dippyhippy

You are correct, Two Wheels - it is absolutely no excuse! I am really hoping that Mark Hubbard as ward councillor, will comment on this. As I said, this seems to have been cobbled together without his knowledge, and I would be extremely interested to hear his views! I am hoping that even if folk aren't bothered about saving this glorious building, the underhanded dealings and decision making, will strike a chord with them. I honestly feel that if we don't collectively make a stand over this, then no building will be deemed worthy of saving for future generations. This building could have new life breathed into it, and be a useful and much needed answer to at least part of our housing shortage. I want to know WHY this hasn't been explored.

Campaigners against this, also point out that to site a huge new emergency services operation in Bath Street is crazy urban planning, since the carriageway at that point, is just one lane wide in each direction! Two "Factoids" which are always conveniently dropped into arguments in favour of this "land swap" deal...... 1.The Boys Home is in a poor state of repair. ( Well why HAS the council allowed one of its own properties to be neglected in this way?) 2.The 1954 fire station is "beyond repair." (Again, how CAN a Fire Authority, governed by the most stringent of building regulations, have allowed one of its own properties to become so neglected?) The cynical amongst us would say the answer to these questions are the same. They both want shot of them! Whether you want to save this beautiful building, preserve a part of our heritage, or not.....I am sure you will agree, that this somewhat shady arrangement needs to be looked at in a lot more detail, and not be a decision made behind closed doors.

The OLM is due to open soon - an ugly building, which in my opinion will split the city in two, and most certainly have a detrimental effect on High Town. It has been built with no thought for the environment in which it sits, and is regarded by many as a blot on the landscape. We have some truly beautiful buildings in our city, and one of them is now at great risk of being demolished. I know many of you will not give two hoots about it, but I do! So much so, that I have challenged myself to write my very first thread! The Working Boys Home was erected between 1878 and 1895. English Heritage has refused to recommend its listing on the questionable grounds that it is "not sufficiently intact or of sufficient architectural merit". It is within a designated Conservation Area, and is close to several other significant buildings with "Venn" connections. That's John Venn - surely one of this cities greatest ever citizens. Many believe, myself included, that this building would lend itself to a sympathetic conversion for residential housing, in much the same way as the former General Hospital, and Eye Hospital. Although I have made several phone calls, and spoken to a number of people, I have been unable to discover if Herefordshire Council has even invited offers from property developers. Here is where it all gets a tad murky for my liking. Whether you care about this building or not, the following should ring alarm bells. The notorious "land swap" deal between Herefordshire Council and the Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority has been stitched up, for want of a better phrase, between Cllr Johnson, and a Cllr Podger - who is the chair of Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority. From what I can find out, this has been without the local ward councillor - Mark Hubbard - either being present, or even consulted! This is an extremely one sided deal. HWFA get an enormous 1.6 acre site. Herefordshire Council get a site half that size, plus the bill for demolishing the existing fire station! Then, yes you guessed it, it will become a surface level car park! This is not a good deal by anybodys standards!!

Tee Hee Bobby!! It's all character building stuff! And Biomech, at my school, if you forgot your PE kit, you had to do it in your underpants!! These days it would probably fall foul of The European Court of Human Rights!

Well spotted Glenda! Out of interest, is there a reason why the windows weren't removed before the building was demolished? I would have thought they would have a duty to salvage any materials which could be recycled.

It was 3.50 when I was at primary school! GDJ, there are a lot less EWO's than previously....around the same time as it was deemed Connexions could be slashed, so were they. Maybe I just imagine this, but I certainly notice quite a few groups of school age children hanging around during school hours, more now than previously!!

How funny! I can answer my own question! This story has just appeared on HT online.....not as many photos as you have provided us with though Colin!!

Brilliant photos Colin! More than a little surprised that the road wasn't closed - some years ago, a block of garages was demolished, and our road was closed for about 5 hours, the garages were only single storey!! Were there any reporters from the Journal or HT present? It's quite a landmark event, it really should be covered in the local press!!

Interesting piece in this weeks Journal, penned by Our Jesse Norman. "Just as worrying is the increasing tide of illicit tobacco that is finding its way into Hereford. In the last 12 months, trading standards officers and West Mercia Police have seized more than 189,000 cigarettes and over 16kg of illicit tobacco from shops in Herefordshire. But often cheap cigarettes are not just smuggled goods, but fake, and they can be especially dangerous......And the same people who don't care or turn a blind eye as to what is in the tobacco often don't care how old the people who buy it are.....one of the key obstacles that trading standards officers and the police face in seeking to control this problem, is that they are not able to shut down the shops which persistently sell this illicit tobacco." For once, I absolutely agree with you Jesse! The full article appears on page 6!

Very poignant pictures - lives, once lived, now lost. My mother in law lives nearby, and stories have circulated about this place locally for ages. Whenever we drive by, there is usually a cat still sat in the downstairs window.....very sad. I would hope that someone, somewhere, can give this property the TLC, it is in such desperate need of, before it crumbles away completely.

Jim, you are a top bloke! Well done, and many thanks for pursuing this. A rare breed, Cllr Kenyon - he says, he does, he gets back to you! I see where Jim has asked for specific costs, questions 17 and 23, these have been neatly side stepped! I wonder if Geoff Hughes himself approved the answers given.....possibly not, he seems to have so many roles, I am amazed he finds time to do any actual work........

Hear Hear !!

Flam, you said, "There was no way of responding to your question that would make Cllr Morgan look good." And therein lies the problem! Its all about self promotion. If she could have made it sound as if there was a solution/answer, she would have happily got a minion to tippy tap a response. I can't help it. I don't like the woman. I still think she should have resigned. I shall not be changing my opinion. PS....I tried to quote you using the quote press thingy, but it doesn't seem to want to show up in the comment box, so I have typed in what you said.....I'm pressing "post" now, it might just be that your quote will appear about three times!!!

Hi Megilleland, it was me who said The Robert Owen Free school were going into Blackfriars. What I was, and still am, unsure of, was what financial arrangement they had made for this rather substantial building. The building is still listed as belonging to the council, so it hasn't been sold. I would be very interested to hear, if anybody is in the know!!

Maybe if we had a council leader who lived in Herefordshire, and not Worcestershire, his mileage claim would be a lot less! The Heckler has done a truly magnificent job, I hope every single person in Hereford has a darn good look at this!!

I am extremely pleased that you have been entrusted with this role Chris. I believe you have many qualities to bring to it. I know many parents/carers of adults with learning disabilities, many of whom are advancing in years themselves. One parent I know of is caring for their child who is in their 30's, full time at home. This person can be extremely challenging, and I know that this parent, and many others like them feel there is no real alternative. Two issues are raised time and time again. The introduction of "personal budgets" and all the hassle that goes with them, and the lack of respite care. Charges are on the increase, yet choice and availability less. If you could highlight these areas of concerns, I am sure they would be grateful. Adults with learning disabilities themselves, are a group of people who have no effective voice. Whilst we all realise that services need to be trimmed - it is this group in society who are the least able to stand up and make themselves heard, when they are the ones who are losing out. We ALL have a responsibility to the most vulnerable . I truly wish you all the very best, and I am sure that you will do your very best, to make sure that their voice IS heard. Kind regards.

It will take many years before they look as magnificent as the originals. I feel sad every time I walk past.....

Yes Flam - the "hot desking" isn't really working, is it? Folk wander in late, leave early, sometimes don't appear at all - all under the guise of "working from home." Next thing you know, a job with a massive salary will be created, for a passionate and committed person to be employed checking up on these people!

No, he didn't!! I forgot to press the button after I had added my comment.....Ooops!! Yet another senior moment! Button pressed now!

Afternoon Flam! Yes, sadly you are quite right. It really is only when they have something to trumpet about - "I work very hard for my constituents, and I am going to ram that fact down your throat, whenever the opportunity arises!" - or there's an election looming! Now and again they join in with a discussion, but always remove themselves from anything too contentious -( IT contracts thread??) As Two Wheels pointed out over on HT, Pat Morgans response seemed to have been drafted by a 16 year old!! Many of them would do well to remember, that communication is a two way process!

You get a green press from me this morning - excellent comment!

Evening Roger! Yes, I think you're right. I'm sure the decision to bring in parking meters has already been made. This "survey" ,and I'm not even sure it qualifies as one, is a fairly poinless one....just hope it hasn't cost us much money!

You do take an excellent photo Megilleland! The walls look absolutely dreadful don't they? Even the beautiful blue sky cannot distract from it. Awful - if I had an extension built, and the walls looked like this, I would be jumping up and down in anger!

A few of us have discussed this on Biomechs thread about the Panasonic shop closing in Cheltenham. Having also filled out the survey, we agreed it was a pretty pointless exercise. Seems to be just ticking the box that says, "Have we asked the Great Unwashed what they think? We have? Good. Now,moving swiftly on....."

Very sad to see this go. Many people will have many memories of this building.