Ubique

See that West Midlands Fire and Rescue want to demolish a Grade 2 Listed Fire Station.............. Plans to demolish and replace two of the West Midlands’ community fire stations are set to be considered by members of West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority (WMFRA). The futures of Aston and Coventry stations will discussed by WMFRA members at their next full meeting on Monday 16 February. Reports about both sites say they need to be improved to suit a modern-day fire service, and to help West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) meet its five-minute attendance target for life or property-threatening emergencies. Aston’s Ettington Road fire station was built in 1923 and is listed by English Heritage as Grade II. With this in mind, members will be asked to approve a back-up option of ‘refurb and modernise’ in case the brigade’s first recommendation of ‘demolish and replace’ does not get permission from planners. The recommendation for Coventry’s Radford Road station, built in 1976, is that it be demolished and rebuilt, with improvements to its existing training facilities. Relocation has been ruled out because the site complements WMFS’s prevention, protection and response work, but the existing facilities are expensive to run and maintain.

A few comments ago Dippy Hippy remarked on the litter on the side of the road as well as in the hedgerows on the A49 between the Starting Gate and Leominster , well I travelled from Wellington to the Starting Gate Roundabout ( where , by the way , they are still building ! The cycle path , has got to be over 3 months now ! ) and I can confirm , if conformation is needed that this is another disgrace for this County . The A49 is the main North / South road through the County and it just reflects the cokeyed priorities and lack of pride the elected members of this Council have . So sad. But what can we do other than fall into their trap and pick this litter etal up at no cost to the Council.

JUST HAD A REPLY FROM THE COUNCIL ......THOUGHT THAT HV WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THE DETAILS OF THE COMMUNITY PROTECTION TEAM.....I WILL , OF COURSE UPDATE THE HV WITH THE REMOVAL OF THE SETTEE What has annoyed me is the fact that Mrs U and I sorted out a load of rubbish and recycling stuff over the weekend react to take to Rotherwas yesterday - which I did . That is a ten mile round trip - but I did it . I could tell you a H and S incident that I had at the recycling but I will keep it for another day ! Dear UBIQUE Thank you for contacting Herefordshire Council. Your report has been forwarded to our Community Protection Team (EHTS) to deal with. If you have any future Reports or wish to speak to them directly their phone number is 01432 261761 or their e-mail is Ethelpline ethelpline@herefordshire.gov.uk

FLYTIPPING is spreading to the north of the City,. In the last 24 hrs a beige settee has been dumped in a country lane near our home , not just dumped at the side of the lane but thrown into a deep sided ditch making it very hard for the workforce detailed to remove it . I have advised the Council through their email reporting system , I have also advised , for information , my Cllr. Megaland , once again super research.

Personally I think that the Councils "Defence" is round objects - if I sell my house all interested parties are aware of the last offer so there is NO commercial confidential . It, to my mind proves that it's just getting worse AND the Cllrs are watching it get worse , they are only interested in their own " Patch " they are not, to my mind fighting for the whole City . If I am wrong , then I am wrong but that is my opinion and ,I should add its the opinion of a good number of educated friends that I circulate with .

Having read all these posts I am very disheartened - perhaps it's old age - but where are we going - somebody , and I mean the Council and the elected Cllrs have male chicken uped ! over the years . We are now suffering . I , personally just want to get on with MINE AND MRS UBIQUEs life , so it's now up to the Cllrs , who in my opinion are coasy on their patch but do not give a rats behind about anything that is happening elsewhere . ( the Conservatives wil still be in power after the May Election because they choose to ensure that their voters are kept sweet , only one of them reside in the City the others in the countryside .) It's a rant and I know that others can put it better but that is my feelings from my heart.

Twowheelgood - hope that the day was a success ........and ......did Dippy climb the wall?

Clarkester .... I agree , I am sure that a lot of the moaners do not take the trouble to vote - can recall a car stickers some time ago which said " Don't blame me , I didn't vote ! "

Letter in the HT from a Cllr from IOC stating that 58% of Hereford residents NEVER vote - that is diabolical. It beggars the question , should voting in a General Election be made compulsory ?

There is a pothole on a lane running past our home - this pothole was "filled in " by Amey about a month before BB took over the contract . Of course the patchwork did not last and the pothole reappeared about 6 months ago . Three days ago a BB vehicle complete with man wearing hard hat stopped at the pothole and the man sprayed a white substance around this pothole , one metre wide by two metres long , I presume to assist the gang who will eventually attend to repair it . Walked down the lane early this morning and noted that all the white spray surrounding this pothole had disappeared - just wondering if the man who sprayed around the pothole is a football referee and used the vanishing spray by mistake . Of course my worry now us that the road Gang will drive passed this pothole now that the markings have disappeared .

This is a hero......not well know - but a hero . I visited Mr XXXXXX today , he is 97 in August , I found him to be quite reluctant to talk about his experience during WW2 , however , without being forceful I gleaned the following from him. Mr XXXX was Called Up on New Years Day 1940. After Training he joined 2 Searchlight Regt RA and sent to Northern France attached to K Bty RHA with orders to help hold the small village of Hondeghem , Northern France , which was on the Germans main axis of advance. The troops fought a valiant action then, running short of ammunition,they charged the German positions and broke through, giving them a route out towards Dunkirk. By the 28th of May 1940 , 2 Searchlight Regiment had lost over 50 men killed and approximately half the Regiment captured including Mr XXXX, 21 years old. He was then transported to Germany in May 1940 , his first of many POW Camps was Stalag 13A . ( as an aside , Mr XXXXX brother was in the same Regiment and made it to Dunkirk and was repatriated back to the UK ) In the POW Camps for the first 3 years he was sent to work repairing roads , cutting tres down etc for the final 2 years he worked on a farm, he added that if there was a best part of his captivity was working on the farm - they were able to beg / steal food easier. Their normal routine was being fed their one meal of the day at 4pm consisted of a bowl of " soup " and a slice of bread. Prior to his capture he weighed just over 14 Stone , on his released 6.5 Stone. In January 1945 the Camp gates were opened , the Guards disappeared and they were told to walk to the Baltic coast - about 3500 POWs set off. He recalls that on route they were fed a handful of potatoes per person per day . As they approached the coast they were told that they were walking in the wrong direction and guided towards Germany , after walking for over 850 miles they finally met up with American Forces who "liberated " them . This was in May 1945. It appears that the Americans had met up with a number of POW groups walking to freedom - Mr XXXX told me that whilst he was eating lunch in the US Food Kitchen he heard somebody shout " XXXXX, is that you ? " That was his long time best friend who got separated when they were captured. It was , apparently a very happy reunion. He arrived back in the UK to be demobbed in August 1945. He then spent the rest of his working life in Hereford .

Dippy said .........Increase in emergency admittance up 20% last week. It would be interesting if the A and E published figures of the number of people who attended A and AE who should have gone elsewhere / phoned NHS helpline etc. If they did one could decide if the A and E is not big enough / not enough staff / time wasters etc. If there are attendees who should have gone elsewhere I hope that they were turned away - if not that's one of the reasons why they are so busy .

Colin , you had entered an area I know little about . ( BBs Contract - if the grass cutting is anything to go by you can drive a coach and four through it ! ) I presume that BB have the responsibility to clear up this mess but do they have to walk the area to see what needs doing ? Surely the people that use this area also have a responsibility to report what they see rather than do nothing , if they have trouble getting in contact with BB they should have contacted their Cllr .

Always believed that if litter and graffiti are not cleared up regularly it attracts more litter and graffiti . Hence this mess left by irresponsible residents of this City.

Just a thought Colin - it's re your headline - Huge Boeing etc - are there any small ones ?

I am just wondering where to park it - Mrs. Ubique thought that it would be ideal,for the hibernating hedgehogs !

PM to Colin with my pledge. I hope that's its brings in the rewards we are seeking . Perhaps once it's all systems go I can see Colin standing outside Boots receiving money from complete strangers - similar to a Drug Dealer . LOL

Colin I can understand your post - however ......... Mrs Ubique and I do take advantage of Waitrose free coffee ( just changed to you have to purchase food to receive the free coffee etc. ) We park at Tesco's, did some shopping in the store then ( in the week we use the bus ) walk across the Share Space !!! To Waitrose , do our shopping , if over £10 on a Saturday receive a free newspaper , ( we chose the Telegraph £2 off the bill ) . This morning we went to their very clean and tidy cafe / resturant and ordered Coffee , Peppermint tea , two slices of brown toast and butter each ..total cost £2.50 . Thank you Waitrose .....as they say , there are other similar premises nearby.

I copied and pasted the below from the HT after I commented the above . I presume that Hilary Jones is close to the hospital and aware of the procedure -,appears quite inefficient and stacked against the Patient . 4:35pm Fri 13 Feb 15 Hilary Jones says... She was lucky. At least she had her operation! This is common with day cases - a whole wardful gets called in at the same time so that staff can do the admin, & then you wait. The theatre may be needed for other urgent ops during the day too, which slowed things down. An 11am call-in NEVER means a midday op - and sometimes you get sent home...

Cllr . VAUGHAN - POWELL , Glenda , I thank you for your offer , which I know is genuine , but the lady concerned doesn't want to complain - she is convinced that if she complains it might effect further treatment. ( we have tried to explain that it shouldn't , but if it did we can take it further ) Have just got off the phone speaking to her . Thanks again for your offer.

Well , I wasn't far wrong was I ?

Must get this off my chest ...... Heard the CEO of the Wye Valley Trust on BBC HW a couple of days ago saying that they are doing their best to be out of "Special Measures " by OCT 15 ......well if my friends experience is anything to go on they have a long way to go ............ Our friend is 81 years old , lives in Wales but was sent an Appointment at the hospital for a small operation for 11am yesterday . Left home by car driven by her son at 9.30am , arriving at the hospital car park at 1045am , reported to the correct Reception at 1050am ....waited and waited ...wil not be long Mrs !!!! .....was called in at 4pm for the operation ...........arrived back home at 8pm. Forgetting how much the son paid for the privilege of parking think of the stress and strain on our 81 year old friend ........ Will she complain .....no , us old people are of the opinion that we are a hinderance for the hospitals to deal with and if we complain we will be classed as troublemakers with the attached problems . Our friend also added that she has been treated better in one of our local Supermarkets - that is such a poor indictment of the Caring Profession I now feel better with sharing this rant - thank you for reading it .

Wondering if the "Breakers Yard " is in Credenhill ?

Roger - that's a very good question ( I did think similar only yesterday and thought that I had better read all the comments in case I missed it )

That is a very sad case which nobody in Authority at Newham Council , London would take responsibility for . What I will say , without breaking any confidences, is that during my volunteer work with SSAFA at the Military Help Desk , Franklin House , is that my colleagues and I have always found the Council Customer Services plus the other Departments accessed through Customer Services very helpful , not just to us but the Clients we signpost to the relevant Department. This includes problems with the relevant Council Benefits . The Military Help Desk is open 1000 - 1400 on Tuesday's SSAFA and Thursday's TRBL