An absolutely stunning view of Hereford taken from the Cathedral Tower.

Taken from this article in the HT

A SINGLE mum has criticised the way new houses have been built at The Oval because of the stress she has faced with issues at her new build home.

 

Kelly Jackson, 25, moved into a home in Vortex Way in Newton Farm last December and rents it from Herefordshire Housing, a not-for-profit group which provides affordable homes for county residents.

 

But she said she has had numerous problems with the house, which have taken months to fix.

 

Miss Jackson, who is a part-time hairdresser, said: "I am more than happy I have a roof over my head and it has a garden- that's great. But all the trouble I have been having has caused me so much stress."

 

She said the garden was on a slope when she moved in and wooden slats, which could easily break, were put around the edge of the grass.

 

A crack which appeared in her upstairs bedroom window took four months to fix, she said, and there was not enough vinyl covering to cover the kitchen floor.

 

Miss Jackson, who is mum to two-year-old son, Reuben, said the finish is substandard with paint left around the house on light fittings and uneven ceiling edges.

 

She said: "They get more than enough rent for this place. Why do I have to pay for all these problems? I have got to work and earn this money.

 

"They are being put up too quickly. You wouldn't get away with it if you were buying it."

 

The Herefordshire Housing Oval Regeneration has involved demolition, new build and refurbishment.

 

Spokesman for the group, Samantha Baker, said: "We have been working closely with Miss Jackson to try to overcome the problems she has faced at her new build property and we have appointed a designated member of the team to help her through this process.

 

"It is common for new build properties to have minor defects, this is due to the component parts within properties settling down, e.g. woodwork, plaster work.

      

"At The Oval, a few minor issues have arisen but we have successfully worked with tenants and our onsite contractor, Keepmoat, to resolve these quickly and to their satisfaction."

 

Since April, 50 properties at The Oval project have become homes to tenants, with one complaint. Ms Baker said through satisfaction surveys, 90 percent of these tenants have been happy with their new homes.

 

http://www.newsroom.herefordshire.gov.uk/2015/november/help-us-to-set-the-county%E2%80%99s-transport-priorities-%E2%80%93-take-part-in-the-local-transport-plan-consultation.aspx

If you follow the link there is a HC survey for the  people of Herefordshire to take part in to express their transport priorities 

I saw this post on the HT website this morning.

http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/14101835.Volunteers__absolutely_gutted__after_compressor_stolen_from_Hereford_BMX_Club/

Somebody has apparently helped themselves to the BMX Club's compressor which was kept in a shipping container at the Westfailing Street site.  It was used for operating the gates on race days.

If anyone has any information, could I urge you to contact the police on 101.

I'm not a member of the group, but the lads and lasses of Hereford BMX Group and Hereford Dirt Riders have built a great track, which is well regarded both locally and by riders from all over the West Midlands and beyond.  And have many race meetings, which cannot take place without the start gate.

The temporary Library at the Town Hall on St Owen Street is due to open Tuesday 24 November at 9.30

The Town Hall Library will offer a selection of titles and provide access to the whole of the county’s library stock. Titles on the Herefordshire Library catalogue may be reserved free of charge online.

The opening hours are Tuesday to Thursday 9.30 to 5pm; Friday 9.30 to 7pm, Saturday 10am to 4pm. On a Saturday, customers can ring a bell to be given access to the library.

The main entrance to the Town Hall is at the front of the building on St Owen Street, with an accessible entrance to the rear of the building.

There are additional public computers available for use at the Courtyard on Edgar Street and Herefordshire Housing, The Learning Box at Brierley Court, off Turner Lane in Hereford.

The book drop off box at Shirehall will still remain available until Friday December 4.

A timetable of works, costing in the region of £86k, for the safe removal of asbestos from the building, can now be put in place.

For more information on library services please go to www.herefordshire.gov.uk/libraries

It is good to see The Saracens Head open again. It looked busy too to be fair.

Keepmoat & Contractors will be digging up the highways around the Oval (shop circle) over the next few days/weeks. This is to install new services to cooperate with the existing ones. This will cause obvious disruptions around that area. Certain areas will be closed off completely during scheduled works. Restricted access in places. Please use alternative routes as necessary.
The main disruptions will be the school run as Goodrich grove recieves more thoroughfare, could I ask Drivers using the A465 to be a little more considerate and allow a vehicle or two to exit in front at Goodrich grove? I also know that traffic volume on westholme rd will also increase. Please do keep the Tesco roundabout clear. Thanks.
This may also be the time to recampaign to switch off the traffic lights, to elevate the volume.

So the roof pours when it rains. I've rented it for years and years and it's just degraded over time. My stuff will be ruined when it's in there as I need storage for an imminent move. I only previously had my trailer in there, no biggie, yet been leaking at the back for years, now it's all of it! Phoned HA today, response was, "not priority, and they are only for car storage!" We'll send someone to look.

Well no1, nothing in the contract States it's purpose, no2, you can't get a modern car in it and no3 it was patched with a blob of silicon here and there many years ago!!

Where do I stand on this one? It's not fit for purpose, it hasn't been maintained in many many years previous phoned about roof again, nothing done, and the roof is asbestos? Yet I'm still expected to pay a monthly rent! Am I within my right to withhold rent until the roof is replaced?

Two fatalities in as many months. Almost in identical spots.

I knew Smiler........ Rip my friend.

Back to Sundays again for some absurd reason. Sunday Novermber 15th at 5pm. Also posting comments has been blocked on this topic,I wonder why 

http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/13899825.Date_announced_for_Hereford_Christmas_lights_switch_on/

I can't help but notice that these new houses at the Oval are going to be very dark inside, they have built them very close to the road compared to where the old flats used to be and directly in front of them is a whole avenue of large trees, great planning.

From recent reports received today we are to understand that Bill Norman has taken redundancy with immediate effect and no longer works for Herefordshire Council.

As I write this the HA have closed the near side lane of the new bridge northbound going into town. This maybe planned, but I have a feeling it is due to the high winds and the high structure currently being built!? The path is also taped off by asda. Inevitably either way this will cause chaos in the morning.

Driving home this evening there was a lot debris over the roads and all mobile road signs and fencing on the floor.

Please be careful

MET OFFICE WARNING.

Herefordshire is set to feel the force of storm barney from lunchtime today.

Gusts of wind set to reach 50mph this evening  following heavy rain at lunchtime.

The met office has issued a YELLOW  warning across Herefordshire and surrounding areas 

for winds which is active between 4pm today until 2pm tomorrow.

The weather experts are asking the public to be aware of the risk of disruption to travel, adding

gusts could bring down trees and damage to weakened structures.

Don't quite know why this has appeared in the Daiy Mail today

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3316291/Charles-s-10million-folly-s-personally-designed-grandiose-dream-home-scornful-architec

ts-say-ll-blot-English-countryside.html

Anyone who walks around Belmont Lakes beware there is a rat problem.I know you will get rats around any lake but People have been feeding them.People take there children up to the lake what if a rat bit a child .A lady who walks her dogs there was that worried she contacted Cllr Phil Edwards about this because he is in charge of the Country Park and a Councillor.But instead of sorting the problem out he passed it onto someone else. Has any one seen Cllr Edwards since the Election he seems to have disappeared except for the photo in the Hereford times a few weeks ago.

A robbery took place at the Premier Stores in Kilpeck Avenue last night.
Person with a baseball bat started smashing wine bottles and got away with
the money from the till.