megilleland

Another unfortunate death for a family and another vacant seat on the Council. Also noted Sir Ben Gill has died. Chairman of Visit Herefordshire from 2010

I had a walk around the OLM on Thursday to experience the latest retail therapy. Entered on foot from Blackfriars Street and the first impression was that I was in the midst of a car park which dominated the development and it should have been either in an extended multi storey or underground facility. Shoppers will have to carry their shopping across the car park in adverse weather. The vast swathes of paving could have incorporated a restful, green area with water features and platform for outdoor events. I could not find any toilets easily accessible and had to go to the Imperial to relieve myself. The only other toilet I could think of was in Tesco. I agree that the absence of an ATM was a bit of a surprise. Noted several cyclists cycling through the OLM - a bit different to the ban in High Town and Widemarsh Street. Very quiet today, maybe people not wanting to fight their way across the city due to the May Fair. The stores obviously fresh and more open will appeal to most shoppers. I saw a shirt that I may go back to buy. Regarding the goods on display the standard was a bit obvious, no outstanding window displays - lots of shelving/racking with items just plonked on them, especially in TK Max. I felt Dunhelms, down Holmer, provides a better selection of practical home products. This is also a problem that needs to be addressed by the independent shops in the rest of the city, so many are covered with sales posters and retail stickers - looks very tatty. The window display is an opportunity to entice shoppers. The escalators and lifts in the stores is a move forward, but you would expect this for £90m. It would be interesting to know the socio-ecenomics of those male and female shoppers using the OLM. I didn't try any of the food establishments. I am very wary of eating experiences that are marketed and branded to appeal to a style of diner. I want the money spent on the staff and catering not on themed interiors. I wonder if the steak house is using local sourced products? As stated previously I wouldn't want to sit outside Costa Coffee with all the traffic movements and fumes on Widemarsh Gate. I counted over 22 traffic light columns at this junction and the pedestrians are still treated second rate. The other crossing to Tesco is also slow in changing and favours traffic - so much for shared space. No doubt when more shops and the cinema are opened on site things will look busier, but whether it will entice us to part with our cash I for one will very much doubt it. British Land who own the site reckon to keep retail businesses in their development for an average stay of 11 years before there is a turnover. I think this average could drop in future even though the government are telling us austerity is over for the many.

Are you telling us that a railway halt at Rotherwas will cost £10m? This sort of money should be spent across the city. No one will ever use it. All those in Hereford aren't going to drive to the main railway staion to catch a train to Rotherwas. It will be quicker to drive directly there (subject to time of day) and for those who can get out of their car and onto a bike the journey time from the furthest point of the city can only be 1/2 hour using the new Greenway link.

Are you telling us that a railway halt at Rotherwas will cost £10m? This sort of money should be spent across the city. No one will ever use it. All those in Hereford aren't going to drive to the main railway staion to catch a train to Rotherwas. It will be quicker to drive directly there (subject to time of day) and for those who can get out of their car and onto a bike the journey time from the furthest point of the city can only be 1/2 hour using the new Greenway link.

From The Independent today: Go to an independent operator and keep the money circulating in Hereford. I enjoy my coffees in Gilbies (pay for six and get the seventh free).

Worth every penny he gets?

PLANS for a new fire station in Hereford will be on show at a ‘drop in’ event on Wednesday May 14. Have they changed the date?

I notice there may be a council election called following the death of Cllr Peter Watts (Con, Ledbury) after a long illness. Would the council have to have an election even though we are only a year away from the next poll in May 2015? Past result here: News report in Hereford Times - Wednesday 7th May 2014 TRIBUTES have flooded in for passionate councillor, paratrooper and firefighter who died on Monday evening, aged 66.

I understand the councils have had over a thousand complaints. That's a lot of votes to pick up in the coming local elections - that is if we can find the polling stations.

Charity No 0666004513. This charity was removed from the Charity Commissioner - exempt. No information, not accountable considering it must have received some government finance. Take the money and run.

I see they have a web site created for OLM on their website here. Says it all. I wonder if these shops will be around in 11 years once they have to pay the business rates. Also notice they own 50% of the TESCO site at Belmont.

HEREFORDSHIRE’S RIVER BRIDGES Thursday 15th May, Kindle Centre, (by Asda) 7 pm for 7.30 pm start. John Faulkner will give an illustrated lecture on this popular subject from the perspective of a local Civil Engineer. But the day before .... if you are interested or concerned about the building of a new fire station on the site of the former Working Boys Home on Bath Street, The Fire Service is showing off its new fire station plans next Wednesday 14th May 2.00 - 8.00 pm at the Fire Station on St Owen Street - enter via Daws Road. More info on page 22 in last weeks Hereford Times or contact consultation@hwfire.org.uk or call 0845 122 4454 Everyone is welcome to HCS events, so please forward this to friends and colleagues. Members enjoy free admission to talks, visitors £3 each, refunded if you join HCS on the night. If anyone is interested in contributing to the running of Hereford Civic Society, contact John Bothamley on john@johnbothamley.co.uk or 01981580002.

He's obviously good at Maths!

Crikey Twowheels this has to be the word of the week! pae·an [pee-uhn] noun 1. any song of praise, joy, or triumph. 2. a hymn of invocation or thanksgiving to Apollo or some other ancient Greek deity.

Thanks Glenda. It all looks a bit convoluted. con·vo·lut·ed [kon-vuh-loo-tid] adjective complicated; intricately involved: a convoluted way of describing a simple device..

Maybe they should pick out the council parking spaces in a colour, so that at least the customers can make sure their parking fee gets back to the council and not the developers - although there is little between them.

BBC H&W Radio: 5 May 2014 Who is the owner and responsible for the country park? According to the parish councils and wards map it falls within the Hereford City Parish Council (Belmont ward) boundaries on the one hand and in the (Belmont ward) of the County Council on the other. Confused? Belmont Rural Parish Council falls into the Belmont ward of the County Council so I assume its the CC who are responsible.

Harry do you have a link to BID for further information and are T4C involved.

Not clear how this works? 153 spaces out of 604 spaces is 25.3% and the council is getting 92% revenue from these spaces. Are these spaces designated ones. And if they are, I bet those spaces are on top of the car park or at the furthest point from the shops. But still cannot see how it is going to work. Let's say the OLM is full and takes £10,000 in a day. The council will get 25% of this from their designated spaces ie £2500 and then taking 92% of this £2500 end up with £2300. If the car spaces are empty they get £92% of nothing.

Also noticed that the Edgar Street Roundabout could do with a spruce up as it has been used as a place to park vehicles involved with the road works both by Highway Agency and OLM.

Also the cemetery between Canal Road and Commercial Road

I was thinking the same thing the other day. Plus you get to take in the traffic fumes and noise. The whole OLM development is strangled by traffic, that passing by on Edgar Street, and its shoppers' cars parked on acres of tarmac. Hardly a quiet oasis to enjoy and relax in.

Two short lengths of road are about to open at a combined cost of £1bn. They represent a last hurrah for expensive road projects in an era of cost-cutting. Link road seems a bargain!!

The council are obviously in cahoots with BB in not spending money on our local environment. Maybe its time to ask some pertinent questions about the service we are getting. A helpful guide "Council Accounts: A guide to your rights (Update July 2013) " can be found here. This extract sums up what individuals can do:

And the uncut grass around the estates looks unsightly - BB are just not interested and the Council fail to see outside of the OLM, that the rest of the city is slowly slipping into unkempt dereliction. dereliction (ˌdɛrɪˈlɪkʃən) — n 1. deliberate, conscious, or wilful neglect (esp in the phrase dereliction of duty ) 2. the act of abandoning or deserting or the state of being abandoned or deserted