James Thomas

News editor and journalist | Ex-Local Democracy Reporter Manager, current chief reporter | @HerefordFC fan | Keen but bang average swimmer

[James Thomas @JamesThomasHere]

I may have missed covering town council meetings, I won't lie...

[Hereford Times @herefordtimes]

Fears over town centre's future and traffic if new Lidl opens https://t.co/JoQBEXvBKu

[Hereford Times @herefordtimes]

It's not Tuscany! Beautiful church that doesn't belong in Herefordshire https://t.co/kunRFnnfx1

[Hereford Times @herefordtimes]

Tyrrells axing jobs at Leominster factory as sales stop https://t.co/gdNWLEQAjx

[James Thomas @JamesThomasHere]

I ditched the Meadow End for the commentary box on Saturday and every Hereford player had a solid game, the individual errors have largely dried up and they have more belief in themselves

The turnaround under Downes is incredible - ending Shields' 16-game unbeaten run shows that

[Carson Wishart @CarsonWishart]

Just before kick-off on Saturday, I said on ⁦@bbchwsport⁩ this would be the “litmus test” on just how good this new-look ⁦@HerefordFC⁩ side is under Aaron Downes….👀 https://t.co/kzSX8g1Slu

[James Thomas @JamesThomasHere]

This video has rightly blown up, see a tenacious LDR interview the terribly uncomfortable Doncaster Reform UK leader.

This really does prove the value of the LDRS, holding local government to account and challenging lies and misinformation. The public has right to know.

[Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno]

WATCH: Reform UK Doncaster leader Cllr Craig Ward says “it is what it is” when challenged on a lie in his party’s budget amendment today

Reform claimed residents faced maximum council tax hikes for the last 3yrs, but this was only the case in 2024

Watch the full interview here

[James Thomas @JamesThomasHere]

A few more thoughts here:
https://t.co/DluAh27f9L

[James Thomas @JamesThomasHere]

More thoughts on the LDRS conference to follow, but this is NOT what I wanted to see when I haven’t yet got on a train back to the Shire.

This is going to be a long afternoon.

[Trafnidiaeth Cymru Trenau Transport for Wales Rail @tfwrail]

⚠️ NEW: Due to heavy rain flooding the railway between Hereford and Newport South Wales the line is closed.

Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised.

Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

ℹ️https://t.co/cDZlJCvAm5

[James Thomas @JamesThomasHere]

I'm hiring! Fancy being one of the 165 local democracy reporters in the UK?

Here at National World, we've got a role going in South Yorkshire. It's a great patch with the mayoral combined authority, as well as Sheffield, Barnsley and Rotherham councils.

https://t.co/qjk1FgQjMr

[Sam Dimmer @samdimmer]

I mean, god knows why Reform in Nottinghamshire would want to avoid scrutiny. It truly is a mystery

[James Thomas @JamesThomasHere]

I think it's petty when football clubs ban journalists, but councils really can't be next.

I'm sure NottsLive will find a way through this. Journalists are here to ask difficult questions on everyone's behalf and councils can't just stop that when it doesn't suit.

[James Thomas @JamesThomasHere]

Nothing says “we champion free speech” like banning a local paper, especially when the BBC-funded LDRS exists to hold power to account. Don't we deserve to know our council tax is spent properly and what decisions really mean?

With power comes scrutiny, and that's a good thing.

[Natalie Fahy @nat_fahy]

Nottinghamshire Live and the LDRS have been banned from engaging with the Reform councillors at @NottsCC.

No press releases, no interviews, off the invitation list for everything.

All over a slightly negative article.

Do you even know what free speech is, Mick Barton? How ironic the party which champions free speech throws their toys out of the pram at the earliest opportunity.
https://t.co/4QTpBNnQuN

[James Thomas @JamesThomasHere]

So the council filled a few potholes last week - great, right?

Except yesterday they started resurfacing the same stretch of road, and I’m 99 per cent sure they'll be going over last week's good work.

I don't work locally anymore so didn't get a picture but really wish I had...

[James Thomas @JamesThomasHere]

There must be a better way to spend your Saturday other than watching your club trounced by a ruthless and unrelenting Chorley.

After a truly woeful first 25 minutes, it got *slightly* better with a formation change at 3-0 down but the damage was done by then.

I sense change...

[Bulls News @BullsNewsBlog]

Caddis admits everything was absolutely pathetic as Chorley cruise to 4-1 win https://t.co/MQ4o7HieGA

[John Wimperis 📰 @john_wimperis]

Sometimes you've got to #buyapaper of somewhere you're only passing through to change trains because their front page story is just that good

Fair play @swindonadver

[James Thomas @JamesThomasHere]

Where am I going to park for football now?🫠

It's all very well and good saying Merton Meadow car park averages 38pc occupancy, but what about a Saturday afternoon with 3,000 Hereford fans at Edgar Street?
Not to mention other council car parks cost £1.80 more for three hours...

[Bulls News @BullsNewsBlog]

Verdict in on Merton Meadow wetland – parking fears and impact on Hereford FC raised https://t.co/mt7TxDk6P3

[James Thomas @JamesThomasHere]

This one's hitting the spot on @LondonWorldCom today, and I quite like it too - it's not all doom and gloom out there and it proves just how important the arts are.

See the moment mental but brilliant flashmob stuns Londoners

✍@H_Galliven1
👉https://t.co/FankEGToFp

[James Thomas @JamesThomasHere]

Examples here of great pictures, real people's stories and just the daily grind of local democracy reporting.

Have I ever mentioned I'm quite a fan of this LDRS malarkey?

[James Thomas @JamesThomasHere]

Council coverage needn't be dull or unengaging, as some of last week's most-read stories from National World LDRs prove.

First up:
Woman who built fence to stop garden being used as toilet wins two-year fight

✍@LdrStuart
👉https://t.co/NWglEkTnDy

[James Thomas @JamesThomasHere]

And last, but not least, let's combine planning and development with another much-loved topic - pubs!

Former popular Sheffield pub could be turned into 16-bed HMO

✍Roland Sebestyen
👉https://t.co/5vQLgId8yR