megilleland

Police call time on crack down Police step up patrols in park

This piece on fly-tipping in Wales highlights the scale of the problem. Also this report provides information and facts: Waste Crime: Tackling Britain’s Dirty Secret A report commissioned by the Environmental Services Association Education Trust (ESAET), written by Eunomia Research & Consulting. Plenty of other useful information here.

You are right Frank. The short notice of this event appears to have been triggered by HV comments and photos. I saw someone yesterday clearing a stretch of highway verge from Mordiford to Hampton Bishop wearing a Streetscene hi viz. Today the collected rubbish in 6 black bags is waiting to be picked up.

A very critical analysis of what is coming to our doorsteps very soon. These politicians will get away with it - where I live you need to watch where you tread on the grass verges so it will be difficult to tell whether these hopefuls have passed this way.

I was listening to Radio 4 - You & Yours (starts at 05:50) and this piece on the business rates came up. Worth a few minutes of a retailer's time, but they only have till the end of this month to lodge an appeal whch could get them a rebate over the last 5 years. Before the economic crash a lot of high street retailers weren't concerned about how much they paid in business rates. The good times were rolling and retail profits were growing. But then shops began to close - vacancy rates in town centres increased and rents began to fall. But business rates, which are calculated on the rentable value of a shop, remained high. Many companies think they may have over paid on their business rates - some estimate by £1 billion. They've only have to the 31st March to try and get it back.

Interesting piece here on Radio 4 - You & Yours (Starts at 05:45) Before the economic crash a lot of high street retailers weren't concerned about how much they paid in business rates. The good times were rolling and retail profits were growing. But then shops began to close - vacancy rates in town centres increased and rents began to fall. But business rates, which are calculated on the rentable value of a shop, remained high. Many companies think they may have over paid on their business rates - some estimate by £1 billion. They've only have to the 31st March to try and get it back.

A bit like the Conservative Budget presentation by George Osborne - it sounded fantastic, but apparently they pursuing their policy of cut, cut and more cuts. Do we really need another five years of this treatment?

Ubique - upper and lower case is ok. The ad looks clean and tidy and to the point - well done Colin. The only suggestion I would make is put YOUR Hereford YOUR Voice! YOUR vote YOUR choice! in bold type

At the Kindle Centre, starting at the earlier time of 7 pm. Speakers will include both parliamentary and local candidates standing in the May elections and non-politicians, all of whom are keen to help shape the future of this county. Thursday 19th March 2015 Hereford's Education What will be the shape of education provision over the next 10 years Schools, New University, Free schools etc Diana Toynbee, Green Party Parliamentary Candidate Cllr. S Bowen, Independent Karen Usher, Project Leader, The New University, Hereford Sue Woodrow, Headteacher, Aylestone Business & Enterprise College TONIGHT

Here is a bit of light relief with this Sky News Budget Rap Battle video. The real thing is this Wednesday 18th March. Countdown timer to General Election 7th May 2015

Everything about pensions and the Council in their Statement of Accounts 2014 to 2015. If you search for "pensions" there are a 100 occurences.

It sounds as if someone should have declared an interest.

Is the Open University still going?

It appears that the tail is wagging the dog with this Balfour Beatty lot. With the council washing its hands regarding any civic pride and telling us that BB will be responsible for public realm work we now have BB telling Ledbury Council if they want the grass cut then the potholes will be left. The town council believed, following recent talks with Herefordshire Council, that funding would not be available for a lengthsman to undertake grass cutting duties. Cllr Eager said: "We had a meeting with the lengthsman of Colwall and Malvern Wells. He went into great detail describing how the scheme works. The lengthsman we spoke to wasn't trained up to do potholes and he said he didn't know many lengthsman who were." But he said that a lengthsman scheme, involving pothole repairs, had been trialled by three local parishes last year. What sort of contract was considered acceptable, that when BB are awarded it they then turn round and tell the customer that you won't be getting a full service and that they will decide the type of service you can expect. However in the meantime the cheques get cashed, but no refunds for half a service.

Harry have a look at this topic started back last March 2014 and containing 57 posts. If you do a search the word "university" crops up in 34 other topics. Some refer to the Robert Owen School in Blackfriars Street so I don't think this has been missed or not mentioned at all.

The Independent today: See the winners and losers here.

Talking of transport strategies and the proposed development at Holmer West, Hereford TECHNICAL NOTE Date: 19th November 2013 Project: Holmer West, Hereford Title: Note Regarding Bus Services November 2013 DRAFT (extracts) This shows that in the morning peak there is quite a good range of departures into the city centre; though some are indirect in their routing, i.e. 72B dep.0750 and 77A dep.0837. The afternoon is less good, there being no departure after 1805, and the service 802 departure at 1715 running college days only. 1.5 Sunday services comprise five departures each way on service 492, running between Hereford and Leominster; four departures connect with Hereford Railway Station and three departures extend to/from Ludlow]. The first towards the city centre departs at 0929, arriving at 0942; then departing at 1159, 1459, 1759 and 1929. Departures from the city centre are at 0832, 0954, 1254, 1554, and 1824, arriving at 1837. 1.6 There is no evening services other than the final departure on service 492 to the city centre, at 1917 on Weekdays and Saturday and at 1929 on Sunday. 2.1 Liaison has been undertaken with Alan Lewis, Public Transport Manager at Herefordshire Council, regarding the appropriate provision for bus travel from the proposed development. 2.5 While he did not explicitly specify a need for provision of evening and Sunday bus services in his email, in a telephone conversation on 14+^ November Mr Lewis suggested broad aims for a Sunday service in terms of serving retail travel destinations; he gave no particular guidance regarding evening travel markets. Sounds as if this is going to fit into the transport plan that is already not running throughout the city.

Plan of proposed development:

Please provide information on the existing and proposed number of on-site parking spaces: Total proposed (including spaces retained) Cars: 854 Cycle spaces: 460

Letter from NHS:

This looks as if the floodgates for housing are about to open. Letter from Sport England making good points about open space and playing fields - at least they are "on the ball". Lot more detail in letter of what they would expect from developer contributions.

Sites that our younger people may be interested in looking at before the election. UK Youth parliament Run by young people, the UK Youth Parliament provides opportunities for 11-18 year-olds to use their voice in creative ways to bring about social change. and Sky News’ “Stand Up Be Counted campaign†In the run up to the General Election the British Youth Council and UK Youth Parliament are pleased to be partnering up with the Sky News’ “Stand Up Be Counted campaign†in the run up to the General Election. As we know – many young people’s views are not heard, or listened to enough by politicians. But Sky and the BYC want to change that. We’re committed to putting their voice at the heart of our media coverage. It’s something we care passionately about. So, we hope all members of the Youth Parliament, Young Mayors and Councillors will use this platform to speak out about issues that they matter to them. Hot topics Are you aged 16-25? Do you live in one of the areas listed - the ones that'll decide the outcome of the election in May? Then we want to hear from YOU! At the moment no interest registered in Herefordshire.

The Independent today: Is the PM interested because of an election coming up soon?

List of planning public notices affecting the city It is a legal requirement for the council to give public notice of certain types of planning application and other planning matters by the display of an advert in a local newspaper. If you wish to comment, please follow the advice contained in the notice. The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2010 Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, Sections 67 & 73 Application Types: P - Planning permission L - Listed Building Consent SL - Affecting the setting of a Listed Building AC - Affecting a Conservation Area D - Not in accordance with the provisions of the Development Plan RW - Affecting a public right of way T - For a telecommunications mast 5th March 2015 150244 – AC SL Renewal of roof to rear wing, to facilitate an additional residential dwelling within and associated alterations. 30 Union Street, Hereford 12th March 2015 150543 - AC Demolition of existing single storey side area and construction of single storey extension. 3 Ainslie Close, Hereford 150522 & 150524 - AC L SL Alterations to a dwelling and erection of detached garage. 33 Broomy Hill, Hereford 150478 – D P RW SL Erection of up to 460 dwellings including affordable housing, public open space, a Park & Ride facility, with associated landscaping access, drainage and other associated works. Land to the north of the Roman Road west of the A49, Holmer West, Hereford If you wish to make representations or comments you can during the period of 21 days beginning with the date of the publication of this notice quoting the relevant number: By the Website: Using the online comment form By e-mail to: [email protected]<script cf-hash='f9e31' type="text/javascript"> /* */</script> By post to: - Planning Services, PO Box 230, Hereford, HR1 2ZB ANDREW ASHCROFT (Assistant Director)

Friday 13 March 2015 The Independent