Hereford Transport Package consultation begins

Herefordshire Council is asking the public to comment on their transport proposals which may include cycle ways and bus lanes along the A49 through the city.

The consultation, which was launched today, focuses on walking, cycling, bus routes and improvements to the public realm in Hereford.

The council is floating the possibility of introducing bus and cycle lanes along the A49 through the city and replacing the subway at the Eign Street and Victoria Street junction with traffic lights and a pedestrian crossing.

Other potential improvements include replacing the footbridge over the railway line along Burcott Road to make it better for cyclists and creating a cycle way across the fields between Greenway Bridge and Green Street and improving the Yazor Brook footpath.

Infrastructure cabinet member Philip Price said he hoped there would be a lot of public participation.

“These are the proposals we are putting out there and we want to hear from local residents what their views are on them,” he said.

“We would then take on board those comments in developing the final transport package.”

He said many of the improvements such as those to introduce bus lanes and cycle ways along the A49 would only be possible once the bypass was finished as this would take traffic pressure away from the centre.

“Our main priority is to create the best environment for Hereford so that people can live, work and study in our beautiful city,” he said.

Proposals set out in the Hereford Transport Package include the Hereford bypass and associated improvements to walking, cycling, bus and public spaces, which the council says are designed to make it easier to move about the city and give people more choice about how they travel.

During a public consultation in February and March last year, 87% of people who responded said they approved of the walking, cycling, bus and public space improvements proposed.

Residents can now comment on the proposals during the six-week consultation which was launched today and running until March 11.

To view and complete the consultation online - head to the Herefordshire Council website.

The consultation is asking people for their views on a series of proposed walking and cycling route improvements, including new cycle lanes, changes to junctions and crossings and new footways.

It also aims to learn more about what would encourage people to walk, cycle or take a bus more often for short distance journeys.

The proposals will be on public display, from January 29 to 31, 11am-8pm at the Left Bank, when there will be an opportunity to speak with the project team and ask questions.

The proposals will also be available at a manned display, between February 4 and 7 from 10am to 6pm at the Old Market kiosk, Hereford.

The exhibition will then be on public view at Hereford Library, Tuesday 12 February – Saturday 9 March 2019 during library opening hours.

Work is currently underway to develop detailed proposals for the Hereford bypass. More information will be available later in 2019, when there will be a statutory public consultation.