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Some residents will see changes to their waste collection day from 18 March There will be changes to the waste collection day or week for many Herefordshire residents from Monday 18 March. Collection times across the county could be affected, so everyone’s bins should be put outside by 6.30am on collection day, or the evening before. Herefordshire Council will write directly to residents who will see a change to their collection day, the majority of which are around the Ross and Ledbury areas. Herefordshire Council has been working with FCC Environment to make collection routes more efficient, and to prevent missed collections. Very few changes to collection routes have been made since 2014 but many new properties have been built across the county since then so changes are needed. Collection areas have been grouped together to ensure that all the waste in that area is collected on one day, rather than over several days. In the long term, this will mean that we reduce vehicle emissions and save fuel. The time saving also means there will be more flexibility to cope with seasonal changes in the amount of waste and recycling being collected, and create more capacity to allow for future housing developments. Residents can check their bin collection days, download a collection calendar and find answers to further questions online at www.herefordshire.gov.uk/bincollection

It's coming up to 18 months since scaffolding appeared at the front of town hall, surely on such a significant building in Hereford this should have been sorted by now. This and the scaffolding in high town my walk into town was pretty depressing & made worse by Talk Talk canvassers preying on every single person in their sight including me.

Does anyone know where this will be situated? I've heard conflicting things. One friend has said it's going in the former Lakeland shop on commercial street and another has said it's going in the former poundworld shop at the Brooks retail park. More entry level employment opportunities can only be good for Hereford Jobs advertised here

I have just been listening to the live stream from Full Council held yesterday at the Shire Hall in particular, the reactions from various Councillors about the alternative budget proposed by IOC. Live Stream can be found here At around 228 of the live stream Cllr Paul Rone speaks, during his brief response I notice that he says that if turning off the traffic lights is such a good revolutionary idea, then why has nobody else done it? Well actually Paul, quoting you using your own words from yesterdays meeting, "Seek Before You Speak" Turning off traffic lights has been successful in several towns and cities, one that comes to mind is Portishead, check out the video below: Portishead Traffic Lights Furthermore, you suggest that nobody has done this other than Invercargill in New Zealand, you also suggest that this place has a mere population of 7,500 people, well actually you are wrong sir, it is almost as big as Hereford! Education Lesson below: You also say that it would be dangerous for pedestrians?? I am confused as there is no suggestion that any of the pedestrian traffic lights would be turned off at all, they would still be working, if this was given a trail and yes that is all we have ever asked for, a trial. Cllr. Rone also suggest that it would work for maybe 12 hours and then there would be mayhem? Again, we have video evidence much of which you will find on our youtube channel where the traffic lights have been out of order for several days and it is common knowledge that when these lights are out of service and using our words, the 'traffic just flows' in Hereford. To suggest that the members commenting on here are irresponsible keyboard warriors is totally unfair, there has been a lot of research over the past 20 years including that of one of our members Martin Cassini, you can check out his credentials here Martin Cassini on the One Show Finally, you also ask why is nobody else doing this? Because people like you are all too quick to reject these proposals. Well as you can see above other towns and cities are doing this successfully or is your dismissal just down to the fact that this is not your or Cllr Edwards idea? Cllr. Rone and Cllr. Edwards, I am passionate about our city and keen to explore all ideas that may eliminate the terrible daily congestion in Hereford, I just wish others would look and explore some of these ideas.

Here are a few photographs taken along the river path opposite the Hereford Rowing Club this evening.

Two new businesses will be opening soon in the building formerly occupied by Chadds. Coco Nail Bar is due to open this Friday and a new Barber Shop will also open soon just next door in Commercial Street. Hereford's largest independent department store Chadds closed in June 2008 after trading in Hereford for almost 80 years.

Hereford's main Post Office in High Town will be operating from inside WHSmith from next month from April 11th. The existing Post Office on St Peter's Street, will close. Plans have already been submitted for new signage here

A Hereford woman has won £125,000 on TV's 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire' Katy Chambers, a human resources officer, won £125,000 this week on the show hosted by Jeremy Clarkson.

Travelling around Hereford by bicycle will soon become easier, thanks to the introduction of a bike share scheme in the city Herefordshire Council has partnered with scheme operator Beryl, for a two year contract to provide bike share across Hereford. The scheme will be launched in Summer 2019, with bikes distributed at key destinations across the city. The bikes will be available for hire via the Beryl App, which lets users find a bike and then easily unlock it, simply using their smartphone. The App will be available for download on the Apple app store for iPhone, and the Google Play Store for Android users. Users will be informed of the location of ‘Beryl Bays’, the preferred parking locations to leave the bikes. However, the scheme is designed with flexibility in mind and will allow users to park the bikes elsewhere for an extra charge, provided they are safely within the scheme area. There is no initial or ongoing cost to the council and Beryl will be responsible for supplying the bikes as well as management and maintenance of the service. Beryl is a partner to the London bike share scheme and has experience operating two corporate dockless bike share schemes in London and recently announced a scheme in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Beryl is accredited with CoMoUK, which is the agreed standard of best practice for the industry. Marc Willimont, Acting Assistant Director for Regulatory Environment and Waste Herefordshire Council, said: Philip Ellis, chief operating officer at Beryl, added:

We have noticed all this new graffiti locally, some will claim it is street art but the bottom line here is that this is plain criminal damage to someones property and this criminal damage costing the taxpayer thousands of pounds for the local council to clean it up. This has popped up at the Oval and along the Belmont Road over the past week.

Pepe's Piri Piri to open in former Matabeau Café in Commercial Street Hereford following a new letting agreement. A planning application to extend opening hours to 11pm at the vacant unit. The company's application said: "The proposed extension of hours will allow the business to open until 11pm serving customers with healthy grilled food, coffees and teas." If this planning application is approved, the restaurant will be open from 11am to 11pm seven days a week and will create 8 jobs. The consultation period will end on April 4. Pepe Piri Piri currently has 88 restaurants nationally with a menu offering Burritos, Wraps, Burgers and the famous Piri Piri Chicken plus many other items.

Planning permission has been granted for a new student accommodation block at Station Approach. The application was submitted by the council’s development partners, energy and regeneration specialist ENGIE and Cityheart Partnerships, for purpose-built student accommodation at Station Approach. Hereford College of Arts (HCA), which has a proven need for good quality student housing to support its growth plans, will be the main customer of the Station Approach project. There will also be rooms allocated for students of NMiTE, supporting its development. Station Approach is part of Herefordshire Council’s Development and Regeneration Programme (DRP) in partnership with ENGIE which will deliver the programme over the next 10 to 20 years. The programme will support the council’s economic vision for the county which includes support for the delivery of the new university and Hereford’s existing colleges. The site is located at the heart of Hereford’s transport system, to the north east of the new Hereford City Link Road and provides easy access to Hereford College of Arts (HCA), Hereford station and the city centre. Along with accompanying hard and soft landscaping, cycle parking, and accessible parking with fast charging points for electric cars, there will be public art designed and made by the students. Cllr Harry Bramer, cabinet member contracts and assets, said: Jake Fellows, Major Projects Director for ENGIE’s Places & Communities division, said: Abigail Appleton, Hereford College of Arts, said: Elena Rodriguez-Falcon, CEO of NMiTE, added:

My son recently moved out and I decided to redecorate his old room. I will purchase a double bed and keep it as a guest room. I removed his old tiny 2.6 small single divan and thought I would take it to the tip yesterday (Sunday 27th January). If only I know what a palaver I was in for I would not have bothered! I drive a people carrier (Mercedes Vito), like the one below complete with rear seat and glass rear doors as per the photograph. We arrived at the tip at Rotherwas and I was asked by a chap who's name was Tim, what I had to tip, I replied just my sons single bed, he told me it would need to go into land fill and showed me where to park. As I parked up he then seamed to change his mind and asked me if I had a permit? A permit? I have not been to the tip in years so I was not sure what permit he was referring too, I explained that I was driving a people carrier and I was tipping just a bed, he then went to his little office and came out with a lithograph and pointed to a commercial van, I again explained that I have glass panels and seats in the back, he said you cannot tip here without a permit, I asked where do obtain a permit? Because I had the bed loaded already. He explained that it takes a few weeks and that I need to apply online but basically I could not tip this bed, I was frustrated and told him I would dump it on the side of the road (clearly I was not going to do that but I was angry). I telephoned a friend and he told me to take it to Ross on Wye, yes Ross on Wye! So I drove to Ross and I was told I could park outside and carry the bed onto the site, which is exactly what I did, how pathetic is this?? It is no wonder we so much fly tipping when they make it so difficult to take our old items. I am also confused as to how they expect anyone to drop off a bed in the absence of a larger vehicle of a van, you could not get it into a average car anyway, so had I not have the vehicle I would of borrowed my mates van anyway...

I have been a member here for a long time and I think it only right that we give credit where credit is due. As a collective HV and the members here have achieved many good things over the years and I think we should start to list them in recognition of all the hard work put it. Please forgive me because I can only think of a few that stand out, notably the hot food campaign and the cctv on the gww. Then there was the grass cutting petition and the working boys home and off course the keep clear road making on the Belmont roundabout. Lets all start listing these results. Reverse grass cutting petition New metal fencing on the Belmont Iron bridge (preventing kids climbing) New duck signs installed following request along Haywood Lane near to Belmont Pools. Open space at bottom of Glastonbury Close cleared and tree's cut back and 2 reduced to stumps preventing kids climbing over metal fencing near McDonalds. Litter pick around the Oval Shops and various other locations Successfully campaigned for CCTV along the GWW. Campaigned successfully to reverse previous decisions to prevent late night food curfew - many food outlets are now open until 3am and even later on bank holidays. Working boys home Colin James cleaned all of the road signs from the Iron bridge on A465 Belmont to the Clehonger junction and also along all of Haywood Lane. Successfully campaigned and managed to have 'Keep Clear' road markings painted A465 Tesco roundabout exits. Highlighted and managed to have the garages at Redhill repaired (GWW) Cleaned the GWW with many other residents, Cllrs and Police. Successfully campaigned to have Salt Bins placed for Sydwall Road and Glastonbury Close with thanks to the Parish Council. New lightbulbs and repairs to lighting within the Greyfriars Subway. Clean up of Hereford Duck Pond with many volunteers and managed to obtain 3 new information signs kindly sponsored by Vets4Pets. Repainted fence with funds from Hereford City Council and secured up £5000 for aeration pumps/fountain.

How wonderful to see that the Widemarsh War Memorial has been restored. The restoration work was instigated by Hereford City Council - Ward Councillor Paul Stevens after he had been contacted by local veteran Mr David Williams. Councillor Stevens instructed stone mason Si Hudson to carry out the work, and as you can see from these photographs has done an absolutely fantastic job of bringing back to life the names of the soldiers who gave their lives. There are over 70 names on the memorial in total and their names are now being revealed once again inlaid with black paint. The restoration work will be complete within the next few days. Councillor Paul Stevens is attempting to contact any known relatives of these soldiers and he has already had some success and has managed to contact several people in time for a rededication ceremony.

Please Support Sofia! Lee Michael Richards has set up this fundraising page in order to support the family of a young man who died in an incident at a Hereford factory over the weekend. Sofia's father Jamie Allen died while working at Hereford Galvanizers on Saturday morning. A joint investigation is now underway between West Mercia Police and the Health and Safety Executive. All money raised will go towards supporting his young daughter Sofia. Our thoughts go out to Jamie's family at this very difficult time.

Interesting article in the Hereford Times

Herefordshire Council has announced a countywide free parking pilot event. The pilot will enable residents and visitors to enjoy free parking for up to 4 hours after 10am on all council car parks in Herefordshire (except Friar Street, Hereford) on Saturday 9 February 2019. Monitoring and information-gathering will determine the wider impact of parking concessions on businesses, traffic flow and car park usage. Parking Enforcement Officers will observe traffic and parking patterns, but customers will not be required to purchase tickets. The event does not apply to on-street paid for parking. Cllr Barry Durkin, Cabinet member transport and regulatory services, said:

Mamma Jammas Closing Down! Sad news to learn that Mamma Jamma's nightclub in West Street Hereford will close their doors for the lats time on Saturday February 9th 2019. The club made this announced on their Facebook Page: Good luck to them with the next phase of their journey! A new beginning awaits..

Plans to demolish the Broadleys Pub! - ( 3 years on from the original proposal here ) Co-Op proposal dampens the Christmas Spirit. Residents are up in arms that the Co-Op have drop leaflets to their houses this evening with proposals to demolish their local The Broadleys Pub and replace it with a Co-op store! Tonight is the annual community carol service which is always well attended by the community and disappointment in the Co-Op is palpable. Mark Haslam from Herefordshire CAMRA said:

A car has somehow landed up crashing into the front entrance doors of The Range store in Three Elms Hereford. Emergency services have been called to the scene

Hereford is twinned with Polish City Jaworzno, so are there plans in place to update our Welcome to Hereford signs etc?

A planning application has now been submitted for a proposed conversion of retail units into 17 dwelling flats. Former Chadds building Commercial Street Hereford. The proposal seeks planning permission for the residential development of 17no. apartments, over 3 floors, with a new dedicated ground floor entrance, together with the rationalisation of the existing ground floor retail unit. The Proposal Although not of high architectural significance the character of the existing buildings is extremely well suited to its location. Rather than demolish and replace the buildings therefore a strategy has been adopted to convert and refurbish the existing property to contribute to the long term desire to revitalise of the area. The lack of retail or commercial interest in the building over a number of years confirms that it is no longer suitable for similar use on its existing scale. Realistically this is the case for much of Commercial Street. Failure to address this would see the building continue to be unoccupied for a prolonged period of time further negatively impacting on the character of the area. To assist in the re-invigoration the proposals aim to provide 17 self-contained apartments within the upper 3 storeys of the building. In effect this will bring people to the heart of the area facilitating increased footfall to the benefit of local business and enterprises. Additionally it may allow the ground floor retail element of the existing property to potentially be offered as smaller scale units more suited the location making this far more attractive to potential retail tenants and business owners ultimately making it increasingly likely that this will help spur occupancy and therefore start to again create a vibrancy to the street. The new proposals will include the provision of two new dedicated entrances off Union Street to serve the residential apartments. The most northerly existing ground floor entrance along Commercial Street will also be utilised likewise. These will provide direct access to stairs which lead to the upper floors of the building. The Apartments will be distributed as follows: First Floor Second Floor Third Floor - 6no one bedroom apartments. - 2no two bedroom apartments - 4no one bedroom apartments. - 3no two bedroom apartments - 1no one bedroom apartments. - 1no two bedroom apartments Each apartment will also contain a living dining kitchen together with a bathroom. All residencies will be of contemporary design and be of high quality standard and finish. New replacement windows will be provided to all existing openings to ensure they meet current regulation performance requirements. Two new window openings will be created for one apartment at second floor level but neither of these will be street facing. New Velux windows will also be provided to habitable rooms at third floor level. All dwellings are designed to comply with DCLG space standards. The Ground Floor will be largely otherwise unaltered until such time an interested purchaser or tenant is attracted to develop the reduced size units. - Planning application P173885/F

Plans have been submitted for the proposed demolition of existing hutted wards and a new build construction of a two-storey ward development with roof top plant space at Herefordshire County Hospital. Planning Application P180679/F