Ubique

Thank you for update - as I said previously , I wish you well .

I certainly wish you well with this venture - just a wonder - I note that you will be catering for wedding receptions , I just wonder how the wedding car etc will be able to drive the happy couple to your premises ?

Looks a nice Plaice ! Please don't batter me .

I certainly will be using it .

From BBC Sports .

Hereford racecourse - controversially closed down by owners Arena Racing Company in December 2012 - is to reopen for business in October.

Up to four fixtures are to be staged with more in 2017.

Hereford was shut in 2012 after 241 years of racing - the first recorded meeting there was in August 1771.

However, ARC said at the time the venue was no longer viable, citing the recession and the rise of internet betting on other sports.

Greenknight - can only agree with your comment , especially your second paragraph .

From the Guardian three years ago -

Developers will be allowed to create two flats instead of just one above shops without planning permission, the communities secretary, Eric Pickles, will announce on Saturday.

As the government prepares for a major new initiative on housing next week, Pickles will say that the "commonsense" reform, designed to increase the number of homes in town centres, will be in place by 1 October.

Under current regulations, only one flat can be created above a shop without planning permission. This will be increased to two flats above shops and financial and professional services premises.

The change is part of the government's response to the review of high streets by the retail guru Mary Portas.

Grant Shapps, the housing minister, said in March he would go further than the Portas review to relax the one-flat rule to help make town centres more vibrant.

Pickles said: "These are commonsense planning reforms that will deliver more affordable homes in areas where there are good transport links whilst ensuring better use of existing developed land.

"Cutting this red tape should be a shot in the arm for the high street, increasing footfall and providing a boost to regeneration."

Greg Clark, the planning minister, said: "The government is determined to make the very best use of existing buildings to provide more homes as quickly and simply as possible.

"Ensuring unused space above shops can be used in a better way is one of the many changes the government has introduced to streamline the planning system and to cut unnecessary bureaucracy."

In her review, Portas wrote: "I believe that our high streets have reached a crisis point. I believe that unless urgent action is taken much of Britain will lose, irretrievably, something that is fundamental to our society.

"Something that has real social and well as economic worth to our communities and that, after many years of erosion, neglect and mismanagement, something I felt was destined to disappear forever."

Interesting to note that it has been announced today that the hospital is still in Special Measures after over a year -

Perhaps confirms my comments at the start of this topic. - will say again that when Mrs U finally saw her Consulant she finally thought , somebody cares ( of course , she still needs to be an inpatient in a few weeks time )

I can now understand why I received all my negatives

Thanks Ragwert - you , like me will know that the shops in Eign St opposite Steels Garage have changed hands regularly ,proving that in this day and age shops owners find it very hard to make an honest living.

The A49 puts this area outside the "City Centre " plus at the rear of these shops is a three storey block of flats and another block of Flats within a 100m .

I hope that the posters who marked me down ( 3 at the moment ) have driven down Eign St by Steels Garage and observed the rundown area. Thank you.

Slim , I really appreciate your offer - thank you . ( I will bear you in mind should I feel that I need to seek advice etc )

Jango .. I will be taking a supply of the booklets to the Hereford Food Bank as well as St Peters Church tomorrow ( Tuesday ) thank you for the suggestion .

Before I get verbally attacked by posting mine and Mrs Ubiques experience with the NHS today I will add that until today we have always been very satisfied with the service we received , having said that , the last time I was in Hereford Hospital was in 1968 - I accept that I have been blessed with fairly good health . Mrs U has has a series of operations over the last 35 years but still retains good health .

Today I had a Dental Appointment ( NHS checkup ) at 10.10am , Mrs U had a County Hospital appointment at 11.30 . It would take us 15 / 20 minutes to cross town , park in Rogers supermarket car park for a £1 and walk across to the hospital . Well that was the plan .

I reported for my dental appointment at 10am ready for my 10.10 appointment , reported in and told to wait in the Waiting Room . At 1045am , 35 minutes after my appointment I had to go to reception and say that as I had to get my wife to the hospital on time ( she was , quite understandably getting a bit stressed ) it was apparent that I would not be able to have the checkup and drive Mrs U to the hospital for her 11.30 appointment.

Well , we arrived at the hospital at 11.20 , my wife wasn't sure where to go so she approached the lady on Reception ( not one of the lovely volunteers ) . This lady was using her keyboard - after a short period of time this lady looked up at my wife - then, without saying a word looked back downto her keyboard - my wife thought words to the effect , that was quite bad manners and walked off. She eventually found the correct location , arriving dead on 11.30 .....only to be told that they were running

1 hour 15 minutes behind time ...........! When she finally got to see the Consulant she couldn't speak highly enough of him , he gave her confidence for her forthcoming surgery .

There was another situation with me and my two hearing aids in the audio dept but think I have moaned enough !

We arrived home at 1.15pm .

We accept fully that emergencies do occur in hospitals which cause delays but ......!

I know it's a rant but ,gosh , do I feel better for it - oh! My dental checkup - well they tell me that the first time they can get me in is at the end of February . Not worth complaining to anybody or even filling in a Survey .

I understand that one of the shops in Eign Gate is going to be the Samaritans Charity Shop .

I agree re Eign St . Every time we pass the empty shops opposite Steels Garage Mrs Ubique remarks that they should be knocked down and replaced by flats or just convert the shops etc to homes . Two shops on the garage side of Eign St by the Church have in the last few months been converted to homes so it can be done .

Disgraceful - but it's what we have come to expect because we are unable to do anything about it ... Nor it appears is anybody else !

Guess we will have to wait for the uprising - sadly cannot see it happening in Cheshire !

Good Plan...probably already done but what about the main reception area at the County Hospital and surrounding community hospital sites. Herefordshire Healthwatch might be a good plug because they in turn could ascertain the right locations within the hospital whether that be mobility or occupational therapy or outpatients.

I will pick some up from the help desk.

Hi Greenknight , guess that you missed my reply No 5 . I am popping in to the Help Desk at about 10000 on Tuesday to see the SSAFA volunteer , it would be good to see you if you are free ? Suggest that your armour would be best left at home !

Jango - re my answer to your question re food banks etc , it will be Tuesday before I have the answer .

Think that all this Poster will do is sign in on the HT using another email address and alias every time his currant name is removed by the HT.

As an aside , when I had to log on the HT recently I found that my email address of a few years ago is still suspended - so within the HT there is no parole for good or reasonable behaviour .

Thanks Jango ( we have something in common - my D in L has served over 20 years in the RAF ). I have emailed the co-ordinator of the distribution of the booklet to see if your point has been covered . I should have a reply by 0800 on Monday .

Although I was lucky when I left the RAF and the transition went smoothly, there is a raft of useful information here. Good too that it is available from a number of community outlets.

Good to hear Jango1969 - if you or any other Poster is aware of any Community outlets haven't a supply of these booklets please either message me or add a comment to this topic with full details and the booklets will be delivered. Thank you .

Appears to be a super , well thought out initiative which is working very well .

I certainly wish you every success .

Thanks Dippy and Greenknight , Mrs Ubique has messaged you Greenknight re the hedgehog.

" Hard copies of the booklet will be available in council buildings across the county, Wye Valley NHS trust hospital and community hospitals, 2Gether NHS trust buildings, GP surgeries, community buildings, military charities help desk, Suvla Barracks, West Mercia Police, Herefordshire Voluntary Organisation Support Services, Hereford Veterans Support Group, the HIVE etc. We also hope to get it into housing association offices. "

Service to Civvy Street' booklet to help ex-Service personnel

Herefordshire Civilian Military Task Group is encouraging ex-Service personnel and their families to benefit from a new information booklet available throughout the county

‘Service to Civvy Street' is a booklet to help veterans of all ages and their families navigate healthcare, employment, housing, education and other support available in Herefordshire and was launched this week by Lady Darnley, the Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire, at the Military Charities Helpdesk at Franklin House in Hereford.

If you have served in the Armed Forces or are the partner, spouse or family member of someone who has served in the Armed Forces then this booklet is for you.

Councillor Peter McCaull, the vice chairman of Herefordshire Council said ‘we hope this booklet will make it easier for ex-service personnel and their families to find the services and support they need in order to help them settle into civilian life in the county’

The booklet was funded by the Ministry of Defence’s Community Covenant Grant Scheme and developed by Herefordshire Civilian Military Task Group in partnership with Worcestershire Council

Copies are available at various venues across the County but regular supplies will be held at the Military Charities Helpdesk. The helpdesk is open Tuesdays and Thursdays 10am to 2pm at the Franklin House Customer Service Centre on Blue School Street, Hereford.

The booklet is also available online at www.herefordshire.gov.uk/civvystreet

Job Swap ?

From Coventry Telegraph

Coventry City Council’s top solicitor has left the organisation for personal reasons in the midst of a lengthy legal battle with the owners of Coventry City FC.

Christine Forde, the council’s assistant director for legal and democratic services and monitoring officer, has left the local authority on the 31st August and the full council will today vote to delegate powers to a temporary replacement.

From the HT

The proposed design of the new shared station, as seen from the Edgar Street Junction. Photo: etc Design Ltd

Grid Knocker said

Good street musicians: most definitely YES, especially if it's my friend Richard, the accordionist who comes all the way from Birmingham, to play outside M&S

Have to keep an eye on M&S when Richard is playing - just in case Grid Knocker is the supporting act singing My Way or other suitable songs.

I realised some time ago that when one reaches three score and ten the chuggers aren't bothered with you so a number if you have a lot to look forward to !

Re beggars - I like others will nip into Greggs or similar and buy a coffee and a sausage roll for him. He then has two choices.

Short story , a couple of " homeless " men used to go into a charity shop Mrs U was a volunteer at and ask if they had any dog food for their dog which was being looked after by a mate . They were given enough tins to last the next 7 days . The Charity shop were then told that they were selling / swapping the tins for drugs ! So no more tins for them but genuine case still do get free dog food for their dog.