magicroundabout

Next Repair Cafe Thursday 20th March. Volunteer Inn in Harold Street 6 to 8 pm. Last month 7 bikes tweaked !!! Bring your bike - have some cake - meet your neighbours - make the cafe a success. It's free - yes - free!

Signed months ago but happy to be pointed in the direction of any helpful petition, thanks dippyhippy!

Hi paulinehodges, Just wanted to say hello and that we are made very welcome on Hereford Voice. I hope you will continue posting and not let this misunderstanding put you off making comments. There was a "Voice" January get together but generally it doesn't appear to me that posters know each other outside of posting. Some people have very strong opinions and are entitled to them (makes an interesting read). I read a couple of posts which made personal attacks on an individual poster which didn't appear to bother that person. Usually, just shows the "attacker" up as a bit of an eejit! The voting button is innocuous here. On Hereford Times the voting button can be fiddled and is a bit of fun!! Bobby47 earlier on this thread said he was voted down online with the Hereford Times "comments" to minus 39. I voted positive at least twice on that post and others had also voted positively before the jokey negative votes so I'd estimate in total he was voted down around minus 50 votes!!! *mag*

Pretty much agree with all the posters. It's a domino effect. When people easily view a better life within their grasp they go for it in whatever variety it presents to them. Who wouldn't follow a path dangled so temptingly, probably mainly for the sake of their loved ones? I believe the unrest and migration is a cycle of our modern life. Sadly, people suffer again and again. I am totally against sending any more money to the Ukraine above the amount we send already. I suspect the high TV current coverage is related to energy supplies or some other western self-interest in area of the world. The UK needs more of our attention as people are hungry, homeless and suffering here. Signed the local government anti-cabinet petition. The sooner they are gone the better. Generally Herefordshire tory council cabinet appear to be not up to the job. For example Cllr Price's recent reply to me illustrated he could not count to 6! In his reply it seems he overlooked himself in the count!!!!!! Also at a Brockington meeting last year twice Cllr Johnson spoke about income tax, in error, meaning council tax!! He gave the other councillors a laugh but really was not aware of the name of the tax he gaily spends!! What a bunch!!!!!

Nearly a goner there!! Innocently catching up on "War" and fell over the canine intimacy incident - I truly almost choked with laughter on my daily piece of fruit I admit I am responsible in part for our UK EU experience, having voted yes in the European Referendum many years ago. Sorry for that My heart goes out to the good folk fighting for their principles in the Ukraine today.

Bobby I feel so sad Firstly I agree that some of the global community are suffering needlessly, in my opinion it's mostly down to greed. Secondly, you are using your time and brilliant mind blogging "War" and not by the Wye with your maggots and Shimano rod dangling your waterproofed booted toes in the deep lapping water! Thirdly, you didn't lambaste or chastise any of those undeserving self-satisfied Herefordshire Council Tory cabinet members or the HC pot snouting overpaid senior officers in the script at all. I read in trepidation expecting some ingenius twist but was gravely disappointed. Driven to add aforesaid personal opinion.

Greening the Village Next Local community Repair Cafe Date change!! Now Thursday 20 Feb at the Volly!! at the Volunteer Harold Street on Thursday 20 February 2014 at 6 to 8pm Everyone welcome - free services - donations welcome Come and meet your neighbours Bring your bike for free help with repairs Bring clothing for help and advice on mending

Mmmm. I'm a favourite He sent me another so I had 2 surveys from him !!!!! (Maybe he didn't like my first attempt).

Good luck !

Thanks Colin. At risk of being hypocritical I have ordered one! If I ever (accidentally) find myself in the old market mall I will have a cup of coffee on them.

Well done (in advance) Jim!! I'm pretty sure you don't need anyone to tell you what questions need asking!! Shame you weren't involved when the contract was negotiated.

Ipusseycat sorry to hear your situation. No comfort but many people have similar problems, hopefully your claim will eventually be seen and dealt with. Only advice I have is to let them know (in writing) you are suffering hardship and you are contacting your MP to start an MP complaints case. Write to your MP Jesse. It used to encourage attention back in the day, may help, worth a try. Sadly, there are many struggling on very low incomes in Herefordshire. I shudder when I hear the comments that immigrants here, (eastern europeans for example), work harder than locals, then comes the quote that they all have at least 2 jobs and do jobs locals will not do. IF they have 2 jobs then there are less jobs for the rest of us! It is far more complex than that. One point is that some employers advertise abroad and bus them in; youth is usually on their side against an ageing local population; also the added "charisma" of just being from abroad helps during a job interview. The job seekers with disability are unlikely to be coming from abroad and the recession hit available jobs hard, the number of unemployed in statistics is far less than the true number. From experience, many do not sign on as unemployed when they do not qualify for benefits plus the number and quality of reasonable jobs available is low. NHS - don't want to leave that out when I am having such a good moan!! I am so sad that our country is in such a poor state altogether. I put it all down to personal greed ultimately. So much money in the hands of so few who appear to have no social conscience at all. Big companies avoiding tax :Cha ching: to the extent that our country cannot pay to look after the vulnerable and children is the problem at the bottom of it all.

Megilleland - may be me but I can't find the link to the website mentioned above for peeps to check for benefits? Age UK are good - http://www.ageuk.org.uk/money-matters/claiming-benefits/benefits-calculator/ Also money saving expert Martin Lewis has a good site - http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/benefits-check (They won't give me any benefits - - something to do with working I think!)

Megilleland thanks for the heads up on this consultation. I'll let them have my opinion! They weave a web of intrigue and obscurity! - The Marches LEP leads to the Marches Local Transport Body in 2012 (website). This organisation appears to handle (hide) the funding for transport matters. "The Marches region is in line for £16m of transport infrastructure investment following the establishment of The Marches Local Transport Body (LTB), a new powerful decision-making entity that will oversee the region’s future investment in transport. The announcement comes as part of the Department for Transport’s (DfT) plans to devolve funding for major transport scheme to local bodies from April 2015 onwards, with £16m provisionally allocated to the Marches for the period 2015-2019."

This afternoon I had an invitation to complete Jesse Norman's survey " How am I doing". Checking for feedback - impressive!! Quote: "I am sending it to you as you have previously contacted me about casework or an issue of government policy that concerns you." One of the survey questions was "Jesse puts constituents before his career" Do I strongly agree; agree; neither disagree or agree; disagree; strongly disagree? The other questions were more realistic.

Greening the Village Next Local community Repair Cafe at the Volunteer Harold Street on Thursday 27 February 2014 at 6 to 8pm Everyone welcome - free services - donations welcome Come and meet your neighbours Find us in the skittle alley (walk to the left side of the pub and there is a gate to your right). If your bike needs attention, bring it in for us to take a look and give it a tweak! We have the skills to help with repairs to bikes, clothing, knitting, and would love to meet you and help. Learn new skills and have a slice of cake too! Volunteers to help and more ideas welcome. Plus - On a Thursday 6 to 8pm there is a weekly local veggie sale with organic veggies in the skittle alley.

Thanks megilleland. It's all gobbledegook and double speak to remove money from all our pockets efficiently. I guess I was having a dig at the council officers who are not appearing to get the best deal and the "vortex" local public assets are disappearing down! Oh how I wish we council tax payers could get a look at their performance agreement reviews and have a meddle and a say! I fear the relevant backs are well and truly covered.

Chrisbull, Can you understand why valuable sites are sold by this county at such give prices? My Herefordshire home cost me an arm and leg and will take many years to pay off. If you have a minute can you please explain to the unenlightened (moi). I know the developer does a deal and it is quid pro quo but if no-one "gave" land away then alternatives scenarios could be that the developers would go out of business or pay the going rate (plus perks e.g a new little road for the county). Negotiating contracts in Herefordshire council is a tough old business and anyone in it is surely paid a good packet?! Enough remuneration to surely do a good job or be replaced by someone who can. Is it not that simple?

Litterpick 1st feb postponed - thanks to anyone who was intending to help

The salty looking red brick "backside" was cleaned in December as mentioned earlier in this thread. However, I travelled past yesterday and was astonished at the huge amount of white salt blemishing markings which were apparent Everywhere on that red brick. Horrendous! What a disgrace! A friend said the reason for the high salt content in the bricks was due to using cheaper sand from the "seaside", with sea salt content which can be the cause of visual efflorescence from leaching and worse - damp problems. I don't know if this is true but it sounds plausible. Seems the white markings will be a new constant feature for the future. Sad for Hereford to show that "backside" view of buildings, just like an old unloved trading estate plonked into the inappropriate middle of a premium site, at one of the main thoroughfares of our city. The view will undoubtedly spoil both tourists and shoppers experience, affecting the life blood of our community! Too late now to change the design but there must be a way to improve the look of it for Hereford sake! Any ideas ? I wrote to Debenhams last week to complain directly to them about the state of the building. No reply yet.

Tweak your bike at the Volly Repair Café (from the 30th of January) and get riding in 2014â€. Repair Cafe 6 to 8pm Thursday 30 January 2014. Volunteer Inn Harold Street Every one welcome! Bikes and clothing etc. Last Thursday every month. Also veggie sale! Litter pick Saturday 1 February 2014 - 2.30 pm Meet at meadow end of Green Street. Spend an hour on Castle Green and around the Greenway route with your neighbours.

Wholeheartedly agree with you Colin. Not surprised but sad Glenda was ignored again when she asked at a council meeting about a safe way to access the concrete monstrosity. Why are pedestrians not considered? The day the McAlpine barriers went up round Edgar Street and Newmarket Street to protect the precious development and take the pavement away from human beings, I was astounded. No signs have been placed to help the poor pedestrian who wants to go from Edgar Street into Newmarket Street - they are on their own. The pedestrian crossing was closed - full stop. What council leader would agree to let developers take away the safety of the pavement from their residents? Hereford's would -or rather the descriptive "Horrorford" as per Biomech. I have started writing formal complaints directly to the highways and planning department. I don't expect to receive a positive reaction from the planning department but will give them a chance. The complaints are logged and don't look good. Otherwise it will be elections time in 2015. I always vote and have a very good memory.

Hello and thanks for extending your Voice to the rest of us. Brilliant! I found you last week and enjoyed reading posts which are relevant to all Hereford. Love the open honest principles Colin