Interesting debate taking place on the HT website about councils being asked how they would house Syrian refugees. Perhaps this forum should debate this

I'll start - totally agree each and every country and their various local councils/authorities should provide safe havens and ultimately a new life to those who are genuine refugees - big question is how do you distinguished between genuine cases and others such as economic migrants. Seeing what is happening across Europe I think thankfully we are an island and do have a chance of putting in some control measures/borders but its a major problem of these times and Europe's governments can't cope

Very little has been said about this but there is a Fun Day at Peterchurch.  The races 91k and 161k in the morning and the hitter in the afternoon a total of six passes through the village of Peterchurch 8.15am to 530pm.

There will be a lot going on and all those cycling enthusiasts will no doubt enjoy watching professional cyclists at work.

I understand Bradley Wiggin came and inspected the roads and said that he would not ride on Herefordshire roads in their present state resulting in many of our roads being resurfaced.

I think there is a similar event in Leominster

Two instruments to be installed to monitor how many vehicles use Kingsway and vehicles that break the 30mph limit.
This will hopefully lead to Kingsway being an access only road with a no entry sign put up at the Old School lane end to stop rat runners.


 

A new shop opening in Maylords, but another clothes shop and another one for Women.

I was in Commercial Road this evening and noticed that Mr Chips is closed, this is very recent as it was open was I was in town in the last few weeks. 

Due to the temporary closure of Hereford library, the library at Belmont will be open for longer with effect from tomorrow. Our new hours are:

Monday closed

Tuesday 9.30 am to 5 pm

Wednesday 9.30 am to 5 pm

Thursday 9.30 am to 5 pm

Friday 9.30 am to 7 pm

Saturday 10 am to 4 pm

Another sad day. Moss Bros closed in Hereford on Saturday for good. 

A message from Bill Child Formal Wear

 

MOSS BROS CLOSURE.

Hello all.

Moss Bro's closed for good on Saturday, presumably leaving many couples with weddings booked with them wondering what to do about suit hire at short notice.

We would be happy to do anything we can to replicate what you have chosen from our large range of suits. We can supply a vast array of outfits from traditional morning suits, both regular & lightweight, to ultra modern lounge suits to tweed options.

Why not come & see us (no appointment necessary) & discover for yourself what we can offer?

All is not lost, give us a call, we're sure you will be pleasantly surprised.

 

Want to be involved in shaping your Community?

Hereford City Councillor David Griffiths is hosting an open community meeting to establish a new residents association for Saxon Gate ward,

18th September 2015 6pm at Saxon Hall, Open to all, Refreshments available.

Would you like to find out more about hate crime, how to report it and the support available to victims?

I have received reports today that Billy Reynolds has sold Play Nightclub to Luminar Group.

The Deltic Group Limited (formerly The Luminar Group Limited) is a private company with an estate of approximately 59 nightclubs and has the largest square footage of nightclub capacity in the United Kingdom.

Remember where you heard it first! 

Dear friends, Blackmarston School is an extraordinary great place of care and learning and it provides a great education for our little ones who have disabilities that prevent them from attending a mainstream place of education.

I hope you'll all fully understand that a place like Blackmarston is unlike most places of learning that most of you will have encountered in your lives. Because of the many needs of the pupils, many of whom require a great deal of care and attention, the staffing levels are considerable higher than all mainstream Schools and consequently, when it comes to adequate funding, it's near on impossible to compare their needs and their staffing levels with any other typical School. Indeed, the largest slice of this Schools funding is spent on staff and whilst, in these hard times of austerity, mainstream Schools can withstand cuts in spending, a place like Blackmarston cannot without it having an extreme impact upon the pupils, the staff and the parents and carers.

The last three years have been hard on Blackmarston because the funding to support the School has remained static and it's anticipated that for the next five years there will be no increase in funding from the Government which means, sadly, through no fault of the School or its Administration, they will no longer be able to continue with the number of staff that are required to deliver the care and education our little ones need and deserve. Quite simply, based upon the funding that the School currently receives and is likely to receive throughout the next five years, their position is untenable unless the axe is wielded and staff are cut from the budget.

My Grandaughter is a pupil at this wonderful School and because of her special needs, she requires constant supervision, care and attention in just about any area of daily life that you can think of and so, I'm hoping that you will all make your comments, support this School and if at all possible communicate your views of concern to the Headteacher Mrs Sian Bailey who, on the 10th, July will be meeting our MP Mr Jesse Norman who is and will continue to be a great supporter of the School.

Her email is...sbailey@blackmarston.hereford.sch.uk. The postal address is....Blackmarston School, Honddu Close, Hereford.

The aim? Simply to push the Government and the Local Authority into rethinking their low level of funding to Blackmarston School. This is not just a School! These are not just typical pupils and the staff who are now aware that their jobs may be threatened are not just ordinary Teaching Staff. The School, the pupils, the staff and all who are connected with this wonderful place of care and learning are far from ordinary. Extraordinary is the word I'd use! They are the best of the best and they deserve to be properly and fully funded so that the little ones receive the very best that we can offer, so, please communicate your support and views to the Head of this wonderful School Mrs Sian Bailey.

Congratulations goes to the Crown at Woolhope winner of the Cider Pub of the Year award 2015.

What are your thoughts on Jeremy Corbyn's idea of women only train carriages? Personally, in this day and age, we shouldn't be even considering the idea of segregated train travel in my opinion, is the man crackers? 

Well this is going to be a biggy and no doubt employers are already reviewing contracts of employment.

For some like myself who work from home and travel to meet people the EU has stated that work starts as soon as you leave the house and finishes I believe once you return home which for many runs well over a 48 hour week and therefore in breach of the working time directive.

I'm sure that megilleland will provide further info but this has major implications for employers and "people of the road".

Paula Radcliffe denies ‘cheating in any form’ after allusions in parliament

A “devastated†Paula Radcliffe has insisted she has never cheated “in any form whatsoever at any time in my careerâ€, following a parliamentary select committee hearing into doping allegations she claimed forced her to speak out.

The marathon world record holder, one of Britain’s best-loved athletes whoretired from competition this year because of injury, had not been named in connection with the recent spate of allegations regarding blood doping that have engulfed the sport. But after Jesse Norman, the Tory MP who chairs the culture, media and sport select committee, asked questions that appeared to suggest a British winner of the London Marathon was “potentially†implicated, Radcliffe said she had no choice but to speak out in order to clear her name.

“These accusations threaten to undermine all I have stood and competed for, as well as my hard-earned reputation. By linking me to allegations of cheating, damage done to my name and reputation can never be fully repaired, no matter how untrue I know them to be,†said Radcliffe, whose 2003 marathon world record of 2hr 15min 25sec in London remains almost three minutes faster than any other woman in history. “Whilst I have the greatest of respect for anyone responsibly trying to uncover cheating in sport, and of course for parliament itself, it is profoundly disappointing that the cloak of parliamentary privilege has been used to effectively implicate me, tarnishing my reputation, with full knowledge that I have no recourse against anyone for repeating what has been said at the committee hearing.â€

At a hearing of the culture, media and sport select committee, convened to look into recent allegations by the German broadcaster ARD and the Sunday Times that a third of endurance medallists over a 10-year period had suspicious blood values, Norman was in the process of questioning the UK Anti-Doping Agency chairman, David Kenworthy, towards the end of a three-hour hearing when he appeared to raise suspicions about a prominent British marathon runner. “When you hear the London Marathon, potentially the winners or medallists at the London Marathon, potentially British athletes are under suspicion for very high levels of blood doping … When you think of the effect that has on young people and the community nature of that event, what are your emotions about that, how do you feel about that?â€

Guardian

In response to a press statement by Paula Radcliffe, Mr Norman said:

Parliament.uk

The cheapest beers in the UK revealed after price of a pint rises 4.3%. Article

More rounds to the pound in Herefordshire - Another good reason to support local pubs.

It’s enough to leave southern beer drinkers frothing - for the price of a pint is 82p dearer than the north.

Statement from First Midlands

Monday 29th June 2015

Bus operator, First, has announced proposals to discontinue its bus services in Hereford. This includes the withdrawal of all its services and the closure of its depot on Friars Street from 5 September, 2015. 

First said that its operations in Hereford have not been viable for a number of years. Despite working hard to turn the business around and the introduction of a wide ranging Transformation Plan which included measures to attract more customers, there remains insufficient passenger demand. The continuing challenging economy has also contributed to Firsts proposed withdrawal. 

Nigel Eggleton, Managing Director of First Midlands, said: "Im disappointed that we are proposing to withdraw services in Hereford, but regrettably, we see no alternative. Despite our best efforts and hard work, only 3,500 customers per day travel on our buses. That level of demand is not enough to warrant a stand-alone bus operation. 

"We will continue to operate services as normal up to and including 5 September, however we are today engaging with Herefordshire Council on the future of bus services in the area. Given the volume of other bus operators that operate in and around Hereford, Im confident that customers shouldnt be left without a service."

As a result of the proposed closure of the Hereford depot First has started the collective consultation process with trade unions on the possibility of redundancies, with up to 40 jobs at risk.

Nigel Eggleton added: "Our proposals do not, in any way, reflect on the commitment of colleagues in Hereford who have worked tirelessly to provide the best possible service to the local community. Id like to thank them for their hard work and loyalty. We will be doing everything we can to assist everyone affected and will actively support any of employees who may wish to transfer to other First operations." 

First Group

I took this picture of today's sunrise from Haywood Lane overlooking Hereford