4 years to long, there were others who didn't stand for the city who felt the same way. and as a matter of interest it was the TORIES WHO CALLED THE ELECTION. That sais, I will be watching and waiting to see if Mark keeps to his promises for the people of Newton Farm that was in his paperwork. Only 11.6% of the 1500 people who could of voted did, the combined votes cast was 338 the people of Newton Farm have spoken by not voting!

I was told by a member of the trustees committee that there had been a meeting 2 or 3 weeks ago and Cllr Edwards attended the meeting, I asked if they mentioned the Library and was told briefly, it was then I was advised that Cllr Edwards said the library was to close next March. I have not mentioned who told me this by name but he holds a prominent position at the centre. I was not aware until last Friday coffee morning that I was no longer a member of the management committee, as again I was told there was to be a meeting to discuss the library and I asked when, so that I could attend, as I had fought very hard last year for its retention and supported the librarian and her colleagues at a meeting Jesse Norman had arranged at the Starlight rooms at the football ground, it was then after the meeting that I was assured by Cllr Roger Phillips that Belmont Library will not close.Since then the council has gone back on their word. Denise and Victor thank you for your comments it does not bother me what they say, it just goes to show what type of people they are. I am a firm believer in the saying "what goes around, comes around".

Quote: see post 32, The fact that I am not a councillor anymore doesn't bother me, there is no sour grapes. Looking in on the council now,what they are doing , and I have been told of the infighting within groups I am pleased I am not there anymore. I will add: I had told the Independent leader that this was to be my last term of office if I had been returned. I want my life back and to enjoy my retirement from my political career. Sorry Colin, about going off subject of the original post.

I was sad to read Cilla had passed away, according to the press she went back to Spain with her son only yesterday, and was found to have passed away this morning. She was a true legend of our time, a true rags to riches story. I enjoyed her music back in the 1960's when I was a young girl, the 60s was a great time to be young. RIP Cilla, your with your beloved Bobby now.

M Preece - that was what the enforcement team was for to force action it had been empty for the first nine years without knowing where the girl had gone, then it was brought to my attention. I cannot understand why she did not sell it, but for some reason she didn't. From what I was told for some reason they could not force a sale or reposses it. Mick - There are 4 houses that are homeowners facing the back of this property, and they did attempt to clear the garden at one point but one of the neighbours got hurt, and as it was not their property they could not claim for injuries sustained. The tenant lives on the end, then thie house in question and a private house next door which was up for sale, I was surprised to find that someone bought the house for sale whether the people lost any money from the sale I don't know.

Dippy - I did read through my post before answering any others, you forget I AM NO LONGER A POLITICIAN! and pleased that I'm not!

It is not the case of not accepting responsibility for not following it through to the end, I followed it through until May this year, then I was no longer the councillor, if I was I would still be working with the tenant and neighbours. I did not just pass it to the officers and department and walked away I had never done that in the 12 years of being a councillor I had and still have a reputation of not letting the matter go until I got the result I wanted . The fact that you have misinterpreted my coments is not my problem. I always speak my mind and always will please or offend, you know where you are with me. I also have no intention of starting a "war of words" with anyone. just to clarify I have always admitted if I am wrong, and very rarely got praised for what I have achieved but I did not as a councillor or since look for any acolade or praise from anyone thats not my way. I believe this conversation has run its course. As i said in a previous post This is not about me!

Dippy - then your impression was wrong wasn't it. This is not about me! This is gone totally off subject the state of this property and the tenant is living with this day in day out and I am still concerned about the effect its having on this family, all I want is this to be resolved for them. Just because I am no longer her councillor it doesn't mean I don't care, and if there is some way I can get this resolved for her I will. That is why I am starting up the resident association to continue to help the residents of Newton Farm that come to me. The RA will be run properly fully constituted and has the backing of the police and other organisations.

Dippy - If you read my posts nowhere in them did I put a timescale as to when or not Mr Edwards should respond to the tenant, she did not want to go to him I suggested she did as he is her councillor. what I did suggest if she got no joy from him is to join the Newton Brook residents association for Newton Farm and it would be taken up on her behalf. Ubique - I would go to the press but cannot do that without the tenants permission, and if I got that I would of gone to BT, I hope it isn't right about him leaving, I have known and worked along side of him for many years, in my opinion if he goes it will be the end of the HT.

The fact that I am not a councillor anymore doesn't bother me, so there is no sour grapes. Mr Edwards conducted a dirty tricks campaign against me. Which I have no intentions to elaborate on the matter so don't ask, but sufficient to say he has been caught out in his lies just weeks after the election. I just feel sorry for the people of Newton Farm, they are still coming to me, and I am not in a position to help them at the moment other than pointing them in the right direction and the people to contact, which I am doing. I have told people to contact Mr Edwards and those that have, have come back and told me he has not responded to them. Newton Farm is not an easy ward to look after (I did it for 12 years) and the people do not like being ignored and they will let you know if you annoy them. Looking in on the council now, what they are doing, and I have been told of the in fighting within groups I am pleased I am not there anymore!.

Roger - no I never ever felt I was waisting my time for the people of the Belmont ward that I represented, and just before the election I did get another garden cleared, I had had enough of waiting for HHL to clear it so I went to the press, surprise, surprise the morning the press and I arrived on site HHL men was clearing it when we arrived. The people in the council I went to was the enforcement team, and enviromental health, as I said before while I was the councillor they promised me it would be sorted right up to April this year it was only when I saw the house on here and went back to the tenant next door that I found the council had broken their promise to sort it out once and for all. Dippy - you are obviously a fan of Mr Edwards, but his track record is not good for sorting things out in the past few years, also bearing in mind he was not seen in Newton Farm or Hunderton for the last four years prior to canvassing for the election in May. You do not have to believe me just ask the people he represented then and now on Newton Farm.

Dippy, I did my best in the circumstances over 6 years, I went to the right people in the council they did nothing, I still worked with the tenant and the neighbours right up to the election. In regards to Phil Edwards there are many people in Newton Farm, Hunderton and Belmont who doesn't share your view of him as to getting things done, I am still getting people in Newton Farm coming to me asking for my help, as they have contacted him and they tell me they have got no response. In regards to Mr Smart Herefordshire Housing do not recognise him to help their tenants.

As I asked the tenant to let me know the outcome from her contacting Phil Edwards, she has not come back to me, so I take that to be he hasn't responded to her request for help.

I do not know her present circumstances,or where she is living bearing in mind she is now 35 years old, and when I asked the officer when all the neighbours and I met with him at this property he would not tell us anything about her, he just said he would deal with the problem which he didn't .The young mother living next door to this house told me a couple of days ago when I spoke to her,as I am not the councillor for NF now they have not dealt with the problem, although the officer promised me he would. I have suggested going to the press, if she get no satisfaction from Cllr Edwards. I wait with bated breath where this councillor is concerned if his past track record is anything to go by. I have suggested to her to join the residents association with that behind us we can do something about this for her.

Dippy - I first became aware of this property 6 years ago, at that time no one knew where the owner was, that was also the time I got involved initially, and although I got in touch with the council enforcement team because they get involved with private homeowners they could not find them, which left my hands tied, that said I kept going back to enviromental health to ask them to do something because the house was deteriorating . Then when other people started complaining I started my investigation again, then out of the blue another officer said he knew where they were, and as I said above I told them to clear the garden because people had also told me they saw rats there, and bill the owners. Roger - The house belong to an elderly lady and when she died she had left the house to the granddaughter in her will, she was just 20 years old, she moved in with her boyfriend but not long after they broke up and she moved out. I am surprised that she did not sell it and bank the money while it was still in good condition, but being young she just walked away, she wanted nothing to do with the house and over the years left it to get in the state its in. It would take at least in my estimation about £50,000 if not more to put it right.

The tenant has small children and she feels that they cannot play outside because of the house next door. As I said above environment dept know where these homeowners live now and they were supposed to of got in touch for them to clear the garden nothing has happened. I had already told them as the then local councillor to clear the garden and bill the homeowner, they assured me they would, this was in April this year. The estates manager for Newton Farm said they put the fence up but the tenant would be billed for the £750 cost, personally I think it is Herefordshire Housing responsibility with a duty of care to their tenant and her children, The estate manager was asked if he would live next to the the house he said NO that says it all to me, he would not live there himself but they expect the tenant to!