megilleland

The post is on Great Western Way just before you go over the river bridge. Could be dangerous if you came off your bike and fell on it.

Here are a few more posts that appear to not have a useful function. These are seen by the river, behind Sherborne Close, Waterfield Road, along Great Western Way.

 

So are you opposing this application ?

 

No, I cycle everywhere. I am just intrigued of the reasoning of ASDA. I agree another petrol station is always convenient for the motorist considering that over the last sixteen years the number of filling stations in the UK has reduced dramatically from over 18,000 in 1992 to 8,787 at the end of 2010.

We all know that Asda will bring the price of fuel down at every filling station in Hereford, we NEED Asda to open a filling station and the sooner the better.

 

From the ASDA Transportation Statement

 

Consideration of a Petrol Filling Station (PFS)

 

ASDA has stated that the business rationale for including a PFS at the Hereford store is to provide a more complete offer to existing customers, rather than to increase revenue. The profit margins on fuel are not sufficient to justify the introduction of a scheme that undermines the core business activity associated with the food store.

 

Notably, ASDA would not promote a PFS if it was likely to compromise the operational effectiveness of the store car park, access road and access junction.

 

Given the low margins on offering fuel, ASDA is not in a position to significantly undercut other local providers in order to win custom. In any event, were ASDA to offer fuel at a price that was markedly less expensive than that offered elsewhere locally it is likely that the cost of fuel available from competitors would drop to match ASDA's prices. This then has the effect of lowering the cost of petrol available in the local area in a blanket manner. That being the case, the assumption that ASDA would serve as a significant draw because of lower prices would be incorrect.

 

In other words ASDA will only sell fuel at the same price as its competitors - the price will rise and fall in line with its competitors, but will not be cheaper. No benefit to motorists who will still pay the going rate at the time.

 

ASDA has recent experience of delivering similar projects at more than 70 sites in the UK. The following provides an explanation of various issues given by ASDA's Petrol Trading department in response to queries raised in relation to other sites:

 

Concern over pricing policy relative to local competitors attracting higher volumes

ASDA does not propose to adopt an aggressively competitive pricing strategy. It will not trade below cost or offer prices that were more favourable than prices in the local catchment. In the event that a price differential emerges, local competitors would be expected to respond by price matching. The overall effect would be to drive down fuel prices in the catchment.

 

And put the independent PFS out of business?

 

Concern in relation to "Supermarket offers"

ASDA does not operate a loyalty card system and is not in a position to offer discounted fuel as a reward to food store customers whose spend might quality them for such offers available at other food store operators.

 

But this does preclude them with coming up with a marketing scheme to get customers through their doors.

 

Scepticism over assumptions and forecasts made during the Transport Assessment process

ASDA is committed to a forecourt management strategy which ensures a trained member of staff will attend the PFS for 60hr each week to monitor its operation. This is standard practice at comparable ASDA facilities throughout the UK. In the event that the PFS performed in excess of expectations presenting traffic problems during peak times, ASDA reserves the right to introduce closures at certain times of day.

 

Can you imagine them doing this!

 

 

So will they open the small road coming from the store as part of the conditions?

 

Not according to the submitted plans. All vehicles and fuel deliveries will be using the existing access and entering the PFS off the first roudabout.

 

 

Took a few photos of the Country Park this week enjoying the sunshine.

 

Looking at the crime figures for this area from the Police UK crime map we have had in 2011 a total of 138 anti-social behaviour issues, 16 vehicle crimes and 4 drug crimes (the drug figure only covers the last four months of the year). Putting this car park in Waterfield Road will only add to these figures for 2012.

There is talk of locking the car park at night to secure it against anti-social behaviour. How is this going to help fisherman who want to fish at night. Maybe fishing is only going to be allowed during car park opening hours!

I think that the problem will not be exiting using the road from the store, but trying to get into it - especially if you are coming over the bridge towards the roundabout. Traffic in the right hand lane trying to access ASDA are held up by lights which only let about 3 cars across the main road and make traffic going down Belmont Road back up.

Plans can be seen here

In the report to the planning committee the police response was still awaited. This is now available under representations on the planning application or here. WMC reply to car park.pdf

 

They don't seem to be very keen on the car park either.

Attached here is the council's recommendation that the car park be approved at its planning meeting on the 22nd February 2012. All the reasons why it should not be built have been ignored and the affected residents will have to put up with more anti-social behaviour closer to their homes. The council officers list a variety of reasons why each objection submitted is not relevant. Read it and see if you agree.

The notice boards look ok to me, agree a bit pricey, but that is local council expenditure for you. Now that we have got them, get the old ones removed, refurbished and offered to another group who will use them. The important thing is to put useful information in them that will assist the local citizens, ie the city council and county council agendas which affect this area. Then people can be made aware of issues coming up for discussion by these bodies before the decisions are made.

 

Other items could be Haywood Country Park, Herefordshire Housing developments ie The Oval. Any other suggestions?

Nice to see a smart new cast iron notice board erected at The Oval, just past Subway on the way round to the fish and chip shop. Who is responsible for this board and placing notices within it? At the moment only general notices on view. What about putting the City of Hereford Parish Council minutes and agendas on display. We may then find out what issues in Newton Farm and Hunderton are being considered, before decisions are made.

 

Just for clarification as the land belongs to the council it does not need to go to planning committee, and in the circumstances very rarely does.

Not quite true. Specified categories of minor or insignificant development are granted an automatic planning permission by law, and therefore do not require any application for planning permission. These categories are referred to as permitted development.

 

In the case of any proposal for development there is therefore a two stage test: "is the proposal development at all?" and, if the proposal is development, "is it permitted development?" Only if a development is not permitted development would an application for planning permission be required.

 

Herefordshire Council by advertising the car park planning application on the lamp post and in a local newspaper would suggest that it is not permitted development.

 

 

The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 allows local authorities to carry out certain developments specified in schedule 2 of the order.

 

PART 12 - DEVELOPMENT BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES in schedule 2 states:

 

Class A

Permitted development

 

A. The erection or construction and the maintenance, improvement or other alteration by a local authority or by an urban development corporation ofâ€â€

 

(a) any small ancillary building, works or equipment on land belonging to or maintained by them required for the purposes of any function exercised by them on that land otherwise than as statutory undertakers;

 

(b) lamp standards, information kiosks, passenger shelters, public shelters and seats, telephone boxes, fire alarms, public drinking fountains, horse troughs, refuse bins or baskets, barriers for the control of people waiting to enter public service vehicles, and similar structures or works required in connection with the operation of any public service administered by them.

 

Interpretation of Class A

 

A.1 For the purposes of Class Aâ€â€

“urban development corporation†has the same meaning as in Part XVI of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980(4) (urban development).

 

A.2 The reference in Class A to any small ancillary building, works or equipment is a reference to any ancillary building, works or equipment not exceeding 4 metres in height or 200 cubic metres in capacity.

 

 

Car parks are not specifically listed. The omission of car parks above is supported in the Government's Planning Policy Guidance 17: Planning for open space, sport and recreation which states:

 

Developments within Open Spaces

16. The recreational quality of open spaces can be eroded by insensitive development or incremental loss of the site. In considering planning applications - either within or adjoining open space - local authorities should weigh any benefits being offered to the community against the loss of open space that will occur. Planning authorities may wish to allow small scale structures where these would support the existing recreational uses (for example, interpretation centres, toilets, and refreshment facilities), or would provide facilities for new recreational uses. They should seek to ensure that all proposed development takes account of, and is sensitive to, the local context.

 

17. Local authorities should:

i. avoid any erosion of recreational function and maintain or enhance the character of open spaces;

ii. ensure that open spaces do not suffer from increased overlooking, traffic flows or other encroachment;

iii. protect and enhance those parts of the rights of way network that might benefit open space; and

iv. consider the impact of any development on biodiversity and nature conservation.

 

Having asked some questions and made some comments in my representation concerning this planning application, it would be polite if the council could respond to these items as I have heard nothing to date.

Representations concerning the construction of the above car park can be read on Herefordshire Council website at http://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/housing/planning/58286.aspx?ID=113513. Click on Representations to open documents.

 

Interesting to note that several residents affected by this development have raised various concerns. Not surprising that the council departments consulted have no objections, but give no reasons how they arrive at their decision. Also Hereford City Parish Council which represents Newton Farm has no objection to the car park construction. There is also some debate that this car park does not need planning permission - is this true?

While out today I came across this planning notice on Waterfield Road proposing the construction of a car park. When I attended the public meeting at Eastholme before Christmas I got the impression that most of the gathering were against the car park being situated here, especially the anglers, as it was too far from the Belmont Ponds. The anglers would have liked a car park off Haywood Lane closer to the ponds. Has this application being advertised in the local press as you can easily miss the notice on the lamp post.

The letters in the box on the planning application state the application is a planning application and affects a public right of way, agreed. However at the bottom of the application are further letters and D catches my eye as this would state that the proposed development does not accord with the provisions of the Development Plan. Is the development plan the same as the Unitary Development Plan? In which case because this land is protected public open space I would have assumed that any development would not be allowed. Has anyone else been consulted about this proposal? Any comments to the council by 3rd February 2012.

From the Hereford Times 19th January 2012

County ward in Herefordshire among UK's worst child poverty spot

 

MORE than 4,000 children and young people in the county are now categorised as growing up within the worst indicators of child poverty in the UK.

 

A report for Herefordshire Council's health and wellbeing board says child poverty is a significant issue for many local communities.

 

One ward - Golden Post- Newton Farm in south Hereford is confirmed as among the worst in the UK for unemployment or limited opportunities for work.

 

And two of the worst wards for child poverty in the county are in Leominster.

 

The board was told of strategies being drawn up between the county's economic, health and education sectors to tackle issues raised within five years.

 

All told, about 4,500 children in the county & the majority of them under 16 & are said by the report to be growing up in poverty.

 

The worst ward for overall deprivation is Golden Post- Newton Farm, which is also in the UK top 10 for employment deprivation.

 

Hereford's South Wye wards as a whole are said to have the highest level of young people not in education, employment or training.

 

The city's Central ward has an under-18 pregnancy rate running at nearly three times the county average. Leominster's Ridgemoor and Gateway wards also feature in child poverty lists.

 

The report makes a direct link between child poverty, historically low wages in the county and the number of part-time workers, particularly women.

 

Poor housing conditions & especially in the private rented sector and rural communities are identified as an issue too, the latter particularly lacking mains service infrastructure such as water, gas, and drainage.

 

The report cites the county's most recent housing condition survey that, in 2006, showed more than nine per cent of homes had serious hazards and more than 40 per cent failed the decent homes standard.

 

The waiting list for social housing in the county now tops 5,000.

 

In schools, the report finds a 30 per cent attainment gap emerging between pupils eligible for free school meals and those who aren't while one in 10 children in reception classes is categorised as obese.

 

Anyone got any idea why this is? Have these estates been neglected by the authorities for too many years? Many of the cities estates built over 40/50 years ago have had little in the way of facilities to improve the quality of life ie Youth club closed, church closed, and threat of loss of open space.

Argyll Rise Open Space nomination appears to have been removed from the Queen Elizabeth 2012 Fields website. We are checking up to find out why this is - it may be just a glitch or someone may have asked for it to be removed! Over 30 votes registered so far - way more than the other two Council nominations.

Voting for Argyll Rise Open Space commenced today 18th October 2011 and lasts for only one month. Go to QE2 Fields Challenge and save this open space for prosperity.

 

I delayed posting this comment due to the Christmas and New Year Break, but feel that attention should be raised to the piles of litter which I see, not only on my estate, but also around the city generally and in particular along the A465 verges between Wormbridge and the city. Is anyone going to pick it up or is it just a case of waiting until spring/early summer and hope it gets hidden in the long grass. One particular bad part of the city which I walk through every day is the lane joining Canal Road and the back of Morrisons. I know it is a private road, but it is public litter that has been dropped and together with the graffiti overlooking the burial ground, the complete scene is an eyesore. I have yet to see a human road sweeper in the city with a brush and shovel keeping on top of this problem. If it can't be reached from the comfort of a mechanical sweeper no one bothers. Also the debris that was reported at the back of Charles Witts Avenue and bordering the Great Western Way is still there after one year. How does everyone else feel about this constant problem?

Does anyone know what the three large containers on the Vortex site are for? Is something happening on the land?

This website provides you with helpful information about crime and policing in your area. Updated each month. Covers the whole country. Makes an interesting read.

Ref: DMS/102577/F

Site: Tesco Stores Limited, Abbotsmead Road, Belmont

Development: Proposed expansion of existing bulk storage area

Comments: Plans have been circulated. Members had several comments and recommended refusal on the grounds that the development would have an adverse impact on neighbouring properties. Full details of the objections raised are on the letter, a copy of which has been provided to Members.

 

Hasn't this been approved by the council on 6th January? See here.

Following on from the rejection of the application to turn Argyll Rise into a town green it does not look very positive for future open space applications. Nicola Hodgson of the Open Spaces Society has been looking at the proposed government's "Localism Bill" and this is what she is concerned about:

 

 

Localism Bill is a muddle for open spaces

13 January 2011

 

We today roundly condemn the Localism Bill, the government’s flagship measure for giving people power to run their own lives and neighbourhoods. The bill is due for second reading in the House of Commons on Monday 17 January.

 

Our general secretary, Kate Ashbrook, says: ‘One of the bill’s most important aspects-the care and future of open spaces-lacks any clear idea of what is needed and is a muddle of conflicting provisions’.

 

Our case officer, solicitor Nicola Hodgson, has analysed the bill as follows.

 

‘The bill requires every local authority to compile and maintain a list of land of community value in its area, to remain on the list for up to five years, but inclusion on the list appears to offer little protection to the land. If the owner of such land wishes to dispose of it, a community interest group must be given an opportunity to bid.

 

We cannot see how the bill provides any new protection for open spaces which local people enjoy for informal recreation. Indeed, once land is on the list, the owner may be encouraged to consider selling it for development.

 

The purpose of the list of land of community value is not clear. Why does land only remain on the list for five years, and what happens to it after that time? What protection is offered to land on the list?’

 

Land may be nominated for the list by others but it is for the local authority to decide whether it is included. Since much of the nominated land is likely to be owned by the local authority, how can we be sure the authority will be sufficiently impartial?

 

If the owner of the listed land wishes to dispose of it, a community interest group must be given the opportunity to bid for it, but there is little chance that the group can raise sufficient funds to buy the land, especially if it is at market value based on any obtainable planning permission.

 

We fear that the bill’s provision for payment of compensation to landowners will encourage them to put land of community value on the market.

 

And this bill does not mention the government’s proposed “new designation ….. to protect green areas of particular importance to local communities†heralded in the business plans for the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. How does the bill fit in with those plans?

 

We have called on MPs to ask these and other questions at the second reading debate on Monday 17 January. This bill needs to be rewritten if it is to offer any protection to open spaces which are loved and enjoyed by local people, and if it is to enable and empower those people to play a part in their protection,’ Nicola concludes.