stupidfrustration

Vexatious in our council terms - and related to what you are talking about - but we "here" are not really allowed to talk about means : In my understanding : A person who calls many different departments, speaking to many different council staff over the same issue repeatedly without really knowing what he is talking about. That would be considered vexatious. And to be fair - I would agree.

The coffee cart is an interesting one isnt it. I wonder how you "pitch" to the council for that site? I wonder how much the coffee cart - or "central perv" as the young ones call it costs to rent that space each year? I wonder if I wanted to run my own coffee stall that - and try and take over that pitch I would go about it? I wonder if it ever comes up for renewal to the public or other business? All good questions. These street traders on movable wagons - come on - these people are not the top of the tree. These people are not the ones living in £2million plus houses that will have to pay further tax on their mansions. I am all for a fair trade, especially for local business in Hereford, especially in High Town, but these people that sell glow sticks and pashminas at peak times are just trying to get by.

I will be at the High town switch on - the old market - nah - not so much. Its a shame they "went their own way" - but I wont be there for theirs. I am a High Town man!

Well, as this thread has been brought up - I went with the wife and was really really surprised by how good it was. A HUGE amount of fireworks, well patrolled by people in Hi Vis jackets, food on offer and a couple of fair ground rides for the little ones. Honestly - the wife and I had fun! Cheers Jim K and team for this - great night!

If it counts for anything - I agree with you George. Well done to the team for tackling this problem. I smoke - and Im stupid as I know the risks involved, but smoking these "fake" fags - just madness!

You are of course correct Ragwert - there are towns around the country that are mixing up more residential in town centers - I personally think we should do the same.

Do you watch John Stewart as well? I actually think John Oliver is now better than JS!

From an unimpeachable source yesterday came the revelation that Herefordshire Council is obligated to offer first to our embryonic uni any buildings which it owns and which are surplus to requirements Blue School House (presently a discotheque) and poor old unwanted Franklin Barnes House are already on the list. If Blue School House is refering to Play discotheque - I am awear that it is privately owned by a Hereford man and not the council.

flamboyant - I love your idea.I think you have a nugget of gold here. We have too many shops for "today" and that is only going to get worse with the way we shop now. Taking over a unit and turning it into learning would help the town center as we whole. Genius!

Go have a look yourself. Ive been in a couple of times for a few bits for the house and ive honestly never seen more than 50 people in there in the last month.

So - Debenhams is empty - and the pound shops are expanding. Its a sign of our times in Hereford.

Well - I never said I'm a smart man - possible I have used the wrong word here. However my point still stands. To answer your question - more empty shops than other towns would mean we have a bigger problem than other towns. We have less empty units than other towns - hence our problem is smaller - however my suggestion is the location of our empty shops makes us feel the issue is bigger than it is. But I'm sure you understood that.

I agree with John Jones - He is in fact correct. The empty shops in Hereford - as a ratio compared to other towns - we are actually on the low end. I personally think its partly a perception/location problem. As some of the empty stores in Hfd are in visible locations we tend to think its a much bigger problem. Life is a funny thing - as perception is reality in many peoples cases. Like crime - crime in Hfd compared to other towns is incredibly low - however - as most Herefordians are not used to being in places where crime is much higher - then it FEELS like its a much bigger issue than it is. The burnt out building - sadly - my understanding of the situation is this : Landlord has no tenant to go in. In the buildings current state - the landlord does not have to pay rates. IF the building was all ready to go to a new tenant - ie NOT the eyesore that it is - the landlord would HAVE to pay rates on the building. Why would the landlord get the building ready to go with no prospective tenant to take on the lease? Out of the goodness of his/her heart? I would guess the rates for that building would be in the region of 2k a week - possibly more - would YOU pay that if you didnt have to? If I was in a position of power within the council I would take the landlord for a tea and biscuits chat - get him/her to get the building ready to go - and give them a pass on rates for a 18 month period. But hey - Im not in a position of power to make that happen.

The bins can only be cheeper coming from Germany than buying them in the uk - there surely can't be any other reason.

Well - nearly - but a window cleaner has an accountant - or a guy who owns a chip shop - or a garage with two trainee mechanics - all have accountants - not necessarily rich. I personally would be in favor of a new tax band - say - people who earn over £175k get taxed a little more - but little old me who sits in Hereford thinks that at £175k - thats a decent wack - tax em more! If you work in London - £175k isnt huge at all - and there in lies the problem of taxing "the rich" further. Different perspectives. We could go on with this and talk about salaries - I personally dont think the PM earns enough. MPs - a backbench MP doesnt earn enough for the responsibilities they have. But - should a "leader of the council" earn more than the PM? Should the TOP guy of a health authority earn more than the PM? Should solders earn less than those on benefits? Should the trainee police officer earn less than a team leader in McDonalds? There are loads of examples of unjust salary groupings - but being rich - I personally feel is hard to define and even harder to generate a fair tax system. The "rich" already proportionately over pay their share - and are likely to use public services less.

Funny you should say that - I would personally like to retire to a third world country one day. Of course - with my money with me. Ive found that when the gvt cant do much for you, then the community really is a community, family really does stick together and help each other out, the bonds of community are stronger. Third world countries "make do and mend" - the people think differently - i guess because they have to. Is that right for the UK - Nope. We should not become a third world country - but if we keep on taxing the rich there becomes less and less reason to strive. To clarify what rich is - in my mind anyway - its not the people on 50k or 100k or even 150k a year. They may be better off than many of us - but they are not RICH. Rich people are who?

Ragwert - in answer to your question - YES - and so did the judges. Could there have been more? Yes.

You are of course right Jonny - but how do we pay for these public services?

You maybe right Cambo - and I must admit - I am a bit of a Jesse fan. But in this particular case - if as you say - he has boxed clever - what has it done? Shown he voted "no" - but we went anyway. This is the second time he has voted "no" for sending in our troupes - My suggestion is that on THIS occasion even the most adverse to war people can be shown the argument that in this case - we should be helping out.

I pass comment again - perhaps not knowing all the facts - but do any of us? What I will point out is this : If countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, and Jordan are involved in fighting against IS, and not just the Good ol USA and us, then you have to say there is something to this war. On top of this - the IRAQ government has asked for help - from us! Now - considering we played a part in Iraq finding itself in this current situation, I feel Jesse may be wrong to vote no here.

I have met Ivan a couple of times. Good bloke. Straight talking. No time for the "politics" crap Has a great attitude of just doing what works - as nothing else matters. I wish him all the best and im pretty sure he will be great in this role. Good luck Ivan.

Im trying to find the meaning of this parable - but - ive come to think you are just pi$$ed!

On second thoughts - I think my hands are more for "paper pushing"

Not too long ago a farmer from Church Stretton wrote into the Hereford Times saying that his foreign workers were earning £900 a week. Had he advertised those jobs, with expected earnings for local job seekers, I am sure he needn't have looked abroad. Is he still recruiting? I can quit my job and go and pick fruit! Bobby - I hear what you are saying - but - the UK population is growing. We wont be leaving the EU - that is mastered by people much higher up the ranks the Cameron. When the current crop of EU citizens leave Hereford there will be a new country to take their place. Anyway - Hereford is growing : University The Enterprise zone Currently - only 1.1% unemployment! Although I dont see it in my personal business as yet - Hereford is growing and im sure good things are to come in the next few years.

On a slightly different tangent - about EU's picking fruit - they have to do it as "our local" kids wont. Aspirations set too high for some of these young people or are they just too lazy to do it - or a bit of both? Either way - we will always need to have people collect the rubbish in Mcdonalds - and some people will only be able to do that type of job. No shame in it - maybe we have failed them in their education, maybe thats all they strive to be, but - right now - as an employer in Hereford, I see many many 18/19/20 year olds who think they are above some of the menial jobs that I have available for them. AND - that is a problem for the county.