greenknight

Yes it does Dippy which is why I have grown old expecting nothing therefore when presented with the unexpected it's a fantastic surprise.....so long as there are no strings attached! I've got by on my own merits but understand that this is not possible for everyone Just occasionally it is great for someone to listen,a stranger at that,after all sometimes you can't choose your bedfellows so its a bonus if ya cellmate is prepared to lend an ear instead of smashing your face down the bucket. You generally can't choose your family either because when it turns bad it leaves a permanent mark.

Well I have my doubts.. not everyone can afford British produce and we eat more chicken these days than red meat again because of price. Personally I think many small farms will go to the wall unless heavily subsidized should we exit the E.U which I believe we will,assimilated by wealthy land owners or supermarket chains.

Ah... ok I didn't see this topic Denise. Don't get me wrong I totally except that we have a great reputation for food production standards...but as my post says at what price?My wife and I have visited Ludlow farmshop or Oakchurch as examples but the prices would not fit everyone's budget.The Co-open is a useful local store but I'm not sure everyone could afford to complete a full weekly shop for say a family of four on a regular basis.

Thanks Megilleland for the last post which for me highlights the conflict many English farmers have regarding an EU exit particularly those that rely on foreign labour.This I believe is endorsed by the very fact that the NFU sits on the farm fence. You have to take a step back for a moment and consider where the bulk of grass roots Conservative support comes from in our rural English farming communities.Deep down many may wish to have better control and Mr Patterson raises some credible points but would they really get the same level of financial support from said Tory government and at what cost after all one has to question how it is possible now to bring in food from around the globe and sell it cheaper than what Farmer Jones can offer down the road. Yes I know there are lots of corporates making money in this globalization food distribution model however my biggest fear will be that a move away from EU without an equivalent financial support package in place could mean a significant rise in food prices and although this affects all of us it will inflict serious hardship on those that cannot afford and in turn this will impact on every aspect of our lives..all of us.

How would English farmers fare if we remove ourselves from the E.U? Does the outcome depend on the level of support from our government? If there are farmers viewing this site I would be keen to get their viewpoint.

Hi Bill..if you are making reference to the events in Cologne well a friend of mine was parked up in a hotel across the front of the station on New Years Eve with his girlfriend and admits it was scary. They had come up from Dusseldorf. If you want to create an image of gangs of men pleasing themselves and police numbers powerless to do anything..Well that's what it was like. This single event is swaying opinion in Germany.

My problem with him is that he dithers in making decisions and sadly that could have disastrous consequences for one and all. I understand and respect thinkers but in times of emergency this is not what you need in a leader when your people are looking for strong direction. He won't be in the captain's chair by the time the next election beckons...I wish the Labour Party got on with a change because otherwise another 5 years of conservative rule beckons which I thought Roger would be delighted with ....even though this Government has stripped the visual effectiveness of our Police.

Heh Ragwert....I'm also in that queue!

Additional precepts coming within Council Tax for health & social care...sadly tenant farming is becoming unsustainable. I heard today that many small farms have had their single farm payment delayed.Also milk and lamb prices continue to be unprofitable...only landowners and the cash rich profit from these times.

Happy New Year Bobby...2016 will be challenging for sure but we have to be positive! A couple of months ago I bit the bullet and quit the car, slashed the salary in half and now walk/cycle to work for a local Hereford company! I'm bloody sure the Councils increased taxes and additional precepts will make my life difficult so I will want to know where every bit of my contribution goes however one thing's for sure ...no more higher tax band for me mate. I would rather raise money for local charities and direct it to where I please! MY predictions are for a flourishing city centre but not because of council contributions but more because of enterprising individuals hidden away amongst the Herefordian people.I believe that the Southern Relief Road will fail for now and the money lost but will return after an additional bridge over the Wye is signed off. No1.Ledbury Road will remain as will the Blackmarston School. We will see the start of the rebuilding of the Old Town'bomb site' however there will be other changes that will not be to everyone's approval. Good Luck everyone and best regards. G.K

Went passed today and Saturday and there were queues outside...great stuff. I see more shops opening in old town as well... all is not lost!

This is great news and a very refreshing format with sharp delivery of pages and topics. Would like to see a forum site because Dippy is right we have stopped discussing many key issues on HV particularly around politics.

My wife was one of those in the frame to lose her job however she successfully fought to keep it......this time round!

It's quite easy to ask the question but difficult to accept the answers!

Bloody atrocious...and the parents prey tell?

The money raised Denise won't even scrape the top of the growing debt mountain.

This maybe off the agenda for the moment but in time it will be back and possibly funding will come from elsewhere because more freight will be taken off the main lines because it's holding up the flow of passenger traffic. So let's see ....no rotherwas link, all farms to be sold off, massive further cuts in council spending perhaps as much as 50%, almost guaranteed minimum 5% increase in council tax plus possible precepts to cover ageing population,police/security ....would you want to be a local county councillor??

It's being suggested that by 2020 the average Band D home will be paying an extra £200 per year.

He was never going to get an easy ride Denise so if he wasn't of the strong stuff he should not have been made leader of the opposition after all eventually his views were to clash with many of his own party and ultimately he will be forced out so why the Labour party went down this route who knows! They could not have all been outsiders swaying the vote surely. Even the man himself must have realised that his principles would be different to those commercial politicians in his own party. If he backs away from his own beliefs then he will be tormented forever.....he will realise it was a mistake and will step down with Diane Abbott holding the red flag by his side. As for the Middle East well Cambo,s cartoon sums it up...It's a bloody mess and additional planes bombing from the air won't make any difference. As a country our overwhelming concern is that the visions we see on our TV screens does not become a regular event over hear in Europe. As the years continue the Middle East and Africa will become a wasteland devoid of people who will get up and go.....and we simply can't stop it unless combined governments set aside their differences and jointly put boots on the ground and once and for all end this carnage. Sometimes in order to stop a fire you have to create one.. this is where we are heading.

So Roger do you really think there will be enforcement during the winter months when it's dark?

It would be fine for a fishing port or coastal city but not rural Herefordshire....it's needs a little toning down. However there does seem to be a spark around the city with clear signs that empty shops are being filled.

He did Denise and also gave the green light (or perhaps that's a blue flashing one) for Councils to seek higher local tax rises or levys for services like social care. So increased CT, additional precepts and reduced funding again for roads and transport. However one glimmer of hope. Could we possibly see the funding for the Southern Link Road withdrawn after all it was to be removed anyway by March if planning approval had not been agreed,maybe the Chancellor has clawed back the money from the Dept of Transport who apart from those schemes already approved seems to be paying for those other government departments where funding cuts have been reversed!

I would like this project to work but only on the basis that it was more than an engineering university and had all the proper infrastructure in place. It's not for this thread but listening to the Chancellor,s statement I'm not really sure that the guy truly knows what money he's got after all out of know-where more money is available for this and for that when a few months ago there was nothing!As for the Shadow Chancellor presenting the little red book at the table well the blushes were visible on the opposite side of the house...how stupid and Labour's move towards self destruction continues. Of course we are sure to see council tax rises now but possibly one good thing.....Will the money for the Southern Relief Road be withdrawn??

Clearly A.S does not wear rose coloured specs...fare enough, however I'm worried because he may have purchased a pair of the deepest, darkest shades there is because his world appears black. My next concern for him would be to walk past the new Freedom Church HQ one day because if anyone was in need of enlightenment it's Adrian. A buddy of mine lives in Gent, and at the moment every time a car travels over the cobbled streets to quickly the rumbles send shockwaves of misinterpretation. Everybody there is nervous and fearful..now that's a good reason to feel negative about where you live!

Yes I was possibly generalizing which is not a good thing however most people move here to retire or a better quality of life. Rarely is it for work.