megilleland

From Hereford Times Jesse Norman (Conservative) - Election address for Hereford and South Herefordshire Nationally, it is about whether we as a country recognise the challenges facing us over the coming years, and back Theresa May to lead us through them as our Prime Minister. That means giving her a personal mandate to negotiate with the EU, and a majority big enough to get the required new laws through Parliament and stop the Nationalists in Scotland from breaking up the United Kingdom. Locally, this election is about which candidate has the experience, profile and track record to represent us best in Westminster. Whether it’s protecting Hereford and Ross hospitals, money for potholes—more badly needed now—new broadband, our booming Enterprise Zone in Rotherwas, the recent £8 million university start-up funding, helping hundreds of constituents a year or a host of other things, I believe my own record is second to none in Parliament—a fact recognised by three national awards. I have not been afraid to speak truth to power, as with the vote to bomb Syria in 2013. But since then my roles as elected Select Committee Chair and now Minister of Energy have given me—and Herefordshire—direct access to the top of government. I have always worked to the utmost of my abilities on behalf of local people, and thrown myself heart and soul into putting Herefordshire on the political map. On June 8th I hope you will back me and Theresa May, locally and nationally, to continue this vital work.

From Hereford Times Jim Kenyon (Independent) - Election address for Hereford and South Herefordshire I FEEL it is about time someone stood up for Hereford and South Herefordshire, it feels like the land that Westminster forgot. Living and growing up in Herefordshire I have a feel for the uniqueness of it of it and Westminster policy being stuffed down our necks is not always the answer. I served in the armed forces for 14 years and my community for longer than that, tackling social isolation at the front line and trying to make Hereford a better place to live. I relish the opportunity to now work for Ross and South Herefordshire in the same way. Having been an opposition county councillor for the past six years I know this Conservative council need holding to account. I am more than prepared to do that, so when funding from Westminster is granted I can make sure it is spent in the right way. Ruffling feathers is something I have had to do in the past and will continue to do so. All the other parties promise they are the best for the NHS as an independent I can and will listen to debates and always do what is right for the NHS. I will fight to stop privatisation. We need clearer thinking between the NHS and the social services as ongoing care and social isolation is a huge problem. We are desperate for intelligent transport solutions for Herefordshire to get the county moving. Having lived and worked in the City I know this is achievable, the answers are out there already we just need to listen to them. I can champion that cause in Westminster. I believe that if you want things to be different you have to do things differently. If we keep voting for the same people, the same parties with the same promises we will ALWAYS get the same result. I would like to do things differently in Westminster.

Any news affecting the Wye Valley NHS Trust? The Daily Mail says there are 45 NHS trusts affected, but their location map only shows 37. There is a general statement on the NHS website. Nothing on the Hereford Times website, obviously waiting for the office to open on Monday. Latest (Sunday 13th May) Item on BBC H&W radio say there are no hospitals affected in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

From Herefordshire Council News - 12th May 2017 The Report of the Herefordshire Independent Remuneration Panel will be considered at next week's Council meeting. Meanwhile Matt Whittaker, chief economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: Nice to know we are all in this together! As only 8 councillors in the Cabinet appear to make all the decisions and never listen to the public and ratepayers, why not get rid of the other 45 councillors and save a possible £382,005. They can then run the authority as a dictatorship. Oh, they already do!

UK results 2015 UK election for comparison: Conservative (331 seats) - 11,334,576 votes Labour (232 seats) - 9,347,304 votes UKIP (1 seat) - 3,881,099 votes Liberal Democrat (8 seats)- 2,415,862 votes Scottish National Party (56 seats)- 1,454,436 votes Green Party (1 seat) - 1,157,613 votes Turnout 66.1% Electorate 46,420,413 Hereford & Herefordshire South Conservative - Jesse Norman 24,844 UKIP - Nigel Ely 7,954 Labour - Anna Coda 6,042 Liberal Democrat - Lucy Hurds 5,002 Green Party - Diana Toynbee 3,415 Con majority 16,890 Turnout 66.8% Herefordshire North Conservative - Bill Wiggin 26,716 UKIP - Jonathan Oakton 6,720 Liberal Democrat - Jeanie Falconer 5,768 Labour - Sally Prentice 5,478 Green Party - Daisy Blench 3,341 Con majority 19,996 Turnout 72.0% With six nominations in each constituency for this coming election both MPs are going to increase their 2017 election majority. Divide and rule wins again.

From Herefordshire Council News - 11th May 2017 Herefordshire Council’s electoral services have published the ‘Statement of Persons Nominated’, which details the constituency candidates standing for the UK General Election on 8 June 2017. North Herefordshire Constituency: Ellie Chowns – The Green Party Arthur St John Devine – Independent Jeanie Falconer – Liberal Democrats Sasha Rose Alicia Norris – Independent Roger William Page – Labour Party Bill Wiggin – The Conservative Party Hereford and South Herefordshire Constituency: Anna Coda – Labour Party Lucy Ann Hurds – Liberal Democrats Jim Kenyon – Independent Jesse Norman – The Conservative Party Gwyn James Price – UK Independence Party (UKIP) Diana Stella Toynbee – The Green Party The deadline to register to vote in the General Election is 22 May 2017. Postal and proxy votes can be requested online until 23 May 2017. Further information about the General Election can be found on the Herefordshire Council website. Visit www.herefordshire.gov.uk/voting to register to vote in just a few minutes.

Have not noticed any work on the Oval development the last month. No sign of contractors working and the next blocks of flats to be demolished still standing - any news?

From Jesse Norman's website: I’m not currently an MP, as Parliament has been dissolved until after the General Election on 8th June 2017. While there are now no Members of Parliament until after the election of 8th June, my Parliamentary office can still be contacted at Suite 2, Penn House, Broad Street, Hereford HR4 9AP, by phone at 01432 276 422 or by email via jesse.norman.mp@parliament.uk. So who is running the country?

The video can still be seen on the Hereford Times website.

7th May 2017 Sunday Express running half a story - what about all the other tenant farmers?

Improving air quality: national plan for tackling nitrogen dioxide in our towns and cities The UK Government, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland are seeking views on a revised Plan to reduce levels of nitrogen dioxide around roads within the shortest possible time - the most immediate air quality challenge. This consultation applies to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It includes the consultation document; the draft UK Air Quality Plan for tackling nitrogen dioxide; and the Technical Report, which includes details of the modelling techniques and assumptions used in the draft Plan. Before responding to the questions set out in the consultation, we recommend that you read at least the consultation document setting out our proposals.

What was the other topic Colin - I can't seem to find it - where's the link? I think you are being too dogmatic Colin about sticking to the topic. Maybe I will stop posting as I am not toeing the line. After all we don't want to draw peoples attention to side issues. People can decide themselves whether what one posts are of interest and if not move on.

And no cars parked on the side of the roads either. This must be an utopian vision!

As I see it whoever stands against Jesse Norman isn't going to displace him unfortunately. The 2015 election gave the following result: Conservative - Jesse Norman - 24,844 total votes UKIP - Nigel Ely - 7,954 total votes Labour - Anna Coda - 6,042 total votes Liberal Democrat - Lucy Hurds -5,002 total votes Green Party - Diana Toynbee - 3,415 total votes Adding up the opposition votes the total was 22,413 and that is assuming all the votes went to one person. How is that going to be organised? The only possibility is a great reduction in JN's majority of 16,890. The dilema is for those who voted for Brexit and are told they must vote Conservative to see it through. I don't see us leaving the EU. Our country has been run down by all the political parties and the BBC and I think we have gone past the point of no return. We will be shackled to the EU one way or another.

New LBJ Express in Dallas, Texas Aerial Video Shows the Vision is Becoming Reality One year after the opening of the massive and complex LBJ Express corridor, the number of vehicles using it is up 10 to 15 percent and speeds are up by 15 percent across the entire highway, project leaders say. Overall congestion is down nearly 70 percent in the past year, according to Cintra’s LBJ Infrastructure Group, which handled the project. The LBJ Express corridor, which sits along I-635 west of Luna Road to east of Greenville Avenue, fully opened in September 2015. The 13.3 mile, $2.6 billion project features managed toll lanes called TEXpress Lanes, where motorists pay more to drive freer-flowing portions when the highway is especially congested. The goal of the managed toll lanes, dubbed “Lexus lanes†because their prices rise during peak traffic, is to minimize congestion and add predictability to drivers’ commutes. The LBJ Express project began in 2011 and included the reconstruction of expanded frontage lanes and main lanes, as well as the addition of bypass lanes and managed lanes. As many as 250,000 cars travel the stretch daily. The construction includes the complete rebuild of 18 individual lanes with the tolled managed lanes below its surface throughout most of the corridor. The finished project includes new and continuous frontage roads with bypass lane sections, reconstructed general highway lanes and three additional TEXpress Lanes in each direction. Don't let the Council see this! Built for people who don't want to get out of their cars and couldn't care less about the environment. I can see the elevated sections getting across the Lammas meadows going east. The Hereford Link road is about the width of the LBJ freeway.

MINUTES OF RICHARDS CASTLE (HEREFORDSHIRE) PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT THE VILLAGE HALL AT 7.30 PM ON THURSDAY 26 JANUARY 2017 16/103 Report from Herefordshire Councillor for Bircher Ward – Ward Cllr. Bowen said Council Tax is likely to increase by 3.9 percent in 2017-18, with 2 percent of the increase earmarked for social care. As a county, there are around 25 percent more older people relative to other counties. Children’s Services have been rated as being in the top quartile for the country. By 2020 financial support from government will be minimal and the funding is expected to be replaced by business rates. Following a legal ruling against a previous highways contractor, it is hoped that an additional £9 million will become available once the legal process has concluded. Ward Cllr. Bowen said he is urging the lump sum, once available, is used to improve the roads. The locality steward acknowledges the condition of the roads. The Police and Crime Commissioner has decided not to increase the policing budget in 2017-18, however increases are expected for the subsequent three years. Warwickshire and West Mercia Police share some facilities, including IT, to increase efficiency and reduce costs. Is this Amey? Note that Richard's Castle Parish Council received £107,463.98 in the March 2017 Herefordshire Council monthly expenditure figures. Seems very generous. MINUTES OF RICHARDS CASTLE (HEREFORDSHIRE) PARISH COUNCIL EXTRAORDINARY MEETING HELD AT THE VILLAGE HALL AT 7.30 PM ON THURSDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2017 also 16/121 To invite views and discussion from members of the parish – A member of the public expressed concern at the condition of roads, specifically near the entrance to Castle Road. Ward Cllr. Bowen said the result of a legal claim with a former highways contractor is likely to result in a windfall of £8 - £12 million depending on legal fees and the appeals process. The additional funding, which Ward Cllr. Bowen is pressing to be used for the road network, may help to improve roads in Richards Castle. Up to £12 Million from £9 million within a month!

Extra funds can be found from a charge on local residents known as the chancel repairs liability that affects as many as 40% of England’s homes. This archaic rule, which dates back to Henry VIII’s reign and his dissolution of the monasteries, makes homeowners in about 5,200 parishes liable to pay for repairs to a church’s chancel: the area including the altar, the choir stalls and the roof protecting them. In 2008, one couple in the West Midlands was forced to pay more than £200,000 towards the upkeep of their parish church after an appeal to the House of Lords failed.

The government want to charge business rates on ATMs and it looks as if a lot of small shops will be taking them out. Although ATMs attached to retailers are having to pay rates, the system does not apply to free-standing cash machines within stores. Is there anything this government won't tax?

I see Stuart Flint is having an estates agents wet dream.

Herefordshire Council Smallholdings Estate For sale by direction of Herefordshire Council: An important rural portfolio for sale by informal tender 13 Sub-estates 59 Individual Lots 44 with Vacant Possession (2017) 5 let under Farm Business Tenancies beyond 2017 5 Lifetime Tenancies 5 Retirement Tenancies 36 Residential Properties Development and Investment Opportunities A varied mix of rural properties ranging from houses with gardens to residential smallholdings and bare land together with dairy, stock and arable farms of up to 330 acres with the flexibility to purchase single properties, multiple lots, sub-estates or an entire portfolio. In all about 4196.7 acres (1698.3 hectares) Closing date for offers – Midday Wednesday 5th July 2017 For further information or to make arrangements for viewing any properties we would be grateful for contact by email to herefordshire@fishergerman.co.uk or by telephone 01905 677 357. The farms are important, but the council's carpetbaggers are still selling them from under the feet of the local tax payer!

And here is Bill Wiggin's thinking: From the Public Whip website: This chart shows the percentage agreement between this MP and each of the policies in the database, according to their voting record. Agreement Policy 22% Abortion, Embryology and Euthanasia- Against 100% Academy Schools - for 50% Action to prevent domestic violence 8% Additional Rate of Income Tax - Increase 100% Against On-Shore Wind Turbines 50% Assisted Dying 82% Asylum System - More strict 100% Balance the Budget Without Borrowing 0% Ban fox hunting 12% Bankers' Bonus Tax 76% Business and community control of schools: For 100% Cap or Reduce Civil Service Redundancy Payments 100% Civil aviation pollution - For limiting 100% Closed Material Proceedure 84% Coalition Programme for Government - For 3% Control Orders 50% Crossrail - In favour 88% Cull Badgers 100% Deployment of UK armed forces in Afghanistan 50% Do more to help refugees inclding children 100% Employee Shareholder Status 100% Encourage and incentivise saving 100% End support for some 16-18 yr olds in education 6% Energy Prices - More Affordable 100% English Votes on English Laws etc. 95% Equal Number of Electors Per Constituency - for 31% European Union - For 96% Excess Bedroom Benefit Penalty for Social Tenants 100% Extend Right to Buy to Housing Associations 83% Fixed Term Parliaments 17% For the UK to Remain a Member of the EU 20% Foundation hospitals - In favour 0% Fox hunting - Ban 23% Fully Elected House of Lords 6% Further Devolution to Scotland 6% Further devolution to Wales 47% Gambling - Against permissiveness 100% GP Commissioning in the NHS 87% Higher taxes on alcoholic drinks 60% Higher taxes on banks 100% Hold a UK referendum on Lisbon EU Treaty 27% Homosexuality - Equal rights 42% HS2 - In Favour 18% Human Rights and Equality 12% Identity cards - For introduction 100% In Favour of Mass Surveillance 40% Incentivise Low Carbon Electricity Generation 67% Incentivise membership of press regulator 100% Increase Air Passenger Duty 100% Increase the income tax - tax free allowance 92% Increase VAT 17% Inheritance Tax 99% Iraq 2003 - For the invasion 85% Iraq Investigation - Necessary 6% Jobs Guarantee for Long Term Young Unemployed 0% Limit NHS Foundation Trust Private Patient Income 100% Localise Council Tax Support 58% Lower taxes on petrol & diesel for motor vehicles 100% Make High Earners Pay Market Rent for Council Home 19% Make it easier to trigger a new election for an MP 25% Mansion Tax 66% Mass Retention of Communications Data 47% Measures to reduce tax avoidance. 100% Merge Police and Fire under Police & Crime Cmmr 100% Military Action against Daesh / ISIL 1% Ministers Can Intervene in Coroners' Inquests 16% Minumum Wage 50% More funds for social care 0% More Generous Benefits for Ill and Disabled 31% More powers for local councils 35% No detention without charge or trial 0% No Polls Clash With MP Election System Referendum 57% Nuclear power - For 1% Parliamentary scrutiny - Reduce 17% Pension auto-enrolment - For 100% Phase out of Tenancies for Life 100% Police and Crime Commissioners 0% Post office - in favour of Government policy 100% Post office closures - against 0% Prevent abuse of zero hours contracts 100% Privatise Royal Mail 65% Promote Occupational Pensions 6% Proportional Representation Voting System - For 54% Protesting near Parliament - Unrestricted 16% Public Ownership of Railways 0% Rail Fares - Lower 95% Recreational drugs - Against legalization 86% Reduce capital gains tax 92% Reduce central funding for local government 97% Reduce Spending on Welfare Benefits 96% Reduce the rate of Corporation Tax 85% Reducing the number of MPs - for 100% Referendum on Alternative Vote for MP Elections 72% Referendum on the UK's membership of the EU - For 100% Referendums for Directly Elected City Mayors 71% Register of Lobbyists 50% Regulation of Shale Gas Extraction 40% Remove Hereditary Peers from the House of Lords 100% Replace Higher Education Grants with Loans 38% Require Pub Companies to Offer Rent Only Leases 100% Restrict 3rd party campaigners during elections 90% Restrict Scope of Legal Aid 0% Retain funds from council house sales locally 100% Retention of Business Rates by Local Government 12% Right for EU Citizens in the UK to Stay 36% Right to strike 39% Same Sex Marriage - for 100% Schools - Greater Autonomy 100% Sell England's Public Forests 16% Smoking ban - In favour 9% State control of bus services 35% Stop climate change 6% Stronger Military Covenant 56% Tax Incentives for Companies Investing in Assets 0% Teach children about drugs, sexuality and health 0% Termination of pregnancy - against 19% Terrorism laws - For 100% The UK should not ratify the Lisbon Treaty 100% Tougher on illegal immigration 100% Trade Union Regulation 26% Transexuality - Against legal recognition 54% Transparency of Parliament 100% Trident replacement - In favour 100% Tuition fees - Set Upper Limit at £9,000 per Year 93% University education fees - Should be free 46% University Tuition Fees - For 97% Use of UK Military Forces Overseas 0% Voting age - Reduce to 16 17% War - Parliamentary authority not necessary 0% Welfare benefits ought rise in line with prices

Is it an election about Brexit or endorsing further conservative policies for the next term? This gives an insight into Jesse's thinking while an MP. From the Public Whip website: This chart shows the percentage agreement between this MP and each of the policies in the database, according to their voting record. Agreement Policy 50% Abortion, Embryology and Euthanasia- Against 100% Academy Schools - for 33% Action to prevent domestic violence 16% Additional Rate of Income Tax - Increase 72% Against On-Shore Wind Turbines 50% Assisted Dying 100% Asylum System - More strict 99% Balance the Budget Without Borrowing 8% Bankers' Bonus Tax 100% Business and community control of schools: For 80% Cap or Reduce Civil Service Redundancy Payments 67% Closed Material Proceedure 76% Coalition Programme for Government - For 75% Cull Badgers 50% Deployment of UK armed forces in Afghanistan 50% Do more to help refugees including children 70% Employee Shareholder Status 100% Encourage and incentivise saving 100% End support for some 16-18 yr olds in education 6% Energy Prices - More Affordable 50% English Votes on English Laws etc. 78% Equal Number of Electors Per Constituency - for 48% European Union - For 80% Excess Bedroom Benefit Penalty for Social Tenants 100% Extend Right to Buy to Housing Associations 60% Fixed Term Parliaments 11% For the UK to Remain a Member of the EU 1% Fully Elected House of Lords 16% Further Devolution to Scotland 24% Further devolution to Wales 0% Gambling - Against permissiveness 100% GP Commissioning in the NHS 85% Higher taxes on alcoholic drinks 60% Higher taxes on banks 78% Homosexuality - Equal rights 67% HS2 - In Favour 33% Human Rights and Equality 50% In Favour of Mass Surveillance 20% Incentivise Low Carbon Electricity Generation 50% Incentivise membership of press regulator 89% Increase Air Passenger Duty 90% Increase the income tax - tax free allowance 88% Increase VAT 17% Inheritance Tax 0% Iraq Investigation - Necessary 0% Jobs Guarantee for Long Term Young Unemployed 0% Limit NHS Foundation Trust Private Patient Income 88% Localise Council Tax Support 64% Lower taxes on petrol & diesel for motor vehicles 90% Make High Earners Pay Market Rent for Council Home 50% Make it easier to trigger a new election for an MP 0% Mansion Tax 78% Mass Retention of Communications Data 39% Measures to reduce tax avoidance. 100% Merge Police and Fire under Police & Crime Cmmr 83% Military Action against Daesh / ISIL 32% Minimum Wage 0% More funds for social care 7% More Generous Benefits for Ill and Disabled 33% More powers for local councils 50% No detention without charge or trial 0% No Polls Clash With MP Election System Referendum 100% Nuclear power - For 100% Pension auto-enrolment - For 100% Phase out of Tenancies for Life 92% Police and Crime Commissioners 0% Prevent abuse of zero hours contracts 100% Privatise Royal Mail 100% Promote Occupational Pensions 22% Proportional Representation Voting System - For 34% Public Ownership of Railways 0% Rail Fares - Lower 86% Reduce capital gains tax 100% Reduce central funding for local government 90% Reduce Spending on Welfare Benefits 90% Reduce the rate of Corporation Tax 83% Reducing the number of MPs - for 81% Referendum on Alternative Vote for MP Elections 69% Referendum on the UK's membership of the EU - For 79% Referendums for Directly Elected City Mayors 60% Register of Lobbyists 63% Regulation of Shale Gas Extraction 1% Remove Hereditary Peers from the House of Lords 100% Replace Higher Education Grants with Loans 25% Require Pub Companies to Offer Rent Only Leases 96% Restrict 3rd party campaigners during elections 90% Restrict Scope of Legal Aid 25% Retain funds from council house sales locally 100% Retention of Business Rates by Local Government 12% Right for EU Citizens in the UK to Stay 42% Right to strike 81% Same Sex Marriage - for 96% Schools - Greater Autonomy 100% Sell England's Public Forests 63% Smoking ban - In favour 9% State control of bus services 28% Stop climate change 33% Stronger Military Covenant 41% Tax Incentives for Companies Investing in Assets 0% Teach children about drugs, sexuality and health 50% Terrorism laws - For 100% Tougher on illegal immigration 95% Trade Union Regulation 100% Trident replacement - In favour 100% Tuition fees - Set Upper Limit at £9,000 per Year 100% University Tuition Fees - For 70% Use of UK Military Forces Overseas 20% Voting age - Reduce to 16 0% Welfare benefits ought rise in line with prices

Do Jesse and Bill know there is an election being called or are they still hibernating?

Passing through Maylords this afternoon and not that Trepass outdoor shop is closing 16th June.

52 office and retail premises advertised on the Council's Commercial premises register. When people are paying tax on their earnings and then VAT on purchases not much left to support local business. People are forced to be frugal in these austere times courtesy of our local and national governments.