Ill served

I am ashamed the way Bob Curry is being treated by our council, he deserves much better, as do all ex servicemen fallen on hard times.

I was appalled to watch a GMT news reporter asking to speak to the Chief Exec of the council at Plough Lane. I knew as soon as he asked at reception, he would be told the Chief was in a meeting. So a female aide was sent out to give an unconvincing comment, to a national news network, not so national now but viral world wide.

It is a good job for us all that Bob had the guts to smash into the Iranian embassy and into the unknown. Whereas our chief exec apparently has not got the guts to face the press in the Council atrium.

Shame on the council.

Les Wilkinson, Sutton St Nicholas

Respect due

Everyone has read of the predicament of veteran Bob Curry, now tossed aside and discarded.

What a shameful blemish on a city that has failed to treat this man with the care and respect he is so deserving of.

R. Collins, Worcester

Views ignored

Your report of Herefordshire Council’s Planning and Resource Committee meeting on 6 December highlighted the issue of planning decisions which ignore local views reflected in neighbourhood plans.  John Bothamley’s Talking Point article in your paper on 4 January made it clear what a blow this is for the whole neighbourhood planning process.

The decision to give planning consent to a development in Lower Maes-coed was in conflict with both the Council’s own Core Strategy and our Neighbourhood Plan. Local people and the Parish Council wished to see development, but not on on the scale proposed. Our five parishes are scattered communities with no large village centres. A development which almost doubles the size of a community cannot be one which, in the words of the Core Strategy, “respect(s) the scale, form, layout, character and setting of the (existing) settlement.”  It was obvious at the Planning Committee that planning officers’ main objective was the maximum number of new homes irrespective of any constraints set out in the Core Strategy and neighbourhood plan. Whilst a majority of councillors supported the application, a small number pointed out the precedent this set and how demoralising this would be for those who have given their time to producing a neighbourhood plan. Either local views matter or else the whole neighbourhood planning process is a sham and should be recognised as such.

Linda Cowles, Vowchurch Parish Clerk

Judge and jury

Having attended the latest Cabinet meeting on proposed routes for the Hereford bypass/link road I was dismayed to hear Cllr Price state he had not read or was aware of the contents of the Breinton Neighbourhood Plan.

This is the very same Cllr. Price who back in December 2017 was photographed with 31 representatives extolling the virtues of local plans. Given the importance he gave to local plans I would have thought he would have taken time to read this plan in particular, as it covers one of the main areas affected by the impending routes.

He has admitted at meetings to being stubborn and would fight for the Western Route for as long as he had breath in his body. May I remind him that he was not only elected to represent the Golden Valley, but also the wider residents of Herefordshire. It appears that he now wants to be judge and jury on this matter and suffers from selective hearing?

Peter Hands, Breinton

High praise

I was privileged to attend the Llangarron Parish Council meeting this week when they discussed the Biddlestone Polytunnel Application.

Parish Councils are often criticised for their actions so I would like to express that I have never seen such a superb presentation and debate by Councillors.

The meeting was well attended by community members, who witnessed just how passionate and hardworking their elected councillors were in the analysis of this planning application. The task of assessing this complex application was split across the council and each grouping had clearly spent significant time scrutinising the pros and cons. Their presentations during closed session were concise and conclusive. Not only had they conducted their own review of the evidence they had also examined the extraordinary number of letters and emails from within the parish.

Their unanimous decision to object to the proposal was in line with the evidence and the community’s opinion. This was an exemplary performance of local governance in action and it opened the eyes of everyone present as to the excellent service these unpaid volunteers contribute to society. Much emphasis was put on the landscape impact and road safety, increased flooding risk and loss of biodiversity.

It is now hoped that, as Herefordshire Council deliberates over the Application, the community view on the planning issues will be taken into account.

Andrew McRobb, Llangarron

Looking the wrong way

Well isn’t that just fine our local MP, surrounded by hospital  closures, nurses leaving the NHS, public concern about parking charges, the number of homeless and people sleeping rough, lack of affordable  housing, and all he can devote his column to is Mappa Mundi and how we should all be dead chuffed  it’s in Hereford. Voters might remember  this lack of level of interest by Mr Norman in the important matters in our city the next time they cast their votes.  Dave Wilson Much Birch Backward step Are people really to believe Simon Hairsnape when he states that the closing of the Asda walk-in centre has had no detrimental effect on the hospital? I for one cannot believe it. If Mr Hairsnape would care to talk to people south of the river he will find the general consensus that closing the drop-in centre was a step backwards. When the walk-in centre was open, people called in for minor ailments hence taking the strain off A&E. His comments also state there is little concern at this closure due to feedback. What feedback is this? Because if he asked people on the street their opinion he will get the truth, the unanimous feedback would be it should have been kept open. He is talking like a politician and not representing public opinion.

Andy King, Hereford

Nature at risk

Hereford is set in the midst of wonderful countryside. The tranquil landscape of the Wye Valley is readily accessible from the city and is valued by many as a place of recreation. The importance of the natural world in maintaining physical and mental health is widely recognised. For example, the science journal Nature recently reported that many people experience greater well-being in the presence of natural beauty. Health benefits derived from the timeless natural world can surely reduce the economic burden of mental and physical disease.

The catastrophic disgrace of Carillion lays bare the consequences of wanton borrowing to finance capital projects. Future generations of taxpayers will be committed to repaying ill-considered debts on completed constructions. It seems that the Hereford bypass project could be approved without needing to specify final costings. Does this not encourage construction companies to spend as much as they can in order to maximise profit?

The squandering of irreplaceable landscape to corporate ambition is too great a sacrifice, when less intrusive and costly measures could readily be introduced to control Hereford’s traffic problems.

Jane Wise, Breinton

Pride in park

I must admit to some disappointment on reading the article highlighting litter at Queenswood over the Christmas holidays, in your January 11 edition. Like my fellow volunteers at Queenswood, I feel some pride and ownership for what I believe is a unique and beautiful area of woodland. My hurt over the article was reinforced, because I know the bins were emptied on December 27, as I emptied them.

As a newcomer to Herefordshire, I understand that there have been worries for Queenswood following its recent handover from the local authority, with concerns about the park’s upkeep. It is good that regular visitors to the park have taken up the role of custodians, to maintain a watchful and critical eye.

How useful would it be if there were more volunteers to compensate, in these days of austerity, for the changed financial circumstances of Queenswood. Ok. Emptying bins might not be everyone’s cup of tea, there are other opportunities. I spent some lovely summer days constructing memorial benches. Saying that, as a retired nurse, picking litter and emptying bins can be most rewarding, better than a Friday night working in a&e in any case.

Name and address supplied

Hospital beds

Having read your article on Tory minister called a liar on TV debate I am not surprised. I gave up watching Question Time a long time ago as it is completely biased against the Government, about six to one on panel and 70% to 30% in audience The problem most apparent with the hospital is due to the last labour government. They built a considerable number of new hospitals using PFI, but reduced beds by 30%. With their open border policy, they should have increased the bed capacity. It would now need an increase of 42% to bring the original beds back without allowing for the extra immigrants.

I had a family member who worked in the theatre and had to work five hours at a time without a drink due to the pressure to have the theatre prepared for the next operation. When short of nurses the agency staff brought in were only there to make up numbers and paid £30-plus an hour with little work output. Too many overpaid managers and non working staff.

Colin Davies, Madley

Think again

We visited an old friend in Hillside last Friday, and she could not speak highly enough of the staff or the way she was looked after. All the people we spoke to were disgusted that the CCG should contemplate closing this valuable asset. If the Council are so short of funds why don’t they ask the NHS to buy it from them or lease it? Perhaps the good people of Herefordshire could come to the rescue; the Hospice is a wonderful example of what can be done when the need is there.

There are 22 specialist beds there for people who have great need of professional care but do not need hospital treatment and cannot be cared for at home. Where are these patients going to go or will they be stuck in hospital taking up valuable beds from those that desperately need them? We understand that care at home is great for some people - there is no place like home - but the expertise of trained professionals will get people back on their feet much quicker than an occasional home visit.

We have yet to find anyone who is in agreement with the closure so please think again - and again - and again!!!

John and Denise Entwisle, Moccas

Credit due

It would make a welcome change if Jesse Norman had an opinion about the closure of the Hillside Centre and the courage to challenge the actions of his Government, that have led to such disastrous decisions. His, and Bill Wiggins, anodyne self-promotions in their columns each week, are an insult to everyone enduring this Government’s inept mismanagement. All credit to Anna Coda and Lucy Hurds, for having the courage to speak out, while our two apologists stay silent.

Kevin Kimber, Hereford

Thank you

I would like to thank everyone who came to my aid on Friday, December 15 when I fell suddenly near All Saints Church in Hereford. Everyone was so kind and my family and I wish to thank you all for giving your time to help me. It is nice to know that there are still so many caring people in this day and age. The cut above my eye has healed and I have fully recovered and thankful I didn’t break anything.

Betty Cross, Tupsley

Smell’s OK

If I may reply to the somewhat sanctimonious letter from Max Burgess (Letters, January 25) saying that meat-eaters must put up with the smells emanating from meat processing plants.  For the first 30-odd years of my life I lived in Bedfordshire, which was always known by the soubriquet,”Brussels and bricks”. The sulphurous smell from the local brickwork chimneys was definitely distinctive. However it was nowhere near as revolting and nauseating as the foul sulphurous stench from fields of harvested and rotting Brussels sprout plants.

As a happy, and hopefully less sanctimonious, omnivore, I find either smell unpleasant but am prepared to put up with both for the unbeatable and joyous aroma of meat cooking.

Ron Hill, Leominster