megilleland

Here's a tip. Take it to the recycling centre. Oh I forgot you need a licence for that, but it must be cheaper than the fine.

Living in million pound properties and this is what they pay. Bet they don't even notice. Council tax rates for Borough of Westminster 2020/21 Band A £520.19 Band B £606.89 Band C £693.58 Band D £780.28 Band E £953.67 Band F £1,127.07 Band G £1,300.47 Band H £1,560.56 Council tax rates for Hereford City 2020/21 BAND A £1,293.09 BAND B £1,508.59 BAND C £1,724.12 BAND D £1,939.63 BAND E £2,389.00 BAND F £2,801.68 BAND G £3,232.72 BAND H £3,879.25 Just the first in many price increases - water bills, gas and electricity bills and so on.

The Institute for government is delighted to welcome the Rt Hon Jesse Norman MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury. Following the publication of the National Infrastructure Strategy, this event will explore the government’s plans to “transform” the UK’s infrastructure networks to drive the country’s post-pandemic recovery, make progress to reaching the net zero emissions target in 2050 and contribute to ‘levelling up’ the country. Jesse Norman will be in conversation with Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute for Government. Jesse Norman has been the Financial Secretary to the Treasury since May 2019. Before that he was Minister of State at the Department for Transport from November 2018 to May 2019 and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport from June 2017 to November 2018. He has been the MP for Hereford and South Herefordshire since 2010 and is the author of books on Adam Smith and Edmund Burke. What about Hereford? Will it still be here in 2050? Tuesday 16 March 2021, 11:00 - 12:00 Maybe worth a watch.

A Herefordshire GP Protests “No Jab, No Job” – 5th March 2021 A GP, Dr Clare Jones, has written to her MP Jesse Norman to protest against being compelled to be vaccinated or face disciplinary action from the General Medical Council, as Lockdown Sceptics reported yesterday. She copied us in and we thought we’d share it with you. Stop Press: Care UK, one of the UK’s largest care home firms, has introduced a ‘no jab, no job’ policy, saying new staff must have received a Covid vaccination before they start work, the Guardian reports. Barchester, meanwhile, which operates more than 220 private care homes, has said it is insisting that current staff are vaccinated, warning that if they “refuse … on non-medical grounds [they] will, by reason of their own decision, make themselves unavailable for work”. https://lockdownsceptics.org/2021/02/26/latest-news-297/ ______________________________________________________________________ Declined the jab for the fourth time this Wednesday much to the chagrin of all around me. The Doctor is already getting a pasting on BBC Hereford & Worcester local radio. The early morning presenter Eliot Webb loves to be a cantankerous and argumentative man no matter what subject he discusses.

BBLP came along and took away the waste bin which is regularly used and full, because it is an environmental health hazard. It appears that the bin has had cat waste deposited in it and the operative has refused to empty it. This cat waste as mentioned above is regularly deposited behind garages by persons unknown who carry this waste presumably from their house and drop it on the footpath by the garages. The bin is emptied every week, and now it is removed, will mean that the litter will now be cast over the road and in the garage entrances. Britain is beginning to look like a third world country. Herefordshire Council has this statement on its contracts register: "The Public Realm Contract has a minimum term of 120 months (10 years) and a maximum term of 240 months (20 years) if all available extension options are taken. The value of the contract is estimated at between £200,000,000 and £1,000,000,000. The lower estimate is based on £20,000,000 per annum over the first 10 years of the contract period for the core services. On this basis the Contracting Authority’s spend over the maximum term of the contract is broadly but realistically estimated to be £400,000,000. An additional allowance of £100,000,000 has been included for the commissioning of any Non-Core services and any increase in spend for reasons which cannot be accurately predicted at this time. Plus a further allowance of £500,000,000 has been included to cover any usage by Contracting Authorities. " It shouldn't be difficult to find a few quid to buy some brushes and shovels. A team of pensioners could do a better job in their communities on a retainer.

Useful information here: E-scooter use in Dorset: Police will act on illegal use THE use of specific rental e-scooters became legal in Bournemouth and Poole through a Government-approved trial last month - but people might not be aware of all the laws. Only the e-scooters available for hire from Beryl are permitted on public roads, with privately-owned e-scooters still not permitted. Beryl has launched the scheme with a fleet of 50 e-scooters and there is potential for this to be increased subject to demand once lockdown eases. The hire offering could also spread into Christchurch, the company has said. Here is a breakdown of the trial, who can use the e-scooters and what police have said about them. About the Bournemouth and Poole trial BCP Council and Beryl’s partnership led to the trial being launched on January 25, 2021 and it is due to run until November of this year. It has been fast tracked as a direct response to the Covid-19 pandemic to allow residents another form of socially-distanced travel for essential journeys. Beryl’s e-scooters operate alongside the firm’s bike-share scheme, allowing riders to hire and drop off from Beryl Bays that have been implemented in consultation with BCP Council and other local stakeholders. Similar Department for Transport trials are taking place elsewhere in the UK, including cities such as Liverpool, Milton Keynes, Nottingham and Bristol. Who can use them and where? During the trial period, e-scooter riders must be over 16 years old and they are required to provide a valid UK driving licence to participate. A hire agreement with Beryl provides the user with vehicle insurance. At launch, the Beryl e-scooter service is permitted for use across Bournemouth and Poole. An electric scooter is classified as a motor vehicle and therefore the rider is subject to the same requirements as they would be if driving a car. They can be ridden on all existing public roads in Bournemouth and Poole as well as on the expanding network of signed cycle lanes and cycle/shared-use facilities. They cannot be used on pedestrian pavements. What about private e-scooters? Only the e-scooters hired under the Beryl scheme can be used on public roads and cycle lanes in Bournemouth and Poole. It is still illegal for privately owned e-scooters to be ridden on public land. It is illegal to use privately owned e-scooters on pavements, cycle lanes, beach promenades, bridleways or any other publicly accessible land such as a park or car park. People are only legally permitted to ride non-trial scheme e-scooters on private property. What have police said? Dorset Police said it has been working with BCP Council and provider Beryl to ensure the launch of the trial e-scooter scheme is safe for both scooter users and the public. Police Sergeant Rhys Griffiths said: “All details have been released about how and where Beryl scooters can be used. “We would like to remind the public that all rules still apply for non-scheme e-scooters. “It is illegal to ride them on any public land, they are classified as ‘powered transporters’.” On enforcement action against private e-scooters, a Dorset Police spokesman said: “If officers have occasion to see and stop someone riding a non-scheme scooter on public land then it’s likely the rider will be issued with a warning: they will be told categorically that they are not to use their e-scooter again unless on private property. “Should they be stopped for a second time, after advice has been given, the e-scooter will be seized under police powers and, under the law, cannot be returned.” Can people be prosecuted for drink and drug driving on an e-scooter? Government guidance says that people should not ride an e-scooter while drunk or otherwise intoxicated, warning that they may be prosecuted under drink or drug driving laws as careless and dangerous driving offences also apply to users of e-scooters. Earlier this year a woman was convicted of drink driving while on an e-scooter on the Isle of Wight. What about the current lockdown? A Dorset Police spokesman said: “To keep people safe and reduce the risk of spread of COVID 19, we encourage people to only make journeys where absolutely necessary. “The guidance from Government is clear: stay local to your communities and only travel from your home for short distances if you have a reasonable excuse, such as to travel to work or for education, for essential shopping.”

Company claims dog poo litter in Hereford has risen massively By James Thomas, Hereford Times - 18th February 2021 A waste company has claimed dog poo litter is up 200 per cent since the coronavirus lockdown started WALKING the dog has become one of the few opportunities to get outside for some fresh air during lockdown, but it has come at a stinking, germ-ridden cost, according to a cleaning company. Divert.co.uk, a dog poo litter removal company, claimed dog poo litter in Hereford has been "up 200 per cent since lockdown", which it says is a "clear indicator that not all dog owners are cleaning up" after their pets. The company provides dog poo litter removal for councils and private landowners and says it has been alarmed by the rise. Mark Hall, from Divert.co.uk, said: “It is disgusting to see that some dog owners are failing to pick up after their pets, when it’s an offence and the waste can lead to serious illnesses." With lockdown three in full-swing, current England guidelines allow for people to walk their dog alone, with their household or support bubble, or with one person from another household. Mr Hall said: “Walking your dog is important for both pet and owner for exercise, especially while we are all house-bound during the lockdown. “Unfortunately, thanks to the thoughtless behaviour by a few individuals, dog owners are once again getting a bad reputation due to a massive increase in dog mess on the streets.” Divert.co.uk said it believes that due to fewer people being out and about, irresponsible dog owners believe they are less likely to get caught, so are more like to leave the poo and run. But it added not all dog owners will leave poo on the pavement, as waste campaigners Keep Britain Tidy has found that nine out of 10 dog owners do regularly clean up after their dog. The 10 per cent who do not clean up after their dog could be fined up to £100, and that could go up to £1,000 if the issue goes to court. “There really is no excuse for this behaviour, especially as the waste can be put into any public bin,” Hall said. “It’s lockdown laziness, especially those guys who bag the mess, then don’t bin the bag. Get a grip." An interactive map from Herefordshire Council shows there are currently dozens of reported dog poos in Hereford which have been reported. Mess can be reported by using the map on the council's website, with the page warning: "Dog poo is a health hazard, all dog owners have a legal duty to clean up after their dog. "Failure to do so could result in a dog control order with an £80 fixed penalty notice, or a maximum fine of £1,000. "In addition to reporting the area is in need of cleaning, if you wish to report an individual, or would like the enforcement team to visit the area and investigate please answer the question below." Elsewhere in the county, a parish council near Bromyard has urged local dog owners to be responsible and clean up after their pet. Stoke Lacy Parish Council clerk Alma Westwood said at a meeting on October 14 the council was asked to investigate the possible installation of dog waste bins. But it had since been told by Herefordshire Council that it does not supply or empty such bins. The parish council was told that it was the responsibility of all dog owners to clean up after their dog and take the waste home with them for disposal there. "Accordingly the parish council will not be providing dog waste bins anywhere in the parish," she said in a letter on its website. "The parish council is not, and cannot be, responsible for emptying bins and disposing of people’s dog waste. "If you have a dog you are required by law to clean up after it and dispose of the waste in a responsible manner. "Anyone found not doing so is liable to be prosecuted and fined. "Please do not use the litter bin by the bus stop. This bin is for general litter only. "Please be a responsible dog owner and dispose of its waste appropriately. Thank you for your co-operation."

Elections postponed The following will be run on 6 May 2021 unless otherwise specified by UK government in further legislation: National elections Police and Crime Commissioners Election Local Government by-elections Brampton Bryan Parish Election Brockhampton with Much Fawley Parish Election Bromyard West Parish Ward Election (two seats) Dilwyn Parish Election Eaton Bishop Parish Election Hereford, Bobblestock Parish Ward Election Hereford, Newton Farm Parish Ward Election Newton Farm Ward Election Ross-on-Wye East Parish Ward Election Walford Parish Election (six seats) Neighbourhood Planning Referendums Allensmore neighbourhood planning referendum Ashperton neighbourhood planning referendum Brampton Abbots and Foy Group neighbourhood planning referendum Bredenbury and District neighbourhood planning referendum Clehonger neighbourhood planning referendum Colwall neighbourhood planning referendum Garway neighbourhood planning referendum Linton, Gorsley and Bromsash neighbourhood planning referendum Madley neighbourhood planning referendum Much Birch neighbourhood planning referendum Ross-on-Wye neighbourhood planning referendum Stretton Grandison Group neighbourhood planning referendum Titley Group neighbourhood planning referendum

Just to say thank you to the two ladies from Brampton Road doing a litter pick and seen in Muir Close. More public spirited people like this tidying up the estate will make a visible change to the existing environment. More information on organising a litter pick, but just start outside your own home and spread outwards.

Below are people views and articles drawing our attention to the state of our environment both urban and countryside. Of course it is always someone else's job to clear up, but it would be encouraging to see others doing their bit within their community starting outside their home. Any suggestions to improve matters? But don't people drop litter all year round?

From Herefordshire Council website: Is there a doo poo bin in your area? Muir Close borders the large open space close to Argyll Rise and I cannot see any sited in this area - maybe I am wrong. Now the waste bin in Muir Close has been removed and judging by the amount of dog poo in this area. Somebody needs to get this problem sorted out.

Maybe we should learn from other countries that we are not using our bikes to their full potential! https://says.com/my/fun/overloaded-vehicles-in-china

Welsh council admits it should not have approved vast poultry farm (extracts from Guardian article)) Permission for 110,000-chicken farm in ‘poultry capital of Wales’ withdrawn after legal challenge brought by local pressure group Powys has become a focal point for opposition to the boom in intensive poultry units (IPUs) after freedom of information requests revealed the authority has approved more than 150 in the past five years. The Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales (CPRW) led calls for a moratorium on intensive poultry farms after discovering Powys had received five times as many IPU applications than the rest of Wales since 2017. It is estimated there are around 8.5 million head of poultry in Powys – equivalent to 64 birds for every person – the majority on 100 large-scale farms raising more than 40,000 chickens each. Environmental campaigners say the explosion in IPUs in the county is linked to the deterioration of rivers in Wales. Last summer saw algal blooms turn the River Wye – which flows from mid Wales through Powys to the Severn estuary – into “pea soup”, a phenomenon damaging to biodiversity which campaigners blame on phosphates from livestock manure running into waterways. Welsh environment watchdog Natural Resources Wales (NRW) admitted in December that 60% of the Wye failed to meet phosphate targets – but said the high percentage was due to tighter restrictions. __________________________________________________ Also: In The Guardian: ‘It's like pea soup’: poultry farms turn Wye into wildlife death trap As if there are not enough problems with the flooding.

Pet waste article in The Guardian today Regarding the Guardian article I don't think I have seen a dog poo bin so a lot of it must be going into litter bins. Can't the dog owners put their pet waste in their black bins or is not allowed? Is Herefordshire Council going to take away all the waste bins as they did in Muir Close because of one person constantly dumping their cat litter on the footpath behind the garages.

Like it

Any definite opening date. I have had my legs crossed for ages.

Balfour Beatty have just come along and taken away the waste bin which is regularly used and full because it is an environmental health hazard. It appears that the bin has had cat waste deposited in it and the operative has refused to empty it. This cat waste as mentioned above is regularly deposited behind the garages at Muir Close by persons unknown who carry this waste presumably from their house and drop it on the footpath by the garages. The photo of this rubbish dated 7th September this year has lain strewn over the footpath until last week when I swept it all up and put in the waste bin. The bin is emptied every week, and now it is removed, will mean that the litter will now be cast over the road and in the garage entrances. Balfour Beatty say there are other bins close by. I am taking the hedge waste from the verge (see above) reported in July this year to the tip tomorrow. As usual no action when reported. I haven't bothered about the tree branches cut off a lime tree and left on the ground also since July. It's about time Muir Housing, Herefordshire Housing, local councilors and Balfour Beatty came up with a plan to enhance Hereford's estates instead of ignoring it.

All part of the Global Reset. Watch all the other banks follow suit. Coinage of the Realm is going to disappear to be replaced by personal credits all through your smartphone if you use one.

Don't worry Denise, it's most probably 5G so you should be able to get good reception on anything you touch! Funny that they are outside older persons homes ie Brook Farm Court and another on Belmont Road at Priors Walk.

Meeting: Herefordshire Council Meeting date: Friday 22 January 2021 Title of report: Appointment of Chief Executive Report by: Chair of the Employment Panel Purpose To approve the appointment of a chief executive and head of paid service. Recommendation(s) That: Recommendation(s) That: (a) Paul Walker is appointed as the council’s chief executive and head of paid service. (b) The solicitor to the council is designated to be acting head of paid service from 12 February when the current chief executive leaves the council’s employment and until the newly appointed chief executive starts in post. (c) To ensure appropriate and necessary separation of statutory roles, the interim head of legal services is designated to be acting monitoring officer for any period of time when the solicitor to the council is designated as acting head of paid service. Renumeration 15. The gross salary for this post is currently £155,022 and the salary costs will be met from within the existing directorate revenue budget. 16. The financial estimates below are based on the assumption that a new appointee will need to give notice to their current employer and will not be available to start with Herefordshire until April 2021. Background stories Copeland axe £110,000-a-year chief exec New council senior manager very positive about Harrow Best of luck to him in the present climate. Wonder if he likes bypasses?

03:00am 2nd January 2020. Not able to sleep at night I have been listening to Jim Davis on Radio 5 Live a phone in programme, broadcast between 1am to 5am where "ordinary" members of the public ring in to discuss subjects revolving around Coronavirus and its variants. He has just done 3 episodes on loneliness and how to beat it. A diverse cross-section of the public offering their views about how it has affected them and how strongly they feel let down by this government. I recommend listening to the programme of 2nd January 2021. I am not a fan of the BBC even though my partners daughter works for them on the technical side, but Jim Davis's manner I feel reassures those with concerns and the many who get a fair crack at putting their point of view across - some of it anti BBC. A major part of the programme tonight is whether parents should send their children back to school. Fortunately I have no children, but the consensus is that all schools should be shut down till March. Trying to get back to sleep and I wish everyone a Happy and Healthier New Year. No doubt we will find out as the year progresses. Jim Davis shares the early morning time slot with Dotun Adebayo who I find also listens to callers views sympathetically. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p09160sf

Complete list of 2095 world billionaires here to gloat over and make you sick. https://www.forbes.com/billionaires/

Note that Lewis Hamilton has been knighted for driving around in circles, that I am sure he does it very well. I am surprised that all our MPs have not been similarly knighted as they have been taking us mere mortals for a ride in circles for years.

Open public toilets The following public toilets that meet the Covid-19 guidelines are open in Herefordshire: Hereford - Castle Green Hereford - Gaol Street Car Park Hereford - Union Walk Is that all in a city of 61,400 people? If it wasn't for the supermarkets I would be pi$$ed off. What are other shoppers doing, especially the ladies, when you need to go. https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/community-1/find-toilet?documentId=217&categoryId=200139