greenknight

Ok guys ..what about a new poll and comparing to the old one??

I am disappointed because it's not a large district hospital by any means. I can understand when larger sites with more specialty departments struggle to get their house in order but Wye Valley NHS Trust is one of the smallest in the country and however you look at it a continuation of special measures won't look good on any senior managers CV and it is now joined a small elite club of failing hospitals. Its in the interest of all healthcare groups to ensure the preservation of this hospital and please don't be fooled as I am sure that both the CCG and local healthwatch set up should take some responsibility after all one is using the clinical facilities and the other observing and reporting what's going on.Sadly I have not seen expressions of concern from either group certainly from a public perspective.

I'm interested to hear about the mental health involvement particularly as much is managed by Trusts external to Hereford. Does Health Watch Hereford know when the CQC report on Wye Valley is due?

It's where I stand Megilleland that way we could also catch early those individuals that react badly to it.As Cambo said it's got a lot stronger and this concerns me.

Hi Slim..did you attend the CQC listening event at the Town hall last September?

It's very easy to cultivate in this County Cambo...very rural, very quite and little or no Police.

Well if the new University gets going they will be around Paul though I'm thinking more along the lines of young execs. Best Regards GK

Polish Bakery in the Polish quarter, why not! HiFi well we need it and I wish them well however we are canny shoppers these days and sadly what we like to do particularly with any kit where there is a need to 'touch and feel' is satisfy our curiosity and then check online and see if we can get it cheaper!! My dear friends at Costa ..well the rent per year is £75,000 on the ground floor alone payable to whoever buys the building as it's up for sale with an option to convert the rest into accommodation. If its not unique then it's all about the margins and these are tight these days. Don't get me wrong Paul I understand your concerns however it's been a similar tale from the village where many wanted to keep the shop or pub however popping in for some milk or half a shandy alone won't keep a business alive. I can't tell you how much I laughed when you saw pro shop campaigners flying the banner one moment and then the next filling up the boot with a weekly shop in the disabled bay at Morrison's. I'm sticking with the idea of keeping empty retail, retail,within the precinct area however shops that have been vacant for long periods outside this boundary should be subject to a CPO unless there are good reasons. Councils and commercial property should provide tailored incentives for occupancy but should this fail all other options should be reviewed including finally residential.Yes we do have a number or empty properties around our city however surely providing homes for young people who perhaps could walk/cycle to work has to be better than pitching them up in new build boxes on the outskirts of the city on land that used to be green fields? Most young people embrace life within a city at least during some point in their lives.

Shops should always offer both service and product but again the internet has provided a bigger choice and that's what are shopping habits dictate and no savvy business person wants to be caught holding lots of old unfashionable stock when like us at a click of a button it can be purchased online. This is the high street dilemma and of cause providing a product that will sell and not a me too. As everyone is keen to point out we now have shed loads of coffee shops... well it does not matter how warm the welcome is you've still gotta sell the stuff and its bloody hard. Have you thought of something to put in the shop window yet Paul which does not already appear on the high street?

It would be the last resort Paul and not necessarily starter homes. I would first prefer to see other commercial opportunities first. Some of the shops shown have now been empty for many years and realistically have little or no chance of opening. If you had the cash to open a shop in town that would sell a product that you could not buy off the internet and would make enough money to pay the bills, provide you with a salary...what would it be? Not a trick mate what would you stake your mortgage on?

I'm not sure who marked me down but clearly you have not tried to find viable business premises in Hereford. If you had you would understand. Some shopkeepers would prefer the premises next door to be occupied rather than a door way full of sick and windows flyposted.

Yes they should Alex but so should the landlords. They may give good terms for the first couple of years but then BANG..up it goes and reality sinks in. For me the council should get tough with these guys and compulsory purchase a shop if it remains empty for more than two years. If this was possible from a legal perspective they might start getting flexible. The business rates afforded to new enterprise could be levied based on business performance allowing an entrepreneur to grow his or her business.

Within the precinct area premises should remain retail however the rest should be given the option for change of use after all why have a shop window if the footfall is somewhere else. Most cities in the UK are experiencing the same story created by both the recession and the internet which we nearly all use in some form or the other so we need to get smart. Empty property creates little or no revenue and no revenue means reduced coffers for the council to squander. These places look squalid as time moves on and in turn this gives a negative impact just like the bomb site. Its a huge punt to take on a shop ....thousands in fact so if your gonna fill a shop window what would it be? ...not easy and very brave.

When Bobby introduced this topic he suggested that cannabis was no more dangerous than drinking or smoking which is possibly correct though I do believe it is on a par with both. Once you are introduced to it this extended anorexic rolled up paper becomes your friend. You seek it out for comfort in troubled times of mind,body and soul.But then one day and for some,this little friend gets inside your head, questioning, doubting, this thought provoking little sod creates fears,anxieties and paranoia. This 'friend' you turned to has turned upon you, and that stick thin, gaunt,aging old chap is no longer astride your finger.....it is you!

They are still awaiting his photo on the website...an appropriate picture anyone if you can get into the site! As the council has similar corporate colours as Herefordshire perhaps he has identified similar cash benefits whilst in post and perhaps settlements once departed. If he is on the run from his past in a clockwise direction perhaps we could pre empt his next move and as such make preperations before his next job application...Staffordshire perhaps?

I'm with Ragwert on this.Many of these are on the periphery of town and personally if a change of use could be acquired they could be used for non retail small business start ups or even homes. I use or walk through town on a regular basis and feel there is a more positive feel. What's happening in Hereford is no different to anywhere else ...The council and commercial property owners need to get smarter.

Ah my fault failed to take in the key word...."Tuesday" No point going in tomorrow then! I am sadly back at work on that day but will send you a message for next time Ubique.

I agree with Paul in that it's a little late now. I have not seen the plans or followed this thread in detail ...would this mean the loss of the allotments? Asda are renowned for providing cheap fuel it's just a bloody shame that it will pitch up against the one local provider (harvest) that has always tried to deliver a good deal and not just when the supermarkets are having a pop at each other! We are ripped off in this county in so many ways!

Good Plan...probably already done but what about the main reception area at the County Hospital and surrounding community hospital sites. Herefordshire Healthwatch might be a good plug because they in turn could ascertain the right locations within the hospital whether that be mobility or occupational therapy or outpatients. I will pick some up from the help desk.

Yep...this has also been my experience and if it were not for the fact that I have seen occasional benefits for the few I would have jumped off the fence moons ago.

Ah this old chestnut. I've never been able to come off the fence on this one. From a medical standpoint I have seen plenty of people benefit from the use of cannabis however I have also seen the damage it can do to certain individuals whose mental health deteriorated from early use of the stuff resulting in one member of my wife's family ending their life and another with schizophrenia.I came from a family of prolific Old Holborn users.My father died from lung cancer and just got to 60 whilst my mother now 79 has struggled with COPD for many years. As kids growing up in a three bed council gaff my siblings grew very slowly enjoying thankfully a growth spurt only once we left the nest.I had an answer for this..not very scientific however on a Saturday afternoon we would often sit together watching the wrestling listening to Ken Walton commenting on the exploits of Mick McManus or Jackie Pallow. Anyway the constant exhaust of rollie smoke gathered as a thick layer about five foot off the ground. I've decided that our young brains identified that it was not our best interest to grow into this death cloud preferring to hold off until operating in a more permanent healthy environment. None of us have ever smoked!

Completed the survey and would advise others to do same. The families and carers that have used this service have fought very hard to save it which speaks volumes. Maybe a combined financial approach including charitable support could assist in maintaining this service and improving facities there. Please review the survey and watch out for the wording of certain questions. Thanks.

Great idea by the way and by coincidence today there was an MP on the BBC this morning pushing for a more joined up approach to the way aspects of health and care for x forces personnel is managed.

Yes great to hear from you chap. Please let Mrs U know that we have a hedgehog asleep in a cardboard box outside our back door. He finally turned in about a week ago up to which time he would enjoy the pile high tray of live mealworms and hedgehog biscuits. He can come and go when he pleases and just in case he re emerges I'm leaving out mealworms and water.

It's gonna get messy! Great publicity though