Colin James

Welcome to Belmont Voice Liz

I would like to welcome Liz Kelso as a member here. :Smile_32: I trust that you will find the website useful. I notice that you are already active with replies which is good, thank you and welcome to Belmont Voice.

I have just been informed that the supervisor has left instructions NOT TO CLEAN UP THE POOL AND REMOVE THE TYRE'S as they will do this later in the year when they have a general clean up of that area, well that is just typical eh, this would take a couple of guys and a van no more than a few hours at the very most! supply me with the kit and I will gladly do it for them!

Kids have been seen swimming in the pools, so what will happen if one of these kids drowns because of these tyres Mmmmm     

I had a conversation this morning with Cllr Powell who informed me that the enforcement officer (Bethon Fortey) would be calling here today to see if the culprit for this mess had cleared it up.

Bethon has just called and we walked over together, all of the garden waste has be removed, and unfortunately there is not a lot else that can be done in the way of prosecution as it is very difficult to prove. Even though I am witness to this tipping and we have photographic evidence, Bethon informs me that she was following the advice from her supervisor.

She was very helpful and understanding, so thank you Bethon for attending so promptly.

At least it is now clear of rubbish and hopefully the culprit has learned a lesson at the very least.

It would help if Amey cut back all the overgrown weeds as this only encourages people to add more waste. They usually cut the grass but fall short of completing the job.

Several weeks ago, I took it upon myself to contact the Chairman Cllr Phil Edwards and invite him to join Belmont Voice.

I personally believe that Mr Edwards as well as your other elected Councillors should be here for their constituents.

He told me that "he likes to get out and about on his bike and meet the residents of the parish", I explained that the website would assist him as it is immediate! you can ask questions and post replies without the need to go out on your bike. He told me he likes to be known as the "man on the bike"...Mr Edwards said that he would consider registering for the site, I also informed him that other councillors were active members and that I would post his reply here.

I also invited Andy Myatt who has registered I am pleased to say.

I personally spoke with our new Councillor Dawn Killeen and John Newman when I visited the Oval Office, they were all keen to register, but as yet Andy Myatt is the only other councillor besides Cllr Powell to be registered.

Now as elected Councillors I am both suprised and disappointed that no councillors have joined! This is not through lack of computer skills either as several councillors including the chairman were quite active on the old BR website before it closed.

It could just be that Mr Edwards does not approve of the LIVE forum debates and prefers to have constituents posts edited to suit like on the old BR site, well, this site is open, live and fair and represents the TRUE feelings of the local people. As a Councillor you should be open to criticism as well as praise unless there is an alternative agenda for not joining?

Council motto;

"Working in partnership for the people of Herefordshire"

I have also distributed some flyers about the Belmont Voice website in the council offices, Tesco's and the newsagents at the Oval.

Lets hope that your elected Councillors register in the near future to support you all.

I am pleased that they were obviously contacted by the enforcement officer, I know he was out all Friday afternoon. I was speaking to Shane Hancock in town on Friday morning and he said that if they had a name and address they would be prosecuted as a deterrent to anyone else doing it.I told him to look on BV for the evidence.

Can they not get in contact with the owner? electoral roll perhaps as if he enforcement officer had not called on them, they would of clearly just left this there.

Somebody must have called on them as they cleared 90% of it up yesterday and they had a chopping machine for all the branches which is good, still does not change the fact that they dumped it all originally, so will anything happen now? I personally think that they should be prosecuted.

I am amazed, the person doing this has now dumped even more!! using a plank in order to transport the rubbish

Thank you for speaking with the Herefordshire Housing officer and I when we called 30 minutes ago. Having looked at the property it is in private ownership, I have now left a message for Craig Sandman to call me regarding the fly tipping he is the Enforcement Officer for the Community Protection Team, he will call on the householder and tell them to remove the tree out of the brook with a distinct possibility of the householder being prosecuted.

Excellent response, and they officer you had with you was very helpful, thank you Lets hope this is cleared up asap.

Now that is what I call fast action!! Thank you councillor

I had a look in the open space at the bottom of Glastonbury Close today and was amazed to see that the people who live at the back of this fence (Golden Post) have cut their tree's and then dumped all the waste in the field!!

This is the culprit! as you can see they have cut their trees

Now they have just dumped it

It looks a right mess and it would be unfair to ask Amey to clean up this, so can someone from the council knock on the door and ask them to clean it all up please. This is clearly fly tipping, not the brightest persons as it is obvious who is responsible.

Having spoken to the local police officer last night outside Northolme Centre she told me that she with the environment enforcement officer were going to the pools this morning, the black bags were removed and on investigation found evidence who had put them there!

Well that is good, but what about Amey's visit last week? or did they not go?

Colin I had a walk round with our young'un, they were still there, I also saw youths swimming in the lower pond, I just wonder what will happen to the ponds if one of them drowns.

Well we have seen it all before Roger, they will do something when it's too late.

As for the rubbish it was my understanding that someone from Amey was going there last week?

Frank- Amey has been in touch with me this afternoon because of my request yesterday, they are going up to the pools today with the community enforcement officers to look at the mess and also hopefully find some evidence as to who dumped the rubbish there, they have also assured me that the rubbish would be cleared this weekend. I have also ask for a notice to be put there to advise people will be prosecuted if cought fly tipping.

Would be great to see this happen, just hope the latest budget does not put this plan back or curtail it in anyway.

I agree, as that would be a shame, The Oval is in need of this, it really is and it would be nice to see it happen but I fear that you may be right with Government cuts.

For the last 15 months Herefordshire Housing has been talking to the residents of the flats in The Oval area, to inform and update them on the progress of Herefordshire Housing’s plans to transform the Oval area. This started in April 2009, when a questionnaire was sent to all residents of the Oval area, asking for their views on what they thought of the area, what they liked/didn’t like, what they thought would improve the area, and what they thought of their current properties.

The replies were for the most part very positive, people like the area, and feel a strong sense of community, but many felt that there was little in the way of activities or facilities, particularly for young people.

In May of 2009 a steering group was set up for the purpose of overseeing the project on behalf of the community, and to act as the main strategic driver for the Oval community Plan, the group is made up of tenant representatives, local councillors, Newton Farm Community Association and representatives of Herefordshire Housing, the group is chaired by Rev Clive Evans. Herefordshire Housing in partnership with the steering group has also organised two family fun events at the Three Counties Hotel in Oct 2009 and on 2nd June 2010 as a thank you to the community for their support and involvement in the ongoing process.

In January of 2010 Herefordshire Housing was able to present the options for the Oval area, and following an exhibition and later face to face interviews with residents, the overwhelming feeling was that they would like to see all the blocks knocked down and replaced with new housing, 99% of residents questioned also said that they would like to see a community centre or hub that can cater for all sorts of community activities and a place where various local organisations could be based.

So what happens next? Herefordshire Housing are currently discussing with the Diocese the St Francis site on Goodrich Grove, where we are hoping to site the community hub, the next step is to discuss funding for the regeneration project with the Homes and Communities Agency, we are already in discussion with the planning Dept, and hope to have some design ideas to show the community later in the year, although we do not envisage any building work on new housing to start until 2012 at least.

The project is still in it's infancy as yet, but we have high hopes for it's success.

If you have any queries or would like any further info Please contact Herefordshire Housing Neighbourhood Officer Peter Grayer on 01432 346092

I am aware that Cllr Powell reported all the rubbish and tyres in and around the pool last week, it was my understanding that Amey were going there?? I have had a quick walk around this morning and everything is still there.

Maybe it will take a little longer...

We need to keep this GP unit open. I have used it a few times, very good service, very speedy.

HUNDREDS have signed a petition asking for Hereford's new GP walk-in centre to stay at Asda.

Here is Cllr Powell handing over the petition


Almost 700 people are opposed to it being moved to a new purpose-built unit near the A&E department at the County Hospital.

Belmont ward Councillor Glenda Powell said she had been asked by many people to start up a petition calling for the new centre to stay south of the river.

Coun Powell said since it had opened last December, 973 patients had visited GPs there and people were very happy with its position.

Petition forms placed at the Oval and Putson Post Offices attracted 654 signatures in four weeks and were handed to Herefordshire Council chairman John Stone last week.

Story from Hereford Times

While out walking along the old railway lines this morning, just as you approach the Belmont road bridge, there is this eye sore!

This is disgusting! you really need to see it to appreciate how vile it is. As you can see these garages need demolishing all the grass and weeds are overgrown and I was stood only on the path when I took this picture.

Another view

There is also a big ugly slab of concrete where the previous garages on the left side have been demolished, but it looks like it's just been left?? :Angry_32:

What can be done about this?

Well, credit where it's due, I had a walk along the Great Western Way this morning and I was suprised to see the council there cleaning up the rubbish.

Albeit in a fashion but and they walked passed loads of empty bottles but they were cleaning up the bulk.

I think the whole walk way needs a damn good clean up and trim, don't think its really been done properly for years and it's a shame as it could be nice.   

Another

Caught a better picture of the Heron today



& here is the same picture zoomed

South Wye Regeneration

The South Wye Regeneration Partnership was set up in 1999 to put in place a realistic and targeted regeneration programme which would make a significant difference to the lives of people living in the South Wye area (the wards of Belmont, Hinton and St Martins - pre 2003) as well as those working at the Rotherwas Industrial Estate. In order to do this the Partnership successfully secured £4.3 million of Single Regeneration Budget from the Regional Development Agency, Advantage West Midlands. This investment was match funded and resulted in a programme of £13 million over 7 years.

The Partnership set itself a mission at that time to:-

* Create an active and lively community where everyone who lives and works in the area has equal access to services and opportunities.

* Improve the local environment so that it reflects the pride of local people in the place where they live.

* Build a strong and competitive local economy by investing in local people and local businesses.

At the end of the SRB programme the Partnership carried out an evaluation of the programme. As a result of this work and surveys that were carried out with residents and businesses in South Wye, the Partnership produced a forward strategy and action plan to continue regeneration work in the local community. The Partnership now has a new strategic board and is working to deliver the actions identified in the forward strategy, as well as contributing towards the strategic objectives of the Herefordshire Partnership's Community Strategy.

The South Wye Regeneration Partnership has identified a new vision for the future for South Wye. The vision is:-

* An improved perception of the area by both residents and outsiders;

* The integration of services into the community;

* The continued provision of co-ordinated education for children and young people;

* A cleaner, greener environment; and

* A cohesive community of South Wye.

For more information please contact The South Wye Regeneration Manager at:

South Wye Regeneration Partnership

Kindle Centre

ASDA

Belmont Road

Hereford

HR2 7JZ

Tel:- 01432 383230

Email:- southwyesrb@herefordshire.gov.uk

Hereford Voice is local independent website community run by volunteers for discussions and news related to Herefordshire and surrounding Counties.

| News | Campaigns | Forums | Events | Photo Groups | Competitions | Community Projects | Tourism |

Hereford Voice was established in March 2007, however we began as Belmont Voice, a blog with the slogan 'have your say!' in 2004.

We wanted to give local residents their own 'voice', hence the titles 'Belmont Voice' and now 'Hereford Voice'. Our primary online forums were originally created to allow local residents of Belmont to engage with one another and with local parish councillors about parish-related issues. The website quickly drew visitors from all around Herefordshire, and in March 2007, after receiving several requests to expand the site to cover all of Herefordshire, we did so and changed the name to Hereford Voice.

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Community Projects and Campaigns
We have initiated and spearheaded many local community projects listed below and are proud to have worked with some equally passionate people on these various projects along the way which have included, local residents, our MP, Councillors and the Police.

1. Successfully campaigned to reverse reduced grass cutting with this petition
2. New metal fencing on the Belmont Iron bridge (preventing kids climbing)
3. New duck signs installed following request along Haywood Lane near to Belmont Pools.
4. Open space at bottom of Glastonbury Close cleared and tree's cut back and 2 reduced to stumps preventing kids climbing over metal fencing near McDonalds.
5. Regularly litter picked around the Oval Shops and various other locations within South Wye since 2007.
6. Successfully campaigned for CCTV along the GWW.
7. Campaigned successfully since 2012 to reverse previous decisions to prevent late night food curfew - many food outlets are now open until 3am and even later on bank holidays, thanks to this long campaign
8. Colin James cleaned all of the road signs from the Iron bridge on A465 Belmont to the Clehonger junction and also along the whole length of Haywood Lane and other signs around the Parish.
9. Successfully campaigned and managed to have 'Keep Clear' road markings painted A465 Tesco roundabout exits.
10. Highlighted, contacted Hereford Housing (Connexus) and managed to have the garages at Redhill repaired (GWW)
11. Cleaned the GWW on two 'Clean Up Days' together with many other residents, Councillors and Police.
12. Successfully campaigned to have Salt Bins placed for Sydwall Road and Glastonbury Close with thanks to the Parish Council. 
13. Successfully campaigned here for New lightbulbs and repairs to the lighting within the Greyfriars Subway.
14. Colin James persuaded Balfour Beattie to cut down dangerous trees and bushes on blind corner in Glastonbury Close Hereford.
15. Clean up of Hereford Duck Pond on several 'Duck Pond Days' with many volunteers. We managed to obtain 3 new information signs kindly sponsored by Vets4Pets. Repainted fence with funds from Hereford City Council and secured up £5000 for aeration pumps/fountain.

Our other active campaigns include; 

1. Campaigned since before 2011 to turn off the traffic lights (on a trail) or making them part-time 7pm-7am - Councillor responses following our group presentation to the Hereford City Council on 6th December 2014.
2. Cleaning of weeds from the medieval Hereford City walls and pursuing the installation of some subtle LED up-lights and placing descriptive historic signs at various sections along the City walls.
3. Explore using Trams along the Great Western Way.
    

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