megilleland

Noticed on The Hereford Times website today:

 

"Herefordshire Housing has pledged to provide all its tenants with free broadband within five years.

 

The housing association, that has around 5,500 homes, has teamed up with Whitestone-based Allpay to provide the ambitious scheme.

 

While Allpay’s background is in social housing payment systems and it has breached out to broadband and recently created Herefordshire's Ofcom-approved broadband network using church steeples as transmitters.

 

Working together Allpay and Herefordshire Housing are trialling free broadband at speeds of up to 10Mb at three sheltered housing schemes, starting at Innesfield in Clehonger followed by Southgate in Ross Road, Hereford, and Bryngwyn Court, off Barrs Court Road.

 

“Broadband is increasingly becoming the fourth utility and we want as many of our tenants as possible to benefit from having high speed internet access in their home,†said Herefordshire Housing chief executive Peter Brown.

 

“Access to the internet can change people’s lives.â€

 

 

A lot of comments about this here.

 

 

I wouldn't mind a faster connection, but mine is ok for most things.

A new community information service has been opened by volunteers at Newton Farm Community Association in South Wye, Hereford.

 

Community Info is a drop in service run by specially trained local volunteers known as Community Wardens, who will be able to offer information or signposting assistance to relevant organisations in Herefordshire. The aim is to provide a friendly face and helping hand to local residents who have queries on a range of issues including how to apply for a blue badge, dispose of bulky items, access community transport or receive home repairs.

 

The service, which is run in conjunction with Herefordshire Council and NHS Herefordshire, is funded by Skills for Care, a national organisation which assists social care employers to improve their workforce.

 

Fran Warden, Herefordshire Council’s signposting officer, said: “The new service aims to create a stronger community in South Wye by enlisting volunteers to provide useful advice and support to local residents. They will be available to answer non-emergency questions and help people access additional information and services in organisations across Herefordshire.â€

 

“The service is currently being run as a pilot scheme and is available at The Oval in Hereford every Monday and Thursday 10am to 1pm.â€

Post at Brampton Road

 

From Hereford Times website today:

 

Hereford's first ever credit-card only petrol station plan withdrawn - for now

 

4:23pm Tuesday 17th April 2012 in Hereford City

 

A LEADING supermarket chain has withdrawn its plans for Herefordshire’s first credit card-only petrol station - for the time being.

 

Asda wants to build the 12 pump forecourt on the grounds of its South Wye store off the Belmont Island.

 

But the idea was met with opposition from councillors Chris Chappell and Bob Preece who feared for traffic on the already busy junction.

 

“We are delighted that we have been listened to and that this proposal, which would have caused mayhem on this busy road junction, has been withdrawn by ASDA,†explained Coun Chappell.

 

But Asda this week said it still wants to go ahead with the idea, saying the withdrawal was merely to provide more information to Herefordshire Council.

 

“We are just ironing out some details,†said press officer Oliver Jones.

 

“We still intend to go ahead with the plans.â€

One down 17 to go

 

I am afraid not, I have just seen another one on the right of the bike chicane by the Brampton Road Stores, next to the Royal Mail drop box. I'll post a photo tomorrow.

 

Noticed today this post has been taken out at long last.

Had a walk over to the Country Park today. Noticed the children's play ground was open and very busy. Two points concerning the playground - both litter bins inside the play area where overflowing with rubbish and need urgently emptying and the play house in the play ground had some damage to a decorative metallic knob at its entrance, leaving a nasty edge which could cut a child's hand.

I was intrigued to see that those living in Belmont (Belmont Rural Parish Council) pay less than those in Newton Farm (Hereford City Parish Council). As the council tax is based on rental values, I would of thought these figures were the opposite way round. Have I read these right?

 

* Newton Farm in Hereford City Council Parish Council Band/£

 

#992.31 band A

*999.23 difference +6.92

 

#1157.68 band B

*1165.76 difference +7.88

 

#1323.07 band C

*1332.30 difference +9.23

 

#1488.45 band D

*1498.84 difference +10.39

 

#1819.23 band E

*1831.93 difference +12.70

 

#2150.00 band F

*2165.01 difference +15.01

 

#2480.76 band G

*2498.07 difference +17.31

 

#2976.90 band H

*2997.68 difference +20.78

 

I know it is only a few pounds a year, but it looks as if the less well off are paying more again.

Looking at last years council tax demand, when there was no council tax increase, and listening to David Cameron saying that councils should freeze the council tax, Hereford City Parish Council's proportion increased by 2.8%.

This is part of the road network that the government want to privatise! I imagine if it goes ahead there will be turnstiles placed here to catch the tolls.

For the past 4 years I have tried to get Herefordshire Council to cut back a tree which is behind my house and blocking sunlight reaching the garden. All I want is for some branches to be removed to limit the spread of the tree. I have raised this with my councillors and they have passed the matter to the parks department, but they are totally against taking any action. They have sent me two leaflets regarding their policy on trees which do not help.

 

This tree owned by the Council, the rest by Muir Housing

 

View of trees lopped by Muir Housing. Note the path separating land with bollards from highway verge.

 

The bizarre twist in this application is that this tree is one of twelve planted by Muir Housing Group when the houses were built, but because the Council say that this tree is on the highway verge they are responsible for it. There is actually a path between the land this tree is planted on and the highway verge - so I would say that it is not on the highway verge.

 

Muir Housing Group lopped their 11 trees in 2010 and their reason for this: "The reason that I (Susan Harris) requested tree work to be carried out on our trees was due to the fact that I felt the trees could become dangerous and therefore rather than an accident happening I had our contractors look at the trees who in turn contacted professional tree surgeons and they advised us on what they felt was the best way forward".

 

The work they carried out I thought was excellent. Not only were the trees thinned out, but the lower branches were removed to stop the children climbing the trees and reducing vandalism.

 

I believe the real reason that the council do not want to take any action on the tree behind me is one of cost, but I have offered to pay for the work myself by employing a tree surgeon. The council have refused this offer. I have posted this item because when you travel around the housing estates I have been appalled by the treatment some of the trees have received at the hands of Amey and Herefordshire Housing. Much of the work carried out resembles the after effects of a nuclear bomb.

 

Before Waterfield Road

 

After Waterfield Road. These must have been cut by the council as they are on the highway verge

 

Back of Kemble Court/Sherborne Close

 

Back of Kemble Court/Sherborne Close

 

The character of the tree has been destroyed and we are left with something that looks a very poor specimen. A lot of this work has been carried out on Herefordshire Housing trees due to the trees, in some cases, blocking light out of houses and blocking gutters, but the council do not seem to worried in pulling them up in the manner they have carried out the work.

 

So if you want to see a real tree visit the one behind Muir Close and we have another two council trees affecting properties further round in the street. I do not think I will be wasting any more of my time conversing with the council as they are totally unhelpful and not interested in the estates environment. No matter what you raise with them they couldn't care less using the recession as an excuse.

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.