stupidfrustration

How has the game changed? People appear to be going out later and later. I remember not too long ago when there was a queue outside Yates at 10pm at night, now sadly for my favourite bar this queue, if there is one is not till around 11pm. On a Friday night - there used to be a hell of a lot more people out, Dusk at the time was busy, as was Play, as was Saxtys, but now, only Play is busy. The night time in Hereford has changed a lot. BIO - with regards to what people want to eat - I would love to have a quality burger, something like the Beefy boys burgers that the Jail house guys cook, but that is not what the average 18/30 year old wants or will pay for, or to be fair what is on offer from our late night food establishments. Just look at other towns/cities - yes they are much much bigger but McDonolds ALWAYS gets the lions share of trade in the late night. Thats fine if there is plenty of people around, when there are not, the "left overs" for the small local business may not be enough to keep them open.

Bobby47 - Sounds like you have been through the mill a good few times. I hope you are happy in what ever you are doing and can still make a positive difference where ever you are.

To be fair - I hadnt thought about that - but if there are NO cash machines on site and it FORCES people to go into High Town, then that can only be a good thing for High Town.

arrrrgghghghgghhh Roger - what an annoying little man you really are. This council has NO MONEY left. They re open the toilets - and charge you 20p to spend a penny. You then go and show not only Hereford but the whole world on how to get around this charge of 20p. WE CANT AFFORD TO CUT THE GRASS!!!!!! Now the few quid the council can make to IMPROVE services, you want to take that away from them. Madness. I dont agree with how all public money is spent, but, YOU will have managed to take away just a few quid more. Well done.

well, thats the thing - the media does try to make us scared of everything. I think James O'Brien did a great job on NF. He tripped him up a week ago and we are all still talking about it. With regards to Romainians - there are good ones, there are bad ones, but you cant say a whole nation is bad! With regards to that shop that keeps getting raided - why dont they just close the bloody place.

Good on them - but I also think it shows what a bad state of affairs we must be in for this to be cut back.

Roger When people change their views it can be a number of reasons ; New information Softening of attitudes Change in culture Lack of a problem anymore And more reasons that I can't currently think of When I change my mind on an issue it's normally to do with new information - doesn't mean that I am stupid or was stupid

When the Uni comes to town they will HAVE to deregulate the late night food places. The whole town needs to be joined up in the thinking for the Uni.

If that one person who, in the club, wanted to punch you, still wants to punch you outside, right now, the threat still exists as everyone must go to the same food source. If there were 10 places for food to go to (over, lets say 1), the risk of the threat is diminished by 10x Ya digg! Bio - I nearly agree with you. But play this out. Do you see where I am coming from in that if McDs gets to stay open till 3/4am, a majority of the customers that use the local stores will go to the national chain, sutting down the local business operators. Then it will be one meeting place for hot food and fights, no choice though, but I would guess McDs would become an extention to the night out. At least they have fixed seating. But the end result would still mean - no choice.

Bio - Its possible you havnt seen many fights in the streets because of the restrictions? Look at other towns where these restrictions are not there. Worcester? Its like fight club around that time of night. Broad Street Birmingham - again, brawls all the way along the street. Cardiff - much the same - and again with a seagull problem - which effects day time trade and im constantly wiping seagull poop from the wifes car! Sweansea - oh and a BIG McDonalds there that has queues out the door. And around 2 months ago there was a TV show about Colchester and bouncers - did you see how the bouncers of pubs and clubs just let the fights occur and not get involved in the late night food houses? Again, I understand it with bouncer insurance etc, but if it was YOUR child getting a shoeing in a kebab shop, wouldnt you want the door staff of the pub/club next door to go and "save him/her"? But again, these are all much bigger cities with THOUSANDS more people out and about. With regards to the 1.30 - its how OUR council have interpreted the LAW. Do I agree with it? - well, partly yes, partly no - I have a fence post up my backside - BUT i do UNDERSTAND it and the logic behind it. and on top of all of this, I dont want money leaving town for the big nasty American chain, and would prefer local business keep and spend the money in our lovely little town, preferably High Town!

This is one story they I really hope HT do pick up on, hey they have picked up on much less from this site and others and ran with it, but this one has some real importance to the city. Fffffiona - If you are reading, can you please put the REAL reporter Bill on it? Podge is great on football, but this is too serious for him, nice guy though. Jess - well, again, nice girl, but this is too serious. Bill is the man for the job. Please HT - lets do this!

WHAT? Really? Here is my take on how it MAY work. Business is there to make money - thats business. At the moment - there are a handful of local business who trade food till late. ( not late enough possibly ) IF the licencing restriction was lifted, it is lifted for all of the late night food houses. Great news - loads of choice! Locals and nationals all open. However - the amount of people who are out in Hereford of a night time means there would be FAR too much choice for all of those late night food houses to stay open. When I go out in Hereford, its only a Saturday night there are a lot of people out - the other nights ive been out recently are pretty quiet. So - maybe 2000 people out in Hereford at 2am between Fusion, Play, Jailhouse, Saxtys, Mamma Jammers? That number may be a little high, but work with me here. Fusion, Play, Saxtys all have food on site. Not all of the 2000 people will want food. For the sake of arguement maybe 1000? Again, im plucking figures, but you get the point. Play has the most customers and food on site, say 200 customers there for food? Maybe 100 for Fusions on site food? Maybe 100 for Saxtys on site food? 600 customers potentially available for : KFC 2 kebab shops next to the Commercial The Lunch Box Munchies Mr Chips The Golden Galleon The Tasty wok about to open next to Munchies The 2 kebab shops next to Bar Spirit So - 10 possible late night food houses - Great - loads of choice...... 10 places - possibly 600 customers left in town - so hey - 60 customers each. Maybe £4 per person spent? Oh sorry - I missed one out - McDonalds - the one place that all the younger people want to eat in is now open to, so hey - lets just go there. Maybe Im not being clear in my point - but in my humble opinion there are not enough customers around to keep CHOICE available for you Bill. It is my opinion that it may unfold this way : The Council lift the restriction. Its an open market. They all open later After a month or so - many realise its not working for them as McDonalds has taken the majority of trade. But hey - at least you can choose between a Big Mac / Qtr Pounder or maybe a salad?

Gjd - again well done for exposing this too.

Well done for finding this out - it's what the HT should be reporting on, but kudos to you.

General Custer joins the board - welcome - the battle of little big horn is a great analogy here. Carefull what the local traders wish for - as if the nasty big American chain stay open till the same time as "mr chips" et al - it could change the face of the late night food business for ever. Sadly the majority of the 18-30s who are out at 2/3/4 am given the choice of a mr chips burger or a Big Mac - I suspect will go for a Big Mac - and then with how many people who choose that - it won't be worth mr chips staying open - which means all that has happened is we have given the green light for a national to take money from Hereford night time and the local traders would loose out further.

The young people who go out and eat the cold food at 2/3am leave the remains of their food lieing around and dont put the rubbish in the bins, this then gives the seagulls food, and they get fat and re produce. I am aware that Hereford City council have spent some time on dealing with seagulls, and I have noticed a reduction in how many there are in town of late. Doesnt stop them finding my wifes car and depositing their thoughts, but their flourishing numbers are being helped due to how we dispose of rubbish. Im not against business at all, really Im not. I do not discriminate against late night take aways, im mean, really I have no benefit at all to not want them to stay open later, however I DO understand the arguement of young people, who have had a drink meeting up in late night establishments having a fight. In having control of the late night food establishments, even if the control is unfair, I do understand how this reduces disorder/injuries. Maybe "they" the powers that be, can try letting them stay open late for 6 months and see what happens?

Bobby - you have expressed my thoughts so much better than I can. Very well written and I agree with every word you say.

Sorry Roger - i think you missed my point. The council dont own the building - a Mr X owns the building. Why get it all ready to go - have to pay rates on it with no tennent ready to go in. It doesnt add up for the owner of the property - its more financially sound for him to leave it like that untill the town is ready for new stores to take up the space.

You also dont have to pay business rates - if for example - your building has been damaged by, er ,,,,,,,fire for example. If this happened, what would be the point, from a business point of view, in getting the building ready for occupation again if you have no tenant to go in ? Not saying its morally right, but perhaps, as a business case - its understandable.

First thing I have agreed with you on in a long time Roger. I believe in the notes I have seen that the BID is looking to tackle the image of the empty shops around town.

I know a couple of the business people involved with this. So far - it seems like nothing is confirmed and they are canvassing opinion from business owners in the city centre what they would like a BID to do. The argument of "us business already pay our rates" is great, however there are lots of things the council is currently overlooking, as such a group of business owners getting together to take back some control over the city can only be a great thing.

Agreed Twowheels - the routes into the city centre should be a "show piece" of what Hereford has to offer. And you are totally right - what does it say about the city when as you come into the centre you are greeted with KFC and Pizza Hut. I believe at one time there was legislation that said the 4 main arteries into the city should have an unobstructed view of the Cathedral - or something to that effect. But I guess its difficult to stop undesirable business taking prime spots in the city.

Roger Have you asked the Office of the PCC if he has donated that money as yet? In the link dated March 2013 - it says they were doing it. Ask the question. Gum balls - well, its a nice idea - you have to try out ideas to see if they work or not. It wasnt such a stupid idea really, but I dont think it worked - you can however see the logic.

Just as a point - today I was in town and I saw a guy - with a "jet pack" blasting off the chewing gum! But - I take on board all your points about the dangers of smoking and how many butts are discarded. But - stinker? I chew mints, and Im a Beckham aftershave kinda guy - sporty as well!

Maybe you are right there biomech - I don't know if there is a "proper" smoking area for the staff there