Council firmly backs regeneration of Hereford

A news release from Herefordshire Council on 13/11/09 stated:

"Councillors overwhelmingly supported a notice of motion from leader of the council Roger Phillips, stating that the future of Herefordshire depends on creating more and better paid jobs, increasing the number of affordable homes, providing more leisure and shopping and improving infrastructure."

We believe that Bovale's plans for a retirement village in Faraday Road are in accord with the motion proposed by Council Leader Roger Phillips. The proposed retirement village will create more and better paid jobs as well as future training opportunities in the caring professions. The homes and bed spaces taken up by the new residents will also free up more homes in Hereford for sale.

Bovale fight on

Innovative plans for a much needed retirement village at Faraday Road in Hereford, strongly supported by local residents, were submitted by developers Bovale on 13 November, despite initial rejection by planners.

The proposed elderly living and care facility would offer an attractive alternative to traditional care options for those wishing to live in a supportive but unobtrusive community, and has been designed to meet an increasing need for such accommodation in the area.

It would also improve employment prospects in the city; Bovale estimate the retirement village could create up to 140 new jobs and provide important training opportunities.

Herefordshire has an older age profile than both the West Midlands and England and Wales with 24% of the county’s population being of state retirement age or above, compared to 19% both regionally and nationally.

Herefordshire Council’s own research predicts a 20% rise in the number of retired people living in the county by 2011, which is almost double that expected for this age group in England and Wales. Further research carried out on behalf of Bovale suggests that in Herefordshire there are 14.5 people over the age of 80 for every residential bed available, compared to a national average of 8 for every bed available.

The scheme was turned down two years ago by local planners and at an appeal heard by an independent Inspector at a Public Local Inquiry on the basis that the derelict site, which overlooks Widemarsh Common and is surrounded by residential accommodation on two sides, had been earmarked by the Local Council as employment land.

However, according to Charles Collier of Bovale, the proposed care facility will generate some 140 jobs for care professionals and associated staff, whilst improving the site visually and providing acknowledged social service benefits in terms of accommodation and care for the elderly.

The Inspector agreed that the scheme would be beneficial to the local area at the Public Local Inquiry which was held in April 2007 and since then Bovale has investigated opportunities to site the scheme elsewhere in the town.

Having completed these investigations, the developer has been unable to identify an alternative, viable site and remains convinced of the merits of a care facility at Faraday Road and the plans have therefore been resubmitted.

13 November - Public Debate in North Heredfordshire

There is an opportunity for those in North Herefordshire to hear the pros and cons of the proposed development.

A Public Debate, starting at 7pm prompt at Weobley’s Village Hall, will hear from Councillor Roger Phillips, Leader of Hereford Council and Jonathan Bretherton, Chief Executive, ESG Herefordshire Ltd who will speak for the development and Councillor Mark Hubbard, Chairman of It’s Our City, and Bob Clay, Secretary of It’s Our City will speak against the proposed plans.

There will be an opportunity for the audience to put forward their questions.


From: It's OUR City!

Friday 13th, 9:50am, Shire Hall

Friday 13th November is an important date in the campaign diary.

We are presenting the “petition so far” to the Chairman of the Council on the steps of the Shire Hall at 10am. We are calling on all our supporters to arrive at 9.50am to show the level of support the campaign has.

We can confirm that all of the shops in Chruch Street will be closing their doors in support of the petition; this is quite a remarkable and powerful message to Herefordshire Council, proving the depth of feeling and the level of support the campaign enjoys amongst the locally owned businesses in Hereford City.

Big notices will be pinned to all of the doors of the closed shops apologising to their customers for any inconvenience and inviting them to join the campaign at the Shirehall. We expect the petition to reach 10,000 names by the time of the presentation which must be one of the biggest petitions presented in Hereford for many years and it’s only been 10 short weeks since the campaign was launched.

From: It's OUR City!