Driving back into Hereford along Haywood Lane I noticed that one of the new duck signs has disappeared...



The picture on the right I took yesterday. Can we have this replaced please?

I have been asked by several people if I would create a petition about the lack of grass/verge cutting in the County due to severe cut backs in Herefordshire Councils budget. 

You Can Sign The Petition HERE

  After two years of asking for yellow boxes at Belmont Tesco, following on from Colin's original suggestion I met on site with Amey last November, I was advised we could not have yellow boxes without traffic signals, I ask for an alternative and we compromised on 'keep clear signs' at the entrance to Northolme Rd, Abbotsmead Rd and Southolme Rd. I am please to advise that these will be put in on 20th March weather permitting.

From Herefordshire CC Press release

Cllr Tony Johnson has today announced his resignation as Leader of Herefordshire Council, which will take effect at the next full Council meeting on 9 March 2018.

Councillor Johnson has been a councillor with Herefordshire Council for more than seven years and has been Leader of the council for five years. He is stepping down to spend more time with his family and on his hobbies, and will remain a ward councillor for Hope End.

Councillor Johnson said:

Quote

 

Over the past five years, I am lucky to have been involved in projects that have really put Herefordshire on the map. The new Enterprise Zone at Rotherwas brought new business and jobs, the new Livestock Market provided a purpose-built venue which enjoys growing trade and the Old Market has revitalised the city centre.

I am proud to have worked with Herefordshire Councils dedicated teams of professionals and would like to thank them for the support during my time as Leader. My work continues as a councillor for Hope End ward, as I support the council and my constituents. I look forward to following the progress made as I take life at a slower place and take time to enjoy this beautiful county.

 

In line with the council constitution, the new Leader will be elected at the meeting of full Council on 9 March.

A woman was taken to hospital and a child received minor injuries following an accident at the junction on Widemarsh Street along the new city link road yesterday evening at 5.50pm (Sunday)

Photo courtesy of OPU Herefordshire

Where's Jesse. Not much noise from Jesse about Council tax rises, bypass routes and business rates in the town centre. Any comments?

A black Carrera road bike has been stolen from an address on St Martins Street, Hereford. It was taken during the early hours of Tuesday 20th Feb 2018.

It was taken by an unknown male who was caught on CCTV heading to the river path towards the back of ASDA. 

New Safety (speed) camera currently being installed on the A465 opposite the Three Counties Hotel Belmont Road) Hereford.

This is been in discussion for sometime so no real surprises here however, the traffic queues along this part of Hereford are constant so we do not envisage high earnings to come from this one...

New Volunteer Pub for Marden plans approved.

Nightmare Neighbour Next Door from Hereford is airing tonight at 8pm on channel 5.

Earthquake with a magnitude of 5.0 hits parts of England and Wales this afternoon.

Great publicity video for Range Rover showing you that there are ways to avoid traffic congestion. Notice the speed camera half way up (only joking)!

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Brexit: If you agree sign this petition

Petitions
UK Government and Parliament

Petition: We must leave the EU completely in March 2019 - No transition period, No delay

Theresa May is betraying the British people who voted to leave the EU by making the UK stay in until 2021 and paying billions of pounds to the EU while we stay. No immigration control, no border control, no sovereignty - an absolute betrayal of the 17 million voters who chose to leave.

HCC Press release

Herefordshire Council welcomes the announcement in the latest Local Government Finance Settlement, which will see additional funding for the county.

The funding includes just over £1m in recognition of the extra costs associated with delivering services in a sparsely populated rural county. Theres also an additional £550,000 to support adult social care services, which continue to face serious pressures due to the rapid growth in the number of older people within Herefordshire and those living with a lifelong disability. The gap between demand for adult social care services and the resources available to provide them, is nationally estimated to be around £2.3bn.

Councillor Nigel Shaw, Cabinet member for finance, housing and ICT, said:

Were pleased the government has recognised the challenges we face when delivering services in a rural county, by awarding us additional funding.

Unfortunately, this additional funding is a one off payment for 2018/19, so cant be relied upon going forward. We continue to face cuts to our ongoing funding from the government; it's reducing by £203,000 in the same year. As adult social care costs are significantly increasing, its imperative that we carefully consider how best to use this extra funding, to ensure maximum benefit for local residents. We will continue to ensure that residents are enabled to live safe, healthy and independent lives across Herefordshire.

Just wondering if this additional funding will mean that the council,Tax for t2018/2019 will be reduced

- I doubt it very much .

British farmer moves fruit-growing to China over Brexit uncertainty

 

(extract)

 

Berry producer says government urgently needs to address shortfall in seasonal workers

One of the biggest growers of berries in the UK is moving part of its business to China because it cannot guarantee it will find enough fruit pickers available to work.

Up to 200 seasonal jobs have gone at Haygrove’s farm in Ledbury, Herefordshire, and some of the company’s raspberry and blueberry-growing will be relocated to Yunnan province in China because of uncertainty over migrant labour due to Brexit.

Angus Davison, the founder of Haygrove, said: “In the UK we employ 230 full-time and 1,150 seasonal workers, but we are now reducing that to 950 because of Brexit nervousness.†The company has a turnover of £101m.

“We are already out of time,†he says, explaining that he can’t afford to wait for Theresa May to reveal her immigration policy as this year’s harvest was planned last year.

Davison has written to Theresa May, pleading with her to take urgent action. “Unless a seasonal workers scheme is put in place, you must expect to see the steep decline of this significant rural employer and source of food,†he wrote.

“It is appreciated that treating one industry differently to another is difficult; however agriculture, unlike construction and hospitality, can be exported. If enough people are not made available to do the work, the work can be taken to the people.â€

The prime minster has not replied.

Can't get British workers, won't be able to employ workers after Brexit, so looks to China (free trade) to maintain his business. So he is not going to lose out under any circumstances - the situation for most major businesses and industries in this country. After China maybe Africa - does it matter?

Recommendations to approve the consultation will be made to Cabinet

From Hereford Times today:

Vowchurch Hall, Herefordshire presents a talk by General Sir Adrian Bradshaw entitled Stories From a Soldiering Life

VOWCHURCH Hall, Herefordshire presents a talk by General Sir Adrian Bradshaw KCB, OBE on Friday, February 16 entitled Stories from a soldiering life, plus defence and security in the post-Brexit era.

General Sir Adrian Bradshaw was Deputy Supreme Allied Commander NATO Europe from 2014 to 2017, responsible for commanding operations on behalf of the 28 member states and partner nations.

From 2010-11, he was Deputy Commander of NATO Forces in Afghanistan where he was responsible for an alliance of 50 countries including 140,000 coalition personnel and 350,000 Afghan National Security Forces.

From 2005-08 Adrian Bradshaw was Director of UK Special Forces where he designed and delivered a series of new task forces in an emerging theatre of operations. He gained governmental support at the highest levels in the UK Ministry of Defence for non-traditional innovative methods and concepts to achieve key strategic effects against high risks.

The doors will open at 6.30pm for a welcome drink and canapés followed by the talk at 7.15pm. Afterwards, there will be the opportunity to ask questions.

The bar will be open before and after the talk.

Advance tickets £10 from Jane Wheatley on 01981 550791 or by email: janewheatley@gmail.com or £12 on the door.

Regarding Brexit maybe he will be able to tell us if we are keeping our own armed forces or using the proposed EU army? If anyone is going from Hereford are they able to offer a lift?