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Cycling across Hereford today one could could enjoy the suburban scene highlighted with the detritus of mattresses/bedding, shopping trollies, overflowing waste bins and examples of fly tipping. A truly wonderful ride. Some of this rubbish is deemed to be so culturally important that it is has remained on exhibit for many years and acts as a waymarker to where you are in the city. Will 2015 see a clean up of these contributions - I hope so. End of Penhaligon Way by the railway crossing Great Western Way Great Western Way between ALDI and The Courtyard

Today I cycled down to Franklin House to make further enquiries about the problem of litter at Sherborne Close. I was referred to Environmental Health who then passed me onto Waste Management following a ten minute delay in answering their phone. The person I needed to speak to was not available, but would ring me back on their return. It was confirmed that Waste Management (T: 01432 260051) are the department to contact over bin bags and other obstructions on the public highway ie footpaths. I then called into the police station and asked whether any constables were authorised to issue a community protection notice under section 43 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. They will ring me back to discuss this. From here I went to Jubilee House and spoke to the Newton Farm Neighbourhood Manager and she explained that a clear up of the rubbish was been undertaken at this very moment. She confirmed that rubbish on the footpath is the responsibilty of Herefordshire Council. There is also a meeting and site visit planned tomorrow at Sherborne Close to see what the situation is after the bin men have collected the black bags. I raised the point about the siting of big bins in this area to contain rubbish, but HH say that this is not possible due to problems experienced in other areas using big bins. They have decided to issue black and green bins for residents to put their rubbish in - a step in the right direction. Cycling back home through Sherborne Close I came across the HH team clearing the mess up and all the rubbish and fly-tipping has been removed. The only area affected as a result of rubbish being blown around is the grassed area behind the electricity sub station - the responsibilty of the Council (Balfour Beatty). The HH workmen confirmed that they were going to litter pick the remaining area of Sherborne Close following the bin collection tomorrow. So the problem has been dealt with, although I told the Neighbourhood Manager the problem will re-occur without a proper waste disposal plan. A task force should be established to deal with any problems in each of the Hereford City's eight wards .Maybe some local party will put this in their manifesto before the elections. (see topic here)

Message received

I am off this coming week smartieno, and taking your advice on board, I will be contacting the usual contacts again, Herefordshire Housing (Newton Farm Neighbourhood Officer), Herefordshire Council (Environmental Health, Flytipping) and a trip to the local police station to see a constable. I'll let you know how I get on. I am sure we'll get this sorted out in no time!

I trust this group are involved with the High Town investment.

Hereford Civic Society event: Business Improvement District (BID) John Jones, MD of Philip Morris, will give an update on development of the Hereford City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) initiative for Hereford civic society. Thursday 15th January 7pm for 7.30pm, upstairs at Kindle Centre, behind Asda. HCS Members free admission. Visitors £3 each, refunded if you join HCS on the night.

Can't see how I can take direct action using the advice you suggest, other than a private action through the courts. Am I right?

Thanks Glenda. I hope something is done quick. This area is not street lit at night so you don't know what you are going to step into.

Spoke to Herefordshire Housing this afternoon and was told the matter was being looked into and that they thought they had the problem under control. I told them that no-one had been to look at the rubbish as they would have been shocked at the mess. The neighbourhood manager is going to call me next week. Meanwhile the rubbish is flying around the area in the strong winds and there are babies nappies over the footpath. The mattress is still a feature along the Great Western Way and the bins between ALDI and the Courtyard are all over-flowing. Maybe Balfour Beatty start work next week? Other parts of the city are also a disgrace.

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 25th December 2014 and 8th January 2015 No applications affecting City 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: planning_enquiries@herefordshire.gov.uk By post to: - Planning Services, PO Box 230, Hereford, HR1 2ZB ANDREW ASHCROFT (Assistant Director)

There is now such a mess in Sherborne Close you can't work out, from the rubbish left, whether the bags were put out on the wrong day or the binmen couldn't decide what to take or leave. I think it is getting very close to a private prosecution being made. Could Mark Willmot give any advice on what is an acceptable standard that we council tax payers can expect? I assume that individuals (tenants) are responsible for disposing their household rubbish from a specific point and manner, as laid down by their registered social landlord regulations, and collected in a satisfactory and safe manner without health risk to the public by the council. As no one sees it as their responsibility to do something to stop this problem, it looks as if a direction from a court hearing is the only way forward. By co-incidence litter was discussed yesterday by the HOC COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Tuesday 6 January 2015 Witnesses Cherry Lewis-Taylor, McDonald's Franchisee, McDonald's Restaurants Ltd, Giles Roca, Director General, Tobacco Manufacturers Association, and David Sedaris, author, broadcaster and campaigner on litter Jane Bickerstaffe, Director, Industry Council for Research on Packaging and the Environment, Jacob Hayler, Executive Director, Environmental Services Association, Martin Kersh, Executive Director, Foodservice Packaging Association, and Alex West, Senior Manager for Corporate Affairs, the Wrigley Company Ltd The Committee held the first oral evidence session of its inquiry into litter and fly-tipping on Tuesday 25 November. In this session the Committee examined trends in litter and fly-tipping, local responses to these problems and the adequacy of legislation relating to litter and fly-tipping. Witnesses 4.15pm: Samantha Harding, Campaign Manager, Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) (Submission 69) George Monck, Chief Executive, CleanupUK (Submission 66) Mick Wright, Former Head of Waste Management, Luton Borough Council (Submission 25) 5.00pm: Sean Lawson, Head of Environmental Services, Rugby Borough Council (Submission 75) Shaun Morley, Head of Waste Management, London Borough of Wandsworth (Submission 41) Considering the regular points covered there is no mention of local authority black bag collections adding to the problem.

Your comment seems to be borne out in Worcester and elsewhere in the UK: Friday 2 January 2015 in Worcester News Violent crime in Worcester rises by nearly one-fifth in a year SHOCK statistics reveal the number of violent crimes committed in Worcester has risen by almost one-fifth in the past year. The latest figures show that between January and November 2014, there were 1,601 violent incidents - compared to 1,346 in the same period the year before. This equates to a year-on-year increase of 18.9 per cent, according to data on the UKCrimeStats website. And last week in Redbridge: Police deny rise in knife crime and gang link after four stabbed in one week Fears knife crime could be on the rise in Redbridge have been played down by police – who said last week’s spate of attacks were not connected.

A lot of people say that UKIP have no policies. I have taken this off their website and find that I agree with a lot of their policies. The only exception is their policy on fracking - this I do not support as it threatens our water courses and supplies. Anyone got any comments about these policies, and what do the other parties say about their policies which contradict UKIP's standpoint. Time to get informed, the election clock is ticking down.

Following the debate on here that a lot local councillors are rather shy to come on board to discuss issues raised by their electorate, this piece In the Guardian today does highlight the importance of engaging with us. At least someone give us 5 minutes or a couple of posts. Countdown timer to General Election 7th May 2015

The two parties are creating a distraction as they both realise they may not do so well as they thought. I don't believe either of them.

Hello Glenda. I didn't know this rubbish is down to one family. I find this hard to believe. The bags are put out gradually, always days ahead of the collection. What if they had a black bin supplied, they wouldn't be able to get more than 4 bags in it. If the family is known, what about prosecuting them for fly tipping? Yes there have been many tidy ups following complaints, but that isn't the answer to the problem, big bins are.

Agree with you here Aylestone Voice. If they can't get the basics sorted out what hope is there for the more serious issues you raise. I have just taken some photos today of Sherborne Close which I have posted here. I am hoping that the mattress and shopping trollies on Great Western Way will get removed this coming week following Christmess.

Still no progress since June 2010. The problem persists and no one is interested in sorting it out. Maybe they need a Director of Rubbish on £100,000 a year to draw up a plan to prevent this happening or maybe employ a few consultants. The answer is to supply large bins so that the residents can put their bags in them - simple yes? That took me about 2 minutes to work out and only 39p of my time.

Countdown timer to General Election 7th May 2015 An important year for all concerned. Let's hope that it turns out better this time round - I have had enough of this government's inflicted misery. Only 65% of the electorate voted with 36.1% of them voting Conservative, 29% voting Lib Dem, 23% voting and 11.9% voting for others. Any ideas on which way this years election is going to pan out? I imagine we will be told all the usual lies leading up to the general election and find ourselves, back where we started, in the mire again. No change for the plebs. An interesting article in The Mail on Sunday by Sir Roy Strong looking ahead to what 2015 has in store. Found I agreed with a lot he said. Oh and by the way I hope everyone had a Happy Christmas, as it looks as if 2015 is not going to be a prosperous year for many of us.

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 18th December 2014 P143556/O - D New housing. Magnis Works, Roman Road, Bobblestock, Hereford P143608/F – AC SL Conversion from house to 7 self-contained flats - works to include extensions and alterations. 9 Aylestone Hill, Hereford P143465/F - AC Ground floor extension and alterations to shop. Change of use of first floor to self-contained flat. 160 Eign Street, 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: planning_enquiries@herefordshire.gov.uk By post to: - Planning Services, PO Box 230, Hereford, HR1 2ZB ANDREW ASHCROFT (Assistant Director)

http://www.herefordvoice.co.uk/topic/1577-outsourcing-of-council-services/?do=findComment&comment=18430 The local Unison branch calculates that Barnet council will shrink from having 3,200 staff in September 2012 to just 332.

Interesting article in The Guardian today confirming how bad things will get - sounds familiar in Herefordshire. The local authorities are just conduits for passing taxes, monies and grants to private companies, partnerships and unelected bodies such as The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership. I also read that yesterday that Scotland Yard commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe is driving an idea to reduce more than 30 forces in England and Wales, to create nine super-forces, based on the regional boundaries. I imagine these will be riot poice. The police are showing interest in those attending public meetings as here at Canterbury Christ Church University.

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 11th December 2014 P143548/F - AC Replacement of existing shop front and separate access to upper floor levels. Alterations to upper floor windows to front. Alterations to rear elevation upper floor fire escape door. 26 Commercial Street, Hereford P143553/L – AC L SL Removal of internal stairs, relocation of existing window and shelves, installation of extractor fan. 14/15 High Town, Hereford P143581/F – AC SL Change of use of part of fourth floor to Class A2. Broadway House, 32 Broad Street, Hereford P143565/F & P143566/A - AC Painting of shop front and rear elevation and advertisement consent for the lettering and logo on the existing fascias on the Commercial Street and Union Street elevations. 46 Commercial Street, Hereford P143583/A - SL Advertisement consent to display 1 off set of high level face illuminated letters. Debenhams, Unit 1 Old Cattle Market, Edgar Street, Hereford P143591/O- AC D RW SL 8 detached dwellings. Newcourt Farm, Huntington Lane, Hereford P143438/L – AC L SL Conversion of existing store area to ambulant toilet. Hereford Cathedral School, 31 Castle Street, 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: planning_enquiries@herefordshire.gov.uk By post to: - Planning Services, PO Box 230, Hereford, HR1 2ZB ANDREW ASHCROFT (Assistant Director)

Excellent presentation. Nothing like seeing the council in the flesh. Can anyone supply any background information on Intermetmedia - what their interest and aims are. There is little to find out on the internet. They appear to be highlighting Herefordshire issues very well visually. Are these being pursued politically or just produced as a record? What audience are they hoping to attract? Cllr Johnson is right in that he has had little comment from the public on cabinet issues, but this does not allow him to turn a deaf ear because it suits those in power. If it wasn't for Hereford Voice, there are several issues which would have gone through on the nod of a small group of the council. It is also this same group that are feathering their own nests, through partnership schemes and the LEP.