twowheelsgood

Kirsty Williams AM, Peter Hain MP, Neil Hamilton and Jesse Norman MP on Any Questions tonight, Radio 4, 8pm. Any Questions, or as I call it 'The Jonathan Dimbleby show, its all about me, me interrupting and then some more of me'. Great programme spoilt by the opinionated Chair (and very often appallingly amateurish sound). Jesse will be up against the deputy chair of UKIP and two others!

Quite. Expect a resounding silence from the Council - and indeed Hereford Futures, bless em, it'll all be someone else's fault. Personally, I couldn't give a monkeys - I won't be going there any time soon.

South West Audit Partnership are recruiting for posts in Coleford/Hereford - 'We are looking to recruit to a number of permanent posts and are offering you the opportunity to embark on a career as an internal auditor. No previous experience is necessary, although a higher starting salary may be available for exceptional candidates who have some previous audit experience.'

I understood it was £70k per week ...

Oh dear, ridiculous move by the developers - particularly when it was recommended for approval. They'll be looking at a 6 month delay to get a decision from the Planning Inspectorate now.

Eh? That doesn't make sense. There has to be a decision to appeal against, unless they're appealing against non-determination, and that can't be the case because its in front of the committee to determine!

Good man, thanks.

So what did the Council do with the £46m? Given that they've admitted they're bumping along the bottom with only £100k of reserves?

Absolutely. I believe it was a unilateral decision by a certain lady councillor to bestow this horror on us … time for it to go.

This application goes to Planning Committee on 2 April - it is recommended for approval. Some £150k is sought as a 106 contribution to 'sustainable transport measures'. The Traffic Manager acknowledges the potential for non-car borne access to local shops, schools and employment opportunities and it is this potential that off-sets concerns in relation to the potential for increased pressure on the signalised junction at Ledbury Road / Folly Lane junction. In other words, everyone will walk to the shops, schools and employment and there will no impact at the Ledbury Road/Folly Lane junction - in his dreams, what planet are these people on? This is a golden opportunity - and probably the only one - to get rid of these lights and do something much better. It will need councillors to call it - I really hope Cllrs Kenyon and North can do something worthwhile here.

Just posting this again, because since megilleland posted it at the start of this thread, a lot has been said, but the application for Listing by the Woolhope Naturalists’ Field Club has only been viewed 10 times! It behoves us all to read this thorough and fascinating report on the history of this building and why it must be saved somehow. How English Heritage can say it has no historic interest is baffling. Woolhope Listed Boys Home appn.doc

I (think I) recall that Cllr Hubbard said a little while ago that he was going to stand down at the next election.

Correct link https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/transport-and-highways/transport-schemes/edgar-street-grid-and-hereford-link-road

John Bothamley from the Civic Society says 'Have paid to see the land registry title and there appears to be no restrictive covenant.' I'd still be interested to know how the site came to be in the Council's possession.

Dead link reported to the Council. Without wishing to give away confidences, there are some very sneaky CO's in this order - small snippets of land (and as such practically worthless) not really required for the link road, being compulsorily purchased to effectively block access to much larger pieces of land, changing them from valuable development land to landlocked worthless land. Dirty tricks? You bet.

Compare and contrast with the 'Housing the Homeless' thread - these people, like most senior public sector employees are so far removed from reality that they can no longer see how ridiculous their jargon is or how obscene their profligate spending.

Surely it would have to be a pair of semi-detached houses? Or if it was one, would it still be semi-detached? Suggest a meeting with some blue sky thinking to ensure we're heading in the right direction with bottled water on hand to quench thirst. Followed by manual labour breaking downs silo's.

Tragic. Those giant coat hangers on the cinema are possibly the most ridiculous detail of this project so far.

Dare I say it - there is a massive building on Bath Street, recently vacated - nothing is going to happen there for at least 12 months (at least, if due process is followed). Quite apt that they should use a building founded by the Hereford Society for Aiding the Industrious, don't you think?

The Council have contributed 12% of £550k ie £66k, which isn't much.

Yes, it was Laing Homes (now subsumed into Taylor Wimpey) that did the General Hospital scheme. I would expect it to be incumbent upon the Council to get the 'best value' (their much abused phrase) for any asset that was no longer required. Even a 'swap' as such should pass over the District Valuers desk. The whole thing was being pushed forward with indecent haste, which raises alarm bells - why? who benefits? has the planning department been leaned on during their 'street scape assessment' of the Bath St buildings importance? do the Council really believe they are 'consulting' the great unwashed by saying we can comment when the planning application is made?

There are a lot of mucky people about - look at all the vile specimens spitting in the street. It was drummed into me at school not to spit, drop litter and all manner of simple social mores - no more it seems, we're knee deep in litter and can barely stay upright for all the phlegm lining the pavements. People don't wash their hands, cough and sneeze everywhere and are generally quite disgusting, and that's before we even get to the STD's.

Hear, hear! With all due respect to the Cllr, for goodness sake, punctuate your comments. It won't make it any easier to agree with your stance, but it will make it easier to understand! "… before we start hugging this building let's work out what can be practically done with it going forward." You'll be calling us mendacious meddlers next. Yes, let's practically work out what can be done - this is what Cllr Hubbard is trying to arrange. Unfortunately, the Cabinet have learned nothing from the mass, and mess, of mistakes all around us and continue being contemptuous of those they are supposed to be serving. They seem intent on doing a quick deal in secrecy, without even a courtesy call to the ward councillor. Its hard to work out what can be done under those circumstances.

The crossing from Tesco (where the old subway was) does appear to have a traditional staggered pen arrangement, although its not entirely clear from the drawings. Bike racks appear to be on the other side of the railings, so you have to walk in the road to get to the central reservation. The crossing at Widemarsh Gate will be as it is now - controlled by traffic lights - but without railings. The drawings do show two lanes in each direction but the space for the central reservation has been taken from the eastbound side, making it rather narrow and the westbound side is wider (the same as existing). They're both the same width at Widemarsh Gate.

I'm completely baffled as to why the fire brigade has to demolish the current building (as part of the deal) - it just makes no sense at all. It is a major cost and seriously devalues the site. As I've said, it’s a valuable building - both architecturally and fiscally - put it on the open market and get the best possible price, but no, once again the council are simply failing to see any sense and are hell bent on demolishing a perfectly good building for a fecking car park! Its Rockfield 2! Its madness!