Welcome to the online version of JABA, our independent community newsletter

Produced by volunteers and funded entirely by advertising, the printed JABA is delivered to 2100 homes and businesses in the St James and Bartonsham area of Hereford, UK. We welcome your feedback, suggestions, letters and offers of help to make both the printed and online versions of JABA even more useful, fun and interesting. If you are able to help in any way, from writing copy to delivering, please let us know. All help is gratefully received as we feel, and you tell us, that JABA is playing a very useful role in our community and we want to keep it going. Some of the paper edition is featured on this site with additional features and news items as they occur. The site is updated every few days so please drop in regularly for the latest news, views and debate.

***NOTICEBOARD and FORTHCOMING EVENTS***
Let us know if you want an event publicising here - click to email us! editor@jaba.org.uk

FORTHCOMING - Community Association meetings and events for 2009: none planned at the moment. The AGM will be on 1 February 2010 - details to be confirmed soon.

The Autumn edition of the printed JABA, No 28, is now available for your entertainment and education. It's got 18 pages! Its heavy! It's packed with pictures and words! It's free! Your very own free copy of the latest JABA will be delivered to your door within days, but let us know if yours doesn't arrive or alternatively pick up a copy from the WRVS or local shops. Please complete and return the parking questionnaire!

A pdf version, in colour, is available to download, together with all our earlier issues, from our 'Downloads' page (under Categories >). We also have a few copies of some previous printed editions still available; if you would like a copy let us know.

Looking for the JABA Parking Questionnaire? Sorry, submissions are now closed.

Looking for the Parking Scrutiny Review report? It's in our Downloads category >
Looking for the Living Streets Audit Report of St Owen's Street? It's in our Downloads category >


SATURDAY 5 DECEMBER - Coffe Morning at St James' Church
The only place to go on a Saturday morning for the best coffee, tea, bicuits and cake! 10.30am onwards.

SUNDAY 6 DECEMBER - Central Park Play Area - Official Re-opening at 11am
See our article below.

SUNDAY 6 DECEMBER - Friends of Castle Green - Christmas Fayre - 10am - 4pm
See our article below.

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Tue - November 24, 2009

Central Park Play Area - Official Re-opening - 6 December, 11am

Posted at 12:27 pm     Top  

SUNDAY 6 DECEMBER - Friends of Castle Green - Christmas Fayre

Posted at 12:27 pm     Top  

Thu - October 1, 2009

Sun - September 13, 2009

Wed - September 9, 2009

TUESDAY 15 SEPTEMBER - Public Meeting - 'Its OUR City'

Public Meeting - TUESDAY 15 SEPTEMBER
Assembly Rooms, Town Hall, St Owen Street, HEREFORD. 7.00pm (arrive by 6.45pm) The Retail Quarter & the related link road on the Edgar Street Grid development are likely to do untold damage to Hereford’s historic city centre and many existing businesses. We already have too many empty shops with many locally owned retailers struggling to survive. Come and hear about the new campaign to give Hereford a voice against the big developers – It’s OUR City! And we say HANDS OFF! www.itsourcity.org

Posted at 12:54 pm     Top  

Fri - August 28, 2009

Sun - June 21, 2009

Sun - May 31, 2009

Tue - May 26, 2009

Bike Week 13-21 June 2009 - local events announced

CycleHereford’s annual bike-fest has a touch of the open road about it this year, with something for most ages and abilities. Turn up to enjoy the freedom of the bicycle, good company and fresh air! Most rides are FREE and all are led by experienced cyclists and fully insured with Bike Week. Download a flyer for full details from the link below.
BikeWek09LowRes.pdf

Posted at 10:29 am     Top  

Tue - April 14, 2009

Singer-songwriter Kim Richey performs at Art of Living Cafe Green

In an unprecedented scoop for Hereford, one of America's best female singer songwriters is performing at Art of Living Green Café on Wednesday 6 May! Her latest album, 'Chinese Boxes' was produced by Giles Martin (son of Beatles producer George Martin). She’s written or co-written songs for Mary Chapin Carpenter, Trisha Yearwood and UK pop sensation James Morrison, among others – she’s also made five acclaimed solo albums and had her music featured in films and television shows such as For The Love Of The Game, Angel, Alias and Grey’s Anatomy. Tickets are now on sale - £7 in advance or £8.50 on the night, from the Art of Living. So, don't complain about a lack of quality music in Hereford - get along and support this!
www.kimrichey.com and www.myspace.com/kimrichey

Posted at 06:20 pm     Top  

Thu - March 5, 2009

CycleHereford launch their informal 2009 ride season

CycleHereford's informal 2009 ride season gets off to a gentle potter with a family-friendly jaunt to Breinton Springs.
 Wednesday 15  April - Led by Rev Mark  Johnson, all interested please gather for 12 noon start from the Cathedral Close. The ride will take you  along the river and quiet roads to the Springs, returning to the Cathedral to finish.  Including stops, approx 2 hours.
Sunday 3 May - Mark's 4 Churches Tour. Approximately 3 hours duration starting from St Martin's Church car park, Ross Road, at 2pm. This ride will loop round beautiful countryside south east of the city stopping at some of our lovely churches en route. Bring water etc as no hostelry en route. You can reference the route at http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Hereford-Circular 
Sunday 17 May - 'Cycle Seeing' - back at popular request Martin's Templar Tourist Ride starts from Tourist Office, King Street, at 1.30pm and includes stopping to visit St Giles and the Coningsby museum (by appointment). A tour that exercises the brain as well as the body!
 
This year Bike Week will take place between 13 - 21 June, for more information:  www.bikeweek.org.uk . 
Local Bike Week rides will be advertised in the next few months - ie when some lovely volunteers have offered to lead them! Don't forget, as our rides will be registered with Bike Week Org, they will be covered by BW insurance for the entire week. Please email or tel (01432 352559)  if you are interested in leading a ride or want to know what it involves.
 
Friday 21 August, 6:30pm - 8:30pm - First of two rides from Mark Edwards leads us south of the river to Grafton and beyond. Meet at the Volunteer, Harold Street .  Cycle routes & plans in the pipeline in the south of the city. Some off-road riding.
Friday 18 September, 6:30pm - 8pm - The route will take us north of the river to Holmer. Mark will show us cycle routes & plans in the pipeline in the north of the city. Some off-road riding. Bring lights.Volunteer Pub start.

So if your bike has been languishing in the shed over winter, or doesn't get used too often, now's the time to give it an M.O.T,  check your insurance policy is up to date andessentials like lights, puncture kits and tyre pump are fit for purpose. For more information on any of these things, check out links on www.cyclehereford.com 

Posted at 09:18 am     Top  

Mon - March 2, 2009

Police to target anti-social behaviour in the Bartonhsam Stores area

It has been brought to the attention of the Police that a trend is emerging in the St. James and Bartonsham area regarding anti social behaviour. Reports have been received that youths are drinking alcohol and subsequently causing a nuisance and anti social behaviour including leaving litter behind. The local policing teams that cover the area will be monitoring and targeting the area and will deal robustly with any offenders by operating a zero tolerance policy. They are also monitoring the sale of alcohol to persons underage and we would like to remind the public that it is an offence to purchase alcohol on behalf of youths and anybody caught doing this will be prosecuted.

The local policing teams want to hear of any incidents of underage drinking and anti-social behaviour in a bid to deter offenders away and ‘clamp’ down on offenders before the lighter night’s draw in. Please do not hesitate to get in contact with them on the number below.

Posted at 05:03 pm     Top  

Wed - February 18, 2009

An Evening of Musical Entertainment - Saturday 28 February

Featuring performances from
Bandemonium - Hop Pickers' Feast - Poet Bill Thomas
Doors 6-15pm for 7-15pm start St James' Church, Green Street, Hereford Entry £2.50 (small children 50p). There will be a collection at the door for donations towards The Three Counties £2 Million Appeal for Acorns Children's Hospice and there will be a very short talk about the work of Hospice at the start of the event.
Refreshments inc mulled wine and home made cakes will be available, as well as local jam, preserve and cake stalls. All very welcome. Enquiries tel Pam on 355419
Download a flyer here MusicalEvening.pdf

Posted at 09:04 am     Top  

Mon - February 2, 2009

WHEELED BINS IN ST JAMES - Public Meeting - Wednesday 25 February, 6 to 7.30pm, WRVS

It seems that the first many people in the St James and Bartonsham area knew of the proposed changes in recycling our rubbish, was to read an article in ‘Herefordshire Matters’ entitled ‘Recycling… Not a load of rubbish…’ A public consultation was mentioned in the article as having happened in the summer but certainly not many people seem to have known about this.

Once this news was out, however, many local residents sprang into action and one in particular Glenn Storhaug, has with great passion and aplomb started a campaign to, at least, raise awareness and try to get a public meeting in the St James area to discuss the full range of recycling and collection options. This has spurred many other local people to write to Andy Tector and Nicola Percival, at the Environment and Planning Department at Herefordshire Council.

As Glen said in his letter:
‘Wheeled bins might be the best solution for kerbside recycling and waste collection for many types of housing in Herefordshire. The introduction of bins will, we hope, increase the volume of waste that is recycled (particularly glass) and also improve the working conditions for waste-collection personnel. Unfortunately the wheeled-bin system is entirely inappropriate for the narrow streets and Victorian terraces typical of the St James conservation area and many other similar areas in the city. In these areas there is no provision for the discreet placing of bins in back gardens, driveways etc. so they will inevitably be left standing throughout the week alongside the pavements. This is because (a) the space between house frontage and pavement is usually minimal, (b) there are very few passageways allowing for bins to be wheeled from back to front for collection and (c) the passages behind many terraces, linking the back gardens, are too narrow for the collection of all household bins in the terrace.
 
Because many St James residents do not wish to see their streets permanently cluttered and disfigured by the proposed bins (the 120-litre bins will be hardly less obtrusive than the larger ones) they have opted out of the system --- after discovering, with difficulty, that this is an option. But the continuation of the coloured-bag system for specific opting-out residents can only be a temporary and unsatisfactory solution (a) because so many bags are buried with the waste --- and biodegradable bags are prohibitively expensive apparently, and (b) because of injury to waste-collection personnel from sharp objects and repetitive strain.’

We are now pleased to report that the Environment and Planning Department at Herefordshire Council have been listening to the people, and there will be a consultation meeting on Wednesday 25 February from 6 to 7.30pm at the WRVS, Riverside Learning Centre. It shows how a little dedicated protest can really make a difference!

Posted at 09:20 am     Top  

Sat - January 17, 2009

Folly Arts Lectures

Posted at 05:46 pm     Top  

Sat - November 29, 2008

It's back, it's big, it's beautiful ...

The Friends of Castle Green Christmas Fayre will be on Sunday 7 December 10am – 4.30pm

Another opportunity to sample the delights of local crafts and produce, enabling you to find those special, unique Christmas presents – and meet the artists who create them. Entertainment will be provided by “In the Pink” clarinet quartet, Bandemonium and a local brass ensemble … and to keep you nice and warm our cafe will be offering hot soup and filled rolls, mulled wine and mince pies and other goodies. Come one, come all, bring your friends and have a wonderful day.

Posted at 10:38 pm     Top  

Thu - July 3, 2008

Theatre on the Green - "Much Ado About Nothing" - Friday 29 August

Theatre on the Green
The Friends are proud to announce our first outdoor theatre production will be taking place this summer: “Much Ado About Nothing” (or Sex, Lies and Verbosity!). Shakespeare’s celebration of love, intrigue and smouldering desires will be performed in their usual inimitably entertaining, family friendly way by the multi-talented Oddsocks Theatre Company cast on their Elizabethan passion pageant wagon on Friday 29 August 2008 at 7.30pm on the Castle Green. A small bar providing liquid refreshments will be available on the night. Order of Service:
 A summer evening outdoors
 Strolling Minstrels to warm the guests
 Scenes of serenading, soliloquies and song
 A little light refreshment
 Drama, danger and the denouement
 Finale: A happy congregation.
Tickets can be booked online at www.oddsocks.co.uk; £12.00 (seated), £10.00 (bring your own chair/rug), £8.00 concession. www.friendsofcastlegreen.org.uk

Posted at 08:42 am     Top  

Sat - June 21, 2008

Change Your World - 30 June to 5 July

It’s easier to achieve than you think. Amazingly, if we all drove just one less journey a week we’d reduce car traffic by 10%. Fancy giving it a go? Swap any car trip between 30 June-5 July and walk, cycle or use public transport instead, or don’t make the trip at all.

Take your first step now at www.changeyourworld.org.uk and for your chance to win a Center Parcs family break, a pair of Ridgeback bikes, a National Trust camping break, T-shirts by Howies, Family & Friends railcards and other prizes.

Change Your World is run by Sustrans 
Charity number 326550 (England & Wales) SCO39263 (Scotland)

Posted at 04:05 pm     Top  

Fri - March 28, 2008