PAGE 34 • FESTIVE NEWS • DECEMBER 2018
Festive News continues its annual review of county celebrities who no longer hit the headlines.
Kington farmer, Terry James became
Leader of Herefordshire Council when
the county ‘divorced’ Worcestershire in
1999, regaining its independence and the
Liberals, with Terry as their leader took
control of the new council. His picture
appeared in the Hereford Times every
week.
He still leads the Liberals but their
power base has long gone with very few
of them left in the council chamber, now
dominated by the Conservatives.
But it should be remembered that it
was Terry James who came up with the
grand plan to rescue Hereford from its
decline as a key shopping destination.
His idea to move the livestock market out
of town and develop the site as a modern
shopping centre was created, as he often
said, on ’the back of a fag packet’. The
plan worked. Hereford was saved. The
new Old Market is a huge success and
the city centre is busy.
There were those who wanted to erect
a statue of Terry in Old Market. When
the Tories ousted the Liberals to take
control of the council they thought
Terry’s plan to revive the city centre was
exactly what was needed and pressed the
go button. But Terry was not amused – or
even honoured – that the Tories should
be the ones to implement his vision and
take all the credit. He opposed his own
plan when the Tories put it forward for a
vote. No chance of the statue being built
now!
But in fairness to Terry he deserves to
be given the credit for the idea which put
Hereford back on track as a key
shopping destination. He really has
served the county well as one of the
longest serving and innovative councillors.
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VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
Introducing Joe Grumpy, Festive News’ new columnist
Government has raised the on-the-spot fine for dropping litter from £80 to
£150. But it is unlikely to be imposed on litter louts in Hereford, a city
plagued with litter.
Herefordshire Council does not have the cash to pay for litter wardens. The
volunteers of the new Community Clean-up group do a marvellous job
picking up the litter, but can’t deal with the culprits.
The council do run a Stop the Drop campaign to encourage people to put
their litter in a bin – or take it home – but what is really needed is an
occasional blitz on the regular offenders hitting them with a £150 fine and
publicising the results in the local media as a warning to others..
The council could train and authorise volunteer City Stewards to act as
street wardens, helping visitors,, dealing with the law breakers dropping litter
or riding their bikes through High Town. After all we already have Street
Pastors looking after the late night drunks!
HHHHH
After three promotion winning seasons Hereford FC in their new league are
struggling and the number of supporters at Edgar Street is seriously
dropping. Of course, its difficult to watch your team lose but right now they
need the loyal support of the fans. They won’t get promoted this season, but
keep cheering and they will climb up the table to safety to fight another day.
HHHHH
With the rates bill came a Herefordshire Council newsletter telling us about
the great projects the council is working on. One report informed us that the
new Western by-pass would eliminate traffic pollution in the city. They
forgot to mention that the by-pass would run smack bang through what will
eventually be the biggest housing estate in town – 2000 new homes on the
Church Commission owned land between Roman Road and Kings Acre
Road. Owners will be advised to keep their windows closed to keep the
exhaust fumes out of the front room.
Oh, and by the way the Church Commissioners will make millions when
this equivalent of a small town is finally built, yet there is no plan for a
church or a Christian centre on the huge development.
HHHHH
There is not much chance of exceeding the speed limit on the Belmont Road
into the city which is usually clogged with nose to tail traffic, but a police
speed camera is now operating opposite the Three Counties Hotel. And
apparently raking in mega bucks at £100 at a time. You have been warned.
HHHHH
Herefordians love it when they have something to moan about. The latest is
Welsh Water adding to the daily traffic flow chaos by digging up roads to
install new water mains at a cost of £10m Would they prefer the taps ran
dry?
HHHHH
There will be more folk in the pubs on Christmas Eve than in church
celebrating the birth of the baby Jesus in a stable of an Inn in Bethlehem.
They could at least raise their glass at midnight and say ‘Happy Birthday
Jesus.’
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