Denise Lloyd

Herewith John Harrington's letter published in the HT on 3rd March 2016 Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire are all keeping their council owned farms and regard them as valuable assets but the Tory cabinet in Herefordshire has decided we should sell ours for a quick buck. They did this a few years before when they sold half of the farms, with the promise of all the riches it was going to bring to the coffers then. Cllr Roger Philip’s boasts still ring in our ears. We were promised the capital receipts were going to grow and grow as the Conservatives wisely invested. Now, a few years down the line we are £180 million-odd in debt as a council and after selling the remaining farms, we have pretty much nothing left to sell. And in the meantime tenant farmers and their families suffer. Fifteen Herefordshire farming families were served their notices to quit this month, those notices giving those families 12 months to go. Sheep, cows and horses will have to be moved, sold or put down. Children will be uprooted from the schools and countryside they grew up in. This is an incredibly difficult and sad time for these families and this was so very avoidable. Our farming community has been let down completely. Cllr Harry Bramer, in particular, has behaved disgracefully in the manner in which he handled this affair. Despite being the cabinet member responsible for the portfolio governing county assets, he has not spoken to a single tenant farmer or their representatives during the whole process, leaving them worried, anxious and unsettled for over two years. We have no huge income from business rates to fall back on when central Government reduces the grant to local authorities to zero as soon as soon as they can manage it, a policy both our Conservative MPs appeared to support when they voted in favour of a 25% reduction in funding for the financial year 2015-2016. So we really do needed to hang onto our assets. We should have followed the strategy of county councils in the same position; kept the farms, rationalised them and borrowed against their value. This is what the Council’s own scrutiny and overview committee, with a Conservative majority proposed! Letters from the Bishop of Hereford, the NFU, the Tenant Farmers Association and several respected dignitaries urged cabinet members to follow that advice. They simply ignored all. John Harrington Share article Chairman, It’s Our County Nordan

And from our close neighbours Worcestershire County Council COUNCIL chiefs in Worcestershire insist their treasured public farms will not be sold - despite the pressure to get rid of more property. The Conservative leadership says it would rather focus on trying to release more surplus buildings than re-consider the future of its 95 farms and smallholdings. It comes despite the temptation that it could rake in multi-millions in one-off cash. As your Worcester News revealed last year, some backbench councillors suggested an investigation should start over letting some of the assets go. County Hall's 95 sites cover 3,300 acres of land and range from small plots of agricultural land to larger farms, bringing in rental income worth £300,000 a year to the public coffers. Since then a new drive has launched to try and claw back £10 million in capital receipts from selling property by 2020. In recent years more and more top-tier authorities have sold off either most or all of their farming assets, especially ones covering rural counties. But Councillor Marc Bayliss, the cabinet member for transformation and commissioning, says any idea it should be looked at in Worcestershire is off the agenda. He said: "It is not about selling the family silver, we are not going to consider selling off our smallholdings. "We make a good earning out of them, it supports the rural economy, so letting them isn't something we are going to do." Speaking during a cabinet meeting, he said the current project to release more property would not see it broadened to the farming land. It echoed remarks made one year ago by Worcestershire farmer Rob Adams, a Tory councillor who lives in Spetchley and looks after beef cattle at Aston Hall Farm, in White Ladies Aston. At the time Councillor Adams said he would "never" back any proposals to sell the farming estate, saying it would be like flogging the family silver. Over the last 15 years the council has sold 54 smallholdings to long-standing tenants across Worcestershire, but the general policy is to keep them in-house. They were originally bought to give returning first world war soldiers a route into agriculture. Share article In recent years authorities in areas like Leicestershire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Somerset have raked in millions from selling most or all of their stocks. * The great shrinking estate: Council buildings 'bonfire' to continue to rake in £10m

Thank you Colin for correcting my error! I am not totally sure how I feel about this all but very sad that young and old innocent people whatever race are having to endure hardship in whatever form. If this county had supported all of it's existing residents and everything was ship shake and running smoothly which we know it isn't there would not be a problem with accepting refugees. However because this county is not how it should be and there is already unrest I can only see trouble ahead. It will be more rattled when the Asylum Seekers arrive who are mostly young males

Herefordshire County Council v Staffordshire County Council - chalk and cheese STAFFORDSHIRE County Council has announced it is postponing next month's proposed farm rent reviews - just weeks after tenants reported they faced "considerable increases". The reviews due to take place next month will be delayed until March 25 2017, the county council has said, following a review of current trading conditions. It will be the second freeze in two years for some tenants. But George Dunn, chief executive of the Tenant Farmers' Association (TFA), said just days before the announcement that the TFA had been contacted by a "significant number of Staffordshire County Council tenants". He added: "Despite the fact that most of these tenants had increases three years ago I was very surprised and massively disappointed to hear that the county council is seeking increases in rents and in some cases considerable increases. Having talked through the individual circumstances of those who have contacted us we can find no justification for any increases, let alone the extortionate levels of increase the county council is proposing. Read more: http://www.staffordshirenewsletter.co.uk/Staffordshire-County-Council-announces-March-rent/story-28809299-detail/story.html#ixzz41vEtTvg3 Follow us: @StaffsNews on Twitter | StaffordshireNewsletter on Facebook

News - Statement: Refugees and asylum seekers http://newsroom.herefordshire.gov.uk/2016/march/statement-refugees-and-asylum-seekers.aspx#.Vtdjr0xfmCs.twitter … via @hfdscouncil I heard about this last night and HV put it on Twitter. It has now appeared in the HT and the HT FB page which has naturally attracted many comments. Help I missed the k for a l in the title Colin can you change it pleeeease

Excellent letter from John Harrington in the HT today shame the HT have shown little imagination and duplicated probably word for word the letter in their Farming News

Just something else to lower the tone of Herefordshire even more. HC WAKE UP and smell the coffee for goodness sake.

Just to clarify Mr Nick Lloyd and I are not related - well not as far as I know anyway. Another good find Meggilleland. I rather suspect with the backing of George Dunn TFA Mr Lloyd will be more than well advised but also suspect that one or two of them read this forum. I will be reading the fact sheet that is for sure. This is a truly terrible time for these tenants my heart goes out to them and their families. Good farmers are not just employed and I hope these people find suitable alternatives and are never treated in this disgraceful way again. By following the Ombudsman route let us hope that some sort of closure can be reached and the tenants can move on in a better managed environment.

TFA â€@tenantfarmers 3 hrs3 hours ago TFA has also called into question the tactics & modus operandi of some landlords agents who have been operating like dodgy used-car salesman

A full copy of the National Chairman’s speech is available from the TFA’s website. http://www.tfa.org.uk/tfa-media-release-no-13-tfa-agm-report-from-the-national-chairman/ …

TFA â€@tenantfarmers 2 hrs2 hours ago Cash strapped local authorities are looking at County farms as easy targets for quick money without thinking about long-term consequences.

TFA â€@tenantfarmers 2 hrs2 hours ago Most recent local authority to do the wrong thing by tax payers @HfdsCouncil a great farming county that will rue the day it decided to sell

With the continuing focus on providing opportunities for new entrants to the agricultural industry it is frustrating to see the continuing attack on our County Council smallholding estates. Cash strapped local authorities up and down the country are looking at their County farms estates as easy targets for raising quick money without thinking about the long-term consequences. At the end of the day, these are income earning assets for local authorities as well as providing a raft of non-market benefits such as access, flood risk management, education outside the classroom and opportunities for renewable energy. In the summer we had a misguided broadside against County farms by the Taxpayers Alliance whose naive arguments displayed its unquestioning stance against public ownership rather than the extent to which taxpayers were in receipt of “best value†in the provision of council services. Most local authorities that carry out a proper assessment end up concluding that best value to Council Tax payers is achieved by local authorities retaining ownership of their estates but taking opportunities for rationalisation, development and other strategic sales coupled with advantageous purchases. The most recent local authority to do the wrong thing by its Council Tax payers is Herefordshire, a great farming county that will rue the day it decided to sell its estate. Sadly, the County Council is compounding its bad decision by reneging on promises made to its tenant farmers, particularly those in Farm Business Tenancies, about their long-term security. Happily, we are working more positively with a range of other local authorities including Dorset, Hampshire, Cambridgeshire and Gloucestershire about how to better manage local authority estates in the modern context, particularly in relation to pressure on local authority finances. A great aid to these discussions will be the Guidance Note produced by the organisations within the Tenancy Reform Industry Group (TRIG) which provides an asset management framework for local authorities to consider the future of their County farms estates. This guidance represents best practice and local authorities would be in breach of their duty of care if they did not give it adequate consideration in any review process. The above is an extract from the TFA's National Chairman's speech made today 1st March 2016. Unable to copy some tweets at the moment I will try later

I am surprised that neither Jesse Norman nor Bill Wiggin have passed comment on the sale of the Council farms. The farms are on both their patches and they must have passed time with at least one of the tenants. Very surprised and very lacking. Perhaps they will be attending the Farming to London March on 23rd March 2016 to show at least some suppport. TFA will be in attendance. They do understand the sheer importance of good dedicated farmers. TFA Supports Farmers For Action Farming to London March TFA National Chairman Stephen Wyrill The Tenant Farmers Association has thrown its weight behind the decision by Farmers for Action to hold a “Farming to London March†on Wednesday 23 March. TFA National Chairman Stephen Wyrill said “All sectors of the agricultural industry are facing exceptionally poor returns at this time. Of course there are some global market reasons for this but we do feel that the Government could be doing more to ensure a fair market place for British farmers. I have been greatly heartened by the support that farmers have received from British consumers who tell us consistently of their desire to buy British products which they know are produced to high animal welfare, environmental and food safety standards. However, without Government intervention we are in danger of losing a significant volume of producers in short orderâ€. “The aim of the march is to press Government to explain to the industry and to British consumers what its strategy is for British agriculture. This is even more important given the forthcoming EU referendum where those of us in the industry and consumers deserve to know exactly what the Government is planning by way of support to the industry whether or not we remain as members of the EU,†said Mr Wyrill. “The TFA has been calling for some time for reforms to the powers of the Groceries Code Adjudicator to ensure a level playing field within the supply chain. The Adjudicator’s recent highlighting deficiencies with Tesco merely scratches the surface of bad practice within the retail environment and the Adjudicator needs new tools to ensure that retailers are held to account for their actions. To date we have heard little from the Government on what it will do,†said Mr Wyrill. “We also need to hear from the Government about what it is doing to ensure that its own procurement of food for hospitals, prisons, schools and our Armed Forces is supporting British farmers. Just over a year ago the Government commissioned its own report on how public procurement could be improved but so far it has done nothing to implement any of the recommendations of the reportâ€, said Mr Wyrill. “As well as looking at new markets for export we need to have a strategy to feed consumers from our own resources. We are pulling in a significant amount of cheap imports which undermine the ability of domestic producers to compete. A strategy for import substitution must be high on the agenda,†said Mr Wyrill. “I am hoping that as many as possible will attend the march on 23 March. It will be a peaceful, productive demonstration which I hope will unite farmers and consumers to the same ends,†said Mr Wyrill. end

So much better to answer your own question Use Class B1: What is B1 Planning Usage?Business B1 building use is use for all or any of the following purposes: (a) as an office other than a use within class A2 (financial and professional services), (b) for research and development of products or processes, or © for any industrial process, being a use which can be carried out in any residential area without detriment to the amenity of that area by reason of noise, vibration, smell, fumes, smoke, soot, ash, dust or grit.

With the mindset of so many people nowadays it is almost a waste litter picking pick some up turn around and somebody has dropped some more. Education education education is needed but how I know not. Same with dog poo. If anybody has any bright ideas on how to overcome the problem would be most welcome. How do you stop kids going to the shop buying a packet of crisps or whatever and a can of something eat and drink whilst walking down the road drop can and packet?

Ah the famous 106 monies

I have to add to that HC Farms started October end 2015 - over 5000 views in 4 months

If it is under Greyfriars Ward the Councillor is Sharon Michael IOC

This underpass used to be pressure washed every day. Very little money would be needed to clean it through decorate it and change the light bulbs so I don't think cost can be used as an excuse. Out of sight out of mind lets replace some paving slabs instead.. **** holes like this are supposed to encourage people to walk to work and to shop leaving their cars at home.

Gosh it does look disgusting would I walk through it? probably not I think I would walk to the lights at the end of the bridge. Many many years ago I used to walk through the graveyard opposite the bus station and there were drinkers there and an alsatian dog but it was out in the open and there was plenty of room. The underpass looks what it is a haven for dodgy goings on and probably stinks to high heaven. What has happened to the people who used to jump up and down to make these things better and more welcoming and safer. Hereford City Council should be putting a load of pressure on the HA to make this better = why aren't they?

First line of contact would be Waterstones I suppose - give it a couple of days and HT will be on the case!!

Very average payment to Council per new house is £823.00 plus of course the 106 monies

Rural MPs more likely to vote to stick with EuropeJohann Tasker Friday 26 February 2016 8:00 © WestEnd61/Rex Shutterstock Most rural MPs want the UK to remain within the EU – but a Tory party divide has prompted warnings that the concerns of farmers and the wider rural economy are not ignored as the campaign begins in earnest. Some 200 MPs in England and Wales represent constituencies where at least one-third of the population lives within a rural area. As it stands, 111 (56%) of these MPs are in favour of remaining within the EU, 72 (36%) want to leave, with 17 either undeclared or declared neutral. See also: Farm leaders demand answers to ‘great unknowns’ of Brexit All 30 Labour rural MPs are in favour of remaining. But 162 of the 200 rural MPs are Conservatives – and they are divided on the issue. Some 74 (46%) of Tory MPs want to remain, 71 (44%) want to leave and 17 are undeclared or neutral. The in-out voting intentions of rural MPs were researched by the Country Land & Business Association (CLA). It has warned both campaigns they must ensure agriculture is not sidelined as politicians debate wider issues around the future UK-EU relationship. Fundamental questions remained unanswered about markets for agricultural products, other goods and services, said CLA president Ross Murray. “It is vital our members and the wider rural business community have the best information possible to help them decide how to vote.†Have you say in our EU in/out vote I am surprised that Bill Wiggin has declared he is an out so soon and Jesse surprsingly is being sensible or just waiting to see which way will be the most advantageous career move

And a horrible find for Ragwert's daughter