twowheelsgood

Actually it is. Obviously its all been under water for several weeks because the Env Agency wouldn't let them lift it a couple of feet, so that may have improved it. They're cut out of Corten, the miracle steel that goes rusty (yeah, someone fell for that marketing spiel). They're fixed into more concrete than you would put in a house foundation.

Violette Szabo is commemorated with a statue on the new Greenway route, along with Elgar (again) and Paralympian Josie Pearson MBE. According to the plaque, these were chosen by the 'local community' although no one from the local community recalls being consulted.

When Cllr Adrian Blackadder was pushing through the OLM, a friend met him and suggested that the '1% for art' should include a statue of John Venn, to which he responded that he'd never heard of him. Says it all really.

I believe there is a memorial to him just off the Fownhope to Woolhope road - it's signposted.

Albert Lee, one of the very best guitar players in the world, comes from Lingen in N Hfds. He occasionally plays in Hereford, when not in the studio or on tour with everyone from Clapton downwards

Oh dear lord, traffic lights! Whatever for? I really despair.

I meant the economic cost.

Revd John Venn. He was vicar of St Peter’s Church in the 19th century and Hereford's greatest philanthropist who worked tirelessly for the welfare of the city’s poor. He set up the Hereford Society for Aiding the Industrious in 1833 (which is still doing good work today) and brought baths, allotments, a corn mill (now Berrows House) and a soup kitchen to people in Bath Street and Portfields. Buried in Commercial St graveyard.

All well and good but it should never have been allowed to get into this state. Routine maintenance and regular checks would have prevented it. What cost to the businesses on the estate?

I believe that’s Glastonbury Close it backs onto - an adopted road and the responsibility of the Council, who have a duty of care to protect people using the highway. Report it to them and they'll have to remove it/make it safe and possibly recharge the hotel.

Nick Millington

Ahh, I see, the former Bulmers science building. I didn't know this was the subject of further council craziness - what department has moved there then? Having decided to take on Bulmers Plough Lane HQ as their HQ, it seems odd they are sub-letting at least one floor of that to Hoopla whilst then scratching around for other accommodation.

The plan was/is a land swap - council give Bath St to the Fire Brigade, who demolish it for a PFI station-by-numbers, council take Fire Station and, in a stroke of brilliance and originality, demolish it for … a car park. Really, I'm not joking. We're paying senior officers millions of pounds for this sort of radical strategic thinking. More fool us. Yes, the FB is not answerable to the Council. It does have to comply with statutory legislation though (such as planning law) unlike Crown property.

What or where is the 'Nelson building'?

Done - let's see what they say ...

Road now closed. This is a total disgrace. BB should have their contact terminated immediately. Lets get back to direct labour and get some common sense and some quality and some planned routine maintenance in place so that we're not constantly plugging holes in the dyke whilst the shareholders count the profits.

Road now closed. BB should have their contact terminated immediately.

Oh dear, very bad timing for the meeting, which is today ...

Shouldn't that be 'What does The Marches LEP hope to get out of Herefordshire?' given that democracy is being handed over to unelected businesses? The Asda/Edgar St/Holmer pinch point catastrophes are an example of how they work - so called improvements to benefit a private shopping centre.

Not if the 'To Let' signs in the windows are anything to go by.

Well, presumably Colin can see who is doing the deed and take action if deemed necessary. Personally, I attach no importance to them and rarely even register they are there.

I assume you mean it's NOT one of the following? It's not me anyway.

"Hereford Futures is to be formally round up as its purpose is now ended." I never cease to be amazed about how ill informed some councillors appear to be. The adopted ESG Masterplan, voted on by councillors, laid out a timetable, as below, and its clear how little has been achieved by the various incarnations of ESG companies and subsequently Hereford Futures. The time scale of 25 years has never been mentioned to the best of my knowledge. In fact we should be well into 3/5ths of the project by now. Hereford Futures was scaled down last June, the offices were closed and it effectively finished. They said at the time "The Council will see through the remaining elements in the development programme, including the construction of the planned Link Road and Urban Village by using in-house expertise and resources. Jonathan Bretherton, CEO of Futures will remain through to next spring to oversee the completion of the Old Market scheme and support the council on various projects including the marketing of the Urban Village and the Link Road CPO." The registered office of Futures is at Bretherton's home at Ledbury. The last accounts, from 12 months ago, show a deficit of some £15k. In the early days, West Midlands Advantage paid for some £5m of property in Hereford, inc Blueschool House and Franklin Barnes. This was transferred to Hfd Futures when WMA was wound up. So, with Hfd Futures on the way out, and with nothing in the kitty, where has the £5m of property gone? I assume transferred to the Council, which is why the move to sell off Franklin Barnes and move the info point, yet again, this time, irony of ironies, to the Library. "Ever get the feeling you've been cheated?" - John Lydon. Phasing (from the ESG Masterplan) The following diagrams show how the Masterplan could evolve from the present position into the final end result. A precondition is off-site works to the west of the City to provide for relocation of the Livestock Market and flooding works. On the site, five phases have been identified. As with any major planned redevelopment, the phases will overlap, and are highly likely to change in response to changing market conditions. The timescales identified are on the basis of a commencement of works on site in 2009 (year 1). Initial off-site enabling works • Undertake strategic flood mitigation scheme at Credenhill to River Wye (corridor under consideration) • Construct new Livestock Market site incorporating potential alternative flood mitigation measures. Relocation of livestock market and strategic flood mitigation scheme Phase 1, years 2010 to 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 Building the link roads and starting redevelopment at Station Approach Phase 2, years 2011 to 2014 • Commence Blackfriars Urban Village construction • Commence Canal Park • Downgrade inner ring road and construct link to Coningsby Street • Commence development of the Catherine Street area, allowing relocation of the Info Centre from Garrick House • Commence Retail Quarter construction • HUFC Meadow End redevelopment Urban Village commences in the north of the area. Retail Quarter development commences, linking the old and new by downgrading Newmarket/Blueschool Street Phase 3, commencing year 2013 • Retail Quarter opens • Development of potential Hereford University site at Blackfriars Street (A) • Redevelop remainder of HUFC • Refurbishment of Blackfriars precinct With the completion of the Retail Quarter, development continues at Blackfriars Street and at the Urban Village. Phase 4, timetable developed with partners • Continued development of Catherine Street area • Continued phased development of Blackfriars Urban Village Catherine Street and Urban Village areas continue to be developed Phase 5, timetable developed with partners • Blackfriars Urban Village and Canal Park completed • Final works at Station Square and transport hub, including commercial development

I can't believe these don't have a link to a remote control room somewhere, even if only a dumb link to indicate they're not working properly.

I recall you saying the SCOOT system was going to be updated as part of the pinch point works - I take it this hasn't been done then?