twowheelsgood

Spot on comment. Motorists kill 3000+ people every year, including cyclists, and its accepted that that’s just the way it is. Cyclists kill on average 3 people per year. The issue with bikes is that anyone aged from 6 to 100 can ride them - I doubt very much that any 15 year old pavement riding oik has even heard of the Highway Code, even assuming he can read. So, it's a question of education as much as anything. I don't condone law breaking, I don't do it when I'm on my bike but then I'm old school, but I will very occasionally ride on a pavement where the road is simply too dangerous to do otherwise (south of Belmont roundabout for instance), but I'll always stop/give way to any pedestrians. Just to correct some of the comments further up the thread - this IS allowed and the Police are well aware of it. I do regularly cycle over the Vicky Bridge, but only when there is no one on it, otherwise I'll walk - it's just a common courtesy (and in fact I did get a 'ruling' from the ward councillor that he would support this if it was ever challenged). I do have third party insurance for my own safety - I'm far more likely to be knocked off by a speeding Audi (very nearly, twice this year) than I am to cause an accident - but that's my choice and it would be impossible to make it compulsory, and nor should it be.

Looking back at the ESG Masterplan '20 Year Vision', adopted in 2007 (so we're halfway through it ...) Phase 1, 2010 - 2012 • Commence Station Approach redevelopment • Construction of link road including land assembly and clearance (route options under consideration between A-B) • Land assembly and construction of new car park for Royal Mail, to south west of existing Royal Mail building • Establish pedestrian connection between railway station and Blackfriars • Widemarsh Brook diversion - route options under consideration • Initial works at Station Square and transport hub • Streetscaping to Widemarsh Street So far behind schedule, they've quietly abandoned this multi-million pound Masterplan (that’s just the fees to consultants by the way) and started again with the Hereford Area Plan and lots of new (different) quarters. More of a job creation scheme than a constructive approach to the future, but that's the way Council's continue to roll with our money.

Due to open 'end of the year' - it takes a long time to wire up 100 traffic lights and to make sure that none of them talk to each other. The transport hub is a future proposal - you didn't expect that as well did you! It was of course a key part of the ESG Masterplan and should have been delivered years ago.

I was pointing out that none of the immediate priorities had been addressed six years (not five as I previously said) after they had been identified and put in the public domain. One of the best-preserved major historic cities anywhere in England deserves to be properly managed.

In September 2011, Herefordshire Council published the hugely impressive and comprehensive 'Hereford City Defences - a conservation management plan’. Download all three parts from here www.herefordshire.gov.uk/downloads/download/53/archaeology_and_the_historic_environment_record The study concluded in part; A recent characterisation study of its historic townscape concluded that Hereford is – measurably and objectively – one of the best-preserved major historic cities anywhere in England, with only one minor street added within the walls since the Middle Ages (Herefordshire Archaeology report 266, 2010). The city walls are an integral part of that historic townscape and any enhancement of them will add materially to the historic character of the city as a whole. A number of simple measures are outlined in this plan to do just that, without the necessity for any capital-intensive programmes of works. Properly maintained, made more accessible, displayed and interpreted within an improved setting and properly promoted, the city walls can play a leading role in a broader campaign of heritage-led regeneration. Immediate priorities for the period 2011-2014: These are essentially either urgent actions to address specific issues, or are actions that should serve to focus activity in subsequent years. •  Establish a permanent programme for routine maintenance •  Undertake a review of the spatial scope of current statutory designation provision and in particular the extent of scheduling •  Resolve issues concerning the interface between the planned Retail Quarter and the city walls (policy proposal 1.3, above •  Continue remedial work (1) on recent vegetation re-growth and (2), on failed structural elements and unstable masonry in the Greyfriars Surgery/Black Lion area (see 2.4 and 2.5, above) •  Develop and carry out a project to better record and understand, and restore one or both surviving bastions and improve public access and information (see 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, above) •  Develop an interpretation strategy, linked to other city-centre initiatives, for example streetscape re-design and enhancement •  Develop a floodlighting and display strategy to improve the setting of the walls and their display •  Encourage other bodies to bring develop proposals for the enhancement of the monuments. At the time of writing (September 2011) Hereford Civic Society is developing a strategy to distinguish the developmental priorities for the period 2012-2026. I think it is fair to say that none of the immediate priorities have been implemented 5 years after they were highlighted. Why oh why do we have such a lamentable Council?

It's not only weeds that are causing damage - this section in Gaol Street is gradually being demolished by idiot drivers. I've flagged incidents of damage in the past to the Council but nothing is done (save for displaced lumps of ancient stone just being taken away and never seen again).

Six parking spaces plus cycle storage.

It will be 7 years in October - the OLM wasn't even built then. The site already has planning permission - this is the new owners revising the scheme slightly. There will be 19 dwellings and 2 shops.

Width is immaterial - it is the legal status of the path. As George says, if they are designated as 'shared space' then cycling is allowed and these paths are signed with small repeater signs showing a pedestrian and a bicycle. Many in the City are far from ideal but they are a lot better than nothing. I use the Whitecross Road one for instance, as a cyclist, to get to Plough Lane without having to try and turn right across Whitecross Road. You do have to be wary of wandering pedestrians who are inevitably oblivious to the fact that it is a shared space and they should act accordingly.

I saw two suits and a hi-viz looking at it on Thursday. Clearly some official talking if not action.

This is a project that the City Council could/should pick up and fund, especially the signs and vending machine.

Start here - https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/info/200231/parish_councils/33/parish_councils/7 Your polling card should say which ward you are in. Note that wards are often different boundaries to parishes.

HT not allowing comments though ...

The Council did put up some signs a few years ago asking people not to feed bread to the ducks - they didn't last long - I think they're at the bottom of the pond ...

Yep, that's still two Independents to split the vote and let the Cons win. Surprised IOC haven't pitched in a candidate as well just to make sure of it.

Setting the standard - a fine welcome to the City for those arriving by bus. Rusty, dirty, leaning (and unnecessary) railings and a bumper crop of weeds. Classy.

Labour still not taking the hint and why two Independents?

That still leaves 1980 miles of roads (and drains) in a diabolical state. The 'Midlands Engine' - who comes up with this bilge - can't wait to see a whole 1 mile of 'rejuvenated' highway! rejuvenation |rɪdÊ’uËvəˈneɪʃ(É™)n| noun [mass noun] the action or process of making someone or something look or feel better, younger, or more vital ...

Link works fine - interesting. Seems to be a hot spot near The Brewers Arms in Eign Road - 5 car crimes in the last 6 months. Of course, the site only lists those reported - my car has been damaged on numerous occasions by passing or parking vans and cars, the drivers of which make off without leaving details.

IOC were live blogging it on their Facebook page; Lots of cabinet members absent. Also 2 group leaders (Green + Liberal) and one of the scrutiny chairs ... but a busy agenda Next item - it gets worse ... debacle of the Blue School House massive overspend of well over £1m. Director Geoff Hughes says an investigation by council's internal auditors is still underway and will report to Audit & Governance Committee in September. Shockingly it appears that a proper contract for the work hasn't even been signed and the contract would not now pass the requirements of the council's updated constitution as regards the number of contractors (1) on the framework contract used. Serious concern expressed by Cllr Powers - incredulous at the litany of errors which appear to have come to light. We must await for the investigation output to A&G before digging further into this one ... we're nowhere near the bottom.

Thank you, telling it like it is and confirming a lot of what has been said on numerous threads, despite Cllr Chappell's rather pompous claims to the contrary.

The Law Society are there to protect their own - why should they do anything? What are councillors doing about officers who time and again shortlist corrupt and incompetent people for highly paid jobs when googling them will show their history in a few seconds? Come to that, why don't councillors do a bit of searching before employing these people?

Which is what I said further up the thread - the Council are attempting to rewrite recent history. They gave us the figures, councillors gave planning permission based on the figures, now the figures are grossly inflated. Would they have granted pp had the truth been known? Unlikely.

Jarvis Amey Edgar Street Grid Limited Edgar Street Grid (Hereford) Limited ESG Herefordshire Ltd Hereford Futures Limited BBLP Hoople Each and every one an unmitigated disaster for the people of Herefordshire - sold to Councillors by journeymen more interested in another notch on their cv than the good of the County (and none of them held to account), with the promised millions of savings turning to just the opposite, probably costing us tens of millions. Yet, here we are again, on the cusp of the same costly mistake once more. Utter madness. The Council have conclusively demonstrated that they are wholly incapable of managing even a simple £1m refurbishment at Blueschool House - what chance have we got with yet another 10 year 'partnership'? The big boys will be rubbing their hands together in glee - bonus time!

The variances between the original cost plan and current indicative outturn include: - Fees and furnishings had not been included in the original decision; - Extra roofing costs over the original allowance; - Fireproofing of all existing steelwork once exposed; - Locating plant in ground area compound as opposed to roof; - Landscaping and drainage works and DDA requirements; - Small amount of asbestos discovered. I've spent 40 years as a construction professional and can state that all of the above should have been recognised and allowed for in the original tendering process. Inconceivable that they haven't. I question how they total the best part of £1m and what fees are being paid to whom and how they have allowed such a shambolic management of our money. The report avoids confirming the procurement process and how the (informal) contract is being run and by whom. The whole thing stinks and will be brushed under the carpet with a shrug and a smirk. The contractors will also walk away with a very big grin.