John Harrington

Guys, just to let you know that the reason that you were all stuck in traffic on Whitecross last weekend from Friday until Tuesday was because Transco 'failed' to remove the temporary traffic lights even though (as suspected) the work had been completed. After posting on here I contacted the HT and the lovely Jess chased up the Council who finally came back with the message (that Transco, working for The National Grid, failed to remove the lights)! Nice. I wonder, shall I report the Council, the National Grid or Transco to the police for obstructing a public highway?

Loved it Grid Knocker (Alias).

Cheers guys. Apparently it was the National Grid but no explanation for why the lights were left up. I think I need to find out which contractor actually did the work. The Council really should have some sort of software which allows them to schedule their own works and requests or notification of works from third parties. Unacceptable that these quite small works on occasion are causing such traffic disruption.

They still there dippy?

So No, I don't think there has been an independent study but it was obviously considered (the refurb option) to some extent during preparation of the original report.

To answer your pertinent question Aylestone Voice, I seem to remember that the feasibility report we received under the FoI request stated several options for a way forward. Option 1 was do nothing (ie/make do for several more years, although they stated there were problems with that) and Option 2 was refurb the existing building. Then there were the other rebuild options (none of which incidentally, if I recall correctly mentioned the Bath St site). The wiring needed redoing apparently as it was coming to the end of it's life and I think there was mention of the need for more space for training facilities (docs all on Hereford Voice on original thread I think). I firmly believe the upgrade and refurb option could be fully explored and perhaps be the perfect solution if the bus station idea is not yet viable. And any extra from the savings regards no demolition/ complete rebuild costs, could, with Jim K's forceful representationn could perhaps be put into the county's budget to help keep our fire personnel fully employed.

Absolutely ragwert. Venns Lane is much better but why not sort that junction out once and for all with some sort of roundabout at the same time!? I am cynical by nature but I still think it's likely a lot to do with the fact that roundabout don't need maintenance like traffic lights do. When we asked the Highways Agency to look at removing lights on a junction they sent their 'agents' in the area to assess this. He was an Amey employee. He reported back the lights must be kept. I asked the Highways Agency who puts in and maintains the traffic lights on their patch of road through Hereford. No prizes for the answer. Amey and the same manager they sent down to look at removing them! No one in that position is going to advise removing light when that contract is worth hundreds of thousands to them.

I agree Ubique and also, as twowheels said, why not an iron sheet instead of roadworks, if the new tiny section did need protecting? As I said it is almost as if the Cabinet want to make our traffic congestion even worse.

Don't start me off again Col! I think one of the problems encountered when we get frustrated by this is a lack of accountability.It would be nice to know and might help alieviate the near murderous frustration we feel after sitting in traffic for hours if we knew at least: 1. Why this road was dug up (after being so freshly laid) and why the road was still closed. 2. Who carried the work out. 3. Who in the Council co-ordinates or is kept informed of these works (even when, which is always these days, a private contractor is employed). Lack of accountability allows for a tremendous slide of responsibility and quality of works. Lack of accountability means that, when asked why works are being carried out and why things are not done at times likely to cause less frustration and distribution, Cllrs can throw their hands up and say 'I don't know' (quite legitimately on most occasions), the Council can say 'our partners at Jarvis/Amey/Balfour Beatty' are carrying out the works so ask them (which they said last time I asked) and the private contractors, when you ring them, can give you the mobile of a works manager which then always goes to answer phone! In an ideal world, after a jam session like this, where our blood vessels nearly burst and we are reduced to tears of frustration on a Friday evening,there should literally be a whipping boy (ex-cabinet member looking for a job post May 2015 perhaps) employed by the council that we can take out onto a playing field (full of tall grass and nettles as per norm), strip to their underwear and chase around the park, whipping him with our switches or bunches of nestle clusters (and shouting in uncontrollable and rising unexpected animal delight) util the squeal of the pink welted ex-cabinet member reaches just the right degree of contrition to make us feel we have achieved satisfaction!

That's possible hillbilly but my mate and fellow driver, who used to lay tarmac said it was dry and if anything needed compacted before it became too brittle. I accept the men who did this may have good reason to protect it (over what I presume will be at least ghe weekend) but I just really doubt it's as intelligent as we might hope! dippy, the side of the wall is gorgeous. Is the colour in the brick on these Victorian and Edwardian brick wall signs? Is that why they survive rendering and later stripping back of the render? I don't expect you to know dippy (several choc donuts worth of red wine warming you up and self confessed non techie) but someone else might know?

There are a few exec officers, consultants and hangers on who think they are cleverer than the populace. Your time of reckoning is coming.

You are on the ball as ever Col! Thanks for the quick upload. Unfortunately, looking at the photos now makes me angry again And there was nothing under the cone but dry fresh tarmac and dry yellow paint.

Can't upload the photos twowheels, Col will hopefully have a look at that for me and you will how ridiculous the scene looks. Especially when you consider the tremendous cost of time and the frustration it's causing us all.

Does anyone else find it odd that so many roadworks are being carried out around the city at the moment? I know the Council has just been bailed out to the tune of millions by Central Government allowing resurfacing works (which perversely instead of embarrassed about the Cabinet are taking all credit for) but there seems to be literally dozens of other road works (with little indication as to what they are for). Whitecross Rd this week has been a nightmare, especially eastbound, which is unusual. I found the culprit not far from the Tesco Express/Old Buckingham Pub.Can anyone tell me why the lights are still there? The only obvious reason is a stretch of tarmac 2 foot a foot (ish), see photo. I lifted the cone, nothing dramatic lurking under it. The paint is bone dry and the tarmac is solid (and will only benefit from impaction). So what is going on. Is there an agenda to deliberately screw up traffic in Hereford further than it already was?

Flam and Denise, I think this is called covering your severe embarrassment. This application is dead in the water. None of the circumstances that indicated refusal are going to change. It almost makes you feel sorry for Harry and the Cabinet that they have degraded themselves so publicly by claiming it's still an option. Risible and pathetic and yet extremely heartening.

AV , you are quite right and on facebook I have publicly praised the professionalism of our local civil servants in the face of all sorts of pressure. The Conservation officers and Tree officers and the planners have treated this application with thorough diligence and we are very grateful for their often unsung work. I apologise now for not including thanking them on here originally as the deserved. I am certain though that public pressure rather than cllr pressure made the difference and this coupled with the professionalism shown by the planners is what swung the decision. No doubt aware that the indication was the application was going to be rejected, HWFS and the Cabinet made the only decision left possible in terms of saving face and dropped their application. Whatever the intricacies, it is a good and proper result and everyone who fought against the arrogant stupidity (there is no other word for the original plan) of the Cabinet deserves credit. At least, for today, the sun shines just a little brighter.

Dippy and Cambo you are superstars (together with megilliland the researcher, Aylestone Voice the voice of reason, Biomech the profane, Denise and all you guys/gals) for caring about something so important and pushing through despite the odds; the immovable (no longer) Cabinet, the pretence that they were listening to concerns whilst marching on and the total disregard for a piece of architectural and social history. This time one man's decision was questioned and finally stopped by a bunch of 'mendacious meddlers' and the world for a moment has some proper order restored. We will pin stars on you all, along with Jon Bottamley and everyone who piped up and chipped in when no local councillors or MP's made any real effort to defeat this. In years to come, in 20-30 years time, as we drive past this building I hope we all remember these few people who are directly responsible for the Working Boys Club continued existence and place in Hereford's history!

I presume it's too late to not be looking like a prat but I am switching my notifications off and getting to sleep. And I am genuinely not knocking the hard work Hereford in Bloom put in.

Good Gawd! Burton, Newcastle Under Lyme, Redditch, Stourbridge, Shrewsbury and Tamworth all seem to have won Gold too (Small City Under 35k, Terms and Conditions apply). We're all winners! "A Merry Christmas to us all; God bless us, every one!"

Cheers Denise! I apologise to the Council's press officer for casting aspersions on their character.

I have the same vision but he's slurring it out loud in a 'tired and emotional' state at the Marches LEP annual dinner and drinkies Backhanders Ball with the three Bs house builders on their feet cheering and bellowing like posh boys from the edge of the dancefloor. Can't believe you met Daley! Very jealous. In the para-phrased words of our esteemed Cllr Chappell, 'I'm off to bed before me temper makes me look like a deluded pratt'. Night dipster.

Tony J?

They must have won it but I can't blinkin find the reference to it! And dippy I agree and add my congratulations to Mr Swindells and all the Balfour Beatty ground troops for their hard graft.

I know it doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things but I am a little intrigued by Hereford scooping Gold in the Royal Horticultural Society's Britain in Bloom comp. 1. There are quite a few categories allowing lots of different cities and towns and villages to win Gold. 2. Old Trev Swindells's comments were from a letter to the HT back in July: Trevor Swindells, chairman of Hereford in Bloom, added: “I cannot praise the workforce of Balfour Beatty enough. They did a great job to ensure the judging went well.†Trevor Swindells didn't add anything, his letter pre-dates Hereford's Gold winning announcement . http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/letters/11379198.Letter_from_Trevor_Swindells__Chairman_of_Hereford_in_Bloom__says_we_can_all_do_our_bit_when_it_comes_to_litter_/ 3. I can't find any reference on the RHS's website (or in regional or national news) to suggest Hereford won Gold (in what I presume would be the small city category). RHS Britain in Bloom UK Finalists 2014 Entry Name Category Region / Nation Aberdeen City Scotland Ahoghill Champion of Champions Ulster Bath Small City South West Belper Large Town East Midlands Bracknell Small City Thames & Chilterns Bray Village (Conservation Area) Small Village Thames & Chilterns Bridgers Community Group (Leigh) Urban Community North West Bridgnorth Town Heart of England Carrickfergus Large Town Ulster Chorley Small City North West City of London Champion of Champions London Colwyn Bay Large Town Wales Congleton Large Town North West Cranbrook Small Town South East Crawley Small City South East Dalton with Newton Town Cumbria Derry City Small City Ulster Dufftown Large Village Scotland Dunnington Small Town Yorkshire Durham Large Town Northumbria Elswick Village North West Eston (Middlesborough) Urban Community Northumbria Evington (Leicester) Urban Community East Midlands Farnham Large Town South East Filby Village Anglia Filey Coastal Up to 12k Yorkshire Glenarm Village Ulster Glenrothes Champion of Champions Scotland Great Whittington Small Village Northumbria Halstead Town Anglia Harrogate Small City Yorkshire Henley on Thames Town Thames & Chilterns Hillingdon Large City London Am I going bonkers? It is quite possible. Cllr Rone may know better. Perhaps he could jump down off his mower (if Richard Ball and Geoff Hughes allow him to) and point me in the right direction. Perversely I have loved the unkempt verges with the abundance of Cow Parsley and wildflower but I do appreciate it has caused problems to an awful lot of people (several friends refused to ride their horses on the roads this years because of the risk caused by lack of visibility). I am out in the mist and drizzle as I text, furiously digging in my display for next year. Gold by Spandau Ballet is blaring out from my sitting room, across my lawn towards me. I think of Daley Thompson (the BBC used the track to accompany a montage of him in action montage in the 80s) and am spurred onto wider, more grandiose design and digging, despite wanting to get in and free view It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia on a dodgy internet link. I want Trevor Swindells to praise me in print. Most of all I want to be Daley Thompson, LA, 1984. If I dream it does it matter if it's not real? No it doesn't matter, says the press officer at HC, I know exactly where you are coming from dearheart.

Actually the grass looks good under Bully Col, think you're onto something!