Glenda Powell Posted January 27, 2015 Report Posted January 27, 2015 Yes I will be attending around 2-2.30pm and stop for a couple of hours because if it is Thursday as I was told I also have another meeting in the late afternoon in regards to all candidates for the local elections, then I am off to the Courtyard to the Frankie Valli show.
megilleland Posted January 28, 2015 Author Report Posted January 28, 2015 This is a pre-consultation (PR) of a sort before a planning application is submitted after which the public will be able to object and comment on the submitted application. Seems they want to get some idea of the likely response to their scheme, but I think the council's position is similar to the fire station consultation, in that they hope no-one will turn up. It will be a bit late alerting people through the Hereford Times which is published on the day or a day before depending on confirmation of the exhibition date.
Glenda Powell Posted January 28, 2015 Report Posted January 28, 2015 Having checked this morning with the officer and HT the meeting is on Thursday 29th January. Glenda
greenknight Posted January 29, 2015 Report Posted January 29, 2015 Well I went to this public pre-consultation meeting today.They took my name but that's it so I can't see what's stopping the Consultants telling the HC that everything is a goer for planning submission. Phrases heard included: 1. Why was there so little notice of this event? 2. What is the purpose of this road and who will benefit? 3. Why can't a second river crossing be included in the package? 4. How much in filling is determined as a result of this meaningless road? To be honest these guys could not really provide answers and unless I missed them there was no council representation. Not one visitor to this event that I spoke to saw any benefits to this project only money wasted. The southerly point to this road comes out on a roundabout on the A465 just to the west of the turning where traffic joins from Clehonger. Nice pictures and drawings though!!
dippyhippy Posted January 29, 2015 Report Posted January 29, 2015 Some excellent feedback you have given us there, Green Knight. It will indeed be interesting to see how the results are spun from this "consultation." If those there running this cannot provide the answers, the question has to be asked, why were they there??Surely they are supposed to be able to provide the information, at an event they are organising? I take it there was no mention of alternatives to the route which has been proposed - ie. An Eastern road, with second river crossing? Until there are clear costings for both, I fail to see how they can continue to insist that this is the best way forward. We need to be able look at the whole picture, not just a skewed snapshot.
greenknight Posted January 29, 2015 Report Posted January 29, 2015 I know Glenda said she would attend however I thought HC would field someone in support of event so to speak. Don't laugh but it was kind of suggested that this road might not even figure in the grand scheme of things perhaps just a relief road for the people of Belmont!!!
Denise Lloyd Posted January 29, 2015 Report Posted January 29, 2015 This was merely a box ticking exercise so that they can now motor on and submit the PA which is already done and dusted anyway - whatever the public think and say
megilleland Posted January 30, 2015 Author Report Posted January 30, 2015 After visiting the SLR preferred route exhibition, I can confirm that there is definitely no link between this route and availability of housing land south of River Wye. The road is purely a transport solution to moving traffic from Belmont Road and sending it up Ross Road to the Belmont roundabout where it will cross the river as normal and also send it onto to the Rotherwas Enterprise Zone where it will come to a standstill. All for £25 million pounds - it doesn't make sense. I was given this information from the council staff and consultants who were in attendance. Do I believe this?
greenknight Posted January 30, 2015 Report Posted January 30, 2015 Well that's the same kind of message I got but as mentioned before I only saw planning consultant badges..£25 million quid ...just incredible.
dippyhippy Posted January 30, 2015 Report Posted January 30, 2015 £25 MILLION POUNDS! And it's not even going to begin to tackle the real traffic issues that Herefordshire faces. This is madness. Pure and simple.
Denise Lloyd Posted January 31, 2015 Report Posted January 31, 2015 £25 million I would say this will scratch the surface of the cost. I have read somewhere that the cost of some of it (or is it the bypass) will be met by the house developers they are hoping to attract to the area between the new road and where the exisitng houses stop. House building definetely is on top of the agenda on this one.
Glenda Powell Posted January 31, 2015 Report Posted January 31, 2015 I went at 3pm and stayed to 5.30pm, I told the consultants that I could no longer support the scheme without a river crossing at Belmont and an Eastern route from Rotherwas, without these it would just be another road to nowhere between A465 and A49. This won't get rid of the traffic build up on Belmont road. For those of you supporting this there was two councillors while I was there who was singing its praises much to the annoyance of some people living in Belmont, one of which called one of the councillor a P..T. I ask the consultants how many people had attending between 12 noon and 3pm when I arrived because it was empty when I got there they told me around 60 people.
greenknight Posted January 31, 2015 Report Posted January 31, 2015 Thats not a lot of people Glenda but not a surprise based on the notice given. Sadly I was in and out before 3pm. The council has probably spent a fortune already on these consultants. Unless they commit to a bridge with this road project it's not going to happen and there's a battle coming. I felt that there was an elephant in the room but not a huge bloodied 'white one' which this is going to be if it goes ahead. The arrogance of this council is incredible....pushing, no bullying through a nonsense project at taxpayers expense prior to an election!! Are they going to get bloodied ..You betcha and I wait with baited breathe to see which parliamentary candidate puts his/her name to this.
Ubique Posted January 31, 2015 Report Posted January 31, 2015 I known not a lot about planning applications - do we , plus all our contacts object to the planning application thereby making the decision to build this road to nowhere harder - will it then go to a Public Enquiry or will the decision be made by one Cllr ?
greenknight Posted January 31, 2015 Report Posted January 31, 2015 I've always found this County a very easy one to navigate after all view it as a clock with Hereford slap bang in the middle surely it's not difficult with Ross at six o'clock,Leominster at 12, Ledbury & Kington supporting @ 3 and 9. HEREFORD is truly the heart of this County and the pressure is on so we do need a bypass and most people on this forum accept this because if we don't the old girl will have a heart attack which will stifle out any kind of city recovery. I read an article in Hereford Times this week from a Hampton Park resident who clearly feels that this is not required because after all any HGV,s coming along the A40 from Wales can divert via the A449 Ross to Ledbury then back down the A417 via Trumpet,Burley Gate and the bottom of Dinmore Hill taking a right on the A49 and continuing their journey. This apparently is not much of a diversion! Now this is someone that does not use our roads very often but it does highlight possible hurdles that need to be jumped in order to get momentum behind a campaign for a bypass that runs around the East of the city.
greenknight Posted February 2, 2015 Report Posted February 2, 2015 Well for a couple of hours this morning we had almost gridlock because of the accident near Hintons garage on the A49 and it did not matter which side of town you were on or which road you were using. We will need to be prepared for more of this because said proposed road would not have helped.
megilleland Posted February 4, 2015 Author Report Posted February 4, 2015 Daily Mail, 4 February 2015 Residents to be given power to design roads: Locals could have say over size and materials in plans that mean building will be more in harmony with surroundings * Roads minister John Hayes is set to make announcement on roads today * Expected to call for homeowners to be given power to help design roads * He will draw on Prince Charles's work on housing as inspiration for plans * Wants roads to look more 'beautiful' rather than 'brutal, crass and ugly' * Government is looking to build £15billion of new roads by the year 2020 Homeowners will be given the power to help design the roads around where they live, ministers will announce today. John Hayes, the roads minister, is expected to say he wants to return to the approach of the Georgians and Victorians to make the roads look more ‘beautiful’ rather than ‘brutal, crass and ugly’. That would mean building them more in harmony with their surroundings. Materials, size and pavements and other aspects of design could be considered locally under the proposals. Speaking in London, Mr Hayes will draw on the Prince of Wales’s work on housing as inspiration for government plans to build £15billion of new roads by 2020. He envisages ‘a future where Britain is criss-crossed by award-winning roads. Where people reminisce about how bad it was before the work was done’. In a bid to build roads ‘in harmony’ with the countryside, he is to appoint a design council, including campaign groups, to ‘enhance the beauty of the countryside’ while involving local communities in planning. In 1994, Prince Charles began developing Poundbury, an eco-village in Dorset, inspired by his ideas about architecture and planning. Its roads are designed to be pedestrian-friendly, and in keeping with their surroundings. The Prince, who is known for holding strong views challenging the post-war trends in town planning, designed the village with his American architectural guru Andres Duany. The eco-village – which is now home to 5,000 residents – was built so the houses, streets, squares and lanes reflect the surrounding landscape and architecture. Does he mean we can decide where to put the pot holes. No matter how beautiful you build roads, once you put traffic on it, it will be 'brutal, crass and ugly' You are just building to create demand for more car production. I thought the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership were going to tell us where they would be building new roads - any locals on their board other than businessmen?
megilleland Posted February 4, 2015 Author Report Posted February 4, 2015 Daily Mail, 4 February 2015 Residents to be given power to design roads: Locals could have say over size and materials in plans that mean building will be more in harmony with surroundings * Roads minister John Hayes is set to make announcement on roads today * Expected to call for homeowners to be given power to help design roads * He will draw on Prince Charles's work on housing as inspiration for plans * Wants roads to look more 'beautiful' rather than 'brutal, crass and ugly' * Government is looking to build £15billion of new roads by the year 2020 Homeowners will be given the power to help design the roads around where they live, ministers will announce today. John Hayes, the roads minister, is expected to say he wants to return to the approach of the Georgians and Victorians to make the roads look more ‘beautiful’ rather than ‘brutal, crass and ugly’. That would mean building them more in harmony with their surroundings. Materials, size and pavements and other aspects of design could be considered locally under the proposals. Speaking in London, Mr Hayes will draw on the Prince of Wales’s work on housing as inspiration for government plans to build £15billion of new roads by 2020. He envisages ‘a future where Britain is criss-crossed by award-winning roads. Where people reminisce about how bad it was before the work was done’. In a bid to build roads ‘in harmony’ with the countryside, he is to appoint a design council, including campaign groups, to ‘enhance the beauty of the countryside’ while involving local communities in planning. In 1994, Prince Charles began developing Poundbury, an eco-village in Dorset, inspired by his ideas about architecture and planning. Its roads are designed to be pedestrian-friendly, and in keeping with their surroundings. The Prince, who is known for holding strong views challenging the post-war trends in town planning, designed the village with his American architectural guru Andres Duany. The eco-village – which is now home to 5,000 residents – was built so the houses, streets, squares and lanes reflect the surrounding landscape and architecture. Does he mean we can decide where to put the pot holes. No matter how beautiful you build roads, once you put traffic on it, it will be 'brutal, crass and ugly' You are just building to create demand for more car production. I thought the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership were going to tell us where they would be building new roads - any locals on their board other than businessmen?
Maggie May Posted February 4, 2015 Report Posted February 4, 2015 I thought the Southern Link Road was supposed to be supported by a package of sustainable transport measures. I couldn't make the "Public" meeting as it was so short notice. Many people I know cycle to Rotherwas most days I am interested in how this might be made a bit safer but the Council website just shows plans of a road and none of the cycle routes/bus routes, etc I was hoping to see. Can anyone help?
jeanharris Posted April 12, 2015 Report Posted April 12, 2015 What a load of D...k Heads we have on this council( or maybe not more like mushroom management....). When the Ward councillor for Stoney Street and the Chair of the PC suggest building a link road from the A465 to the B4349 as the junction at the B4349 joining the A465 would be dangerous for lorries turning right and accessing the proposed new roundabout on the A465 leading to . How ridiculous is that. To spend all of our money on building this road, CPO on land and property owners, destruction of 3 ancient oak trees 500+ years old, when Infact all they need to do is improve the junction, maybe a roundabout. If it gets that far the roundabout will have to be modified again to include another road for a river crossing.No wonder HC is strapped for cash.
dippyhippy Posted April 12, 2015 Report Posted April 12, 2015 I'm glad you found the thread, Jean. It makes for a very useful read doesn't it?
jeanharris Posted April 12, 2015 Report Posted April 12, 2015 Hi Dippyhippy, It does indeed. I cannot believe how many people are totally opposed to this SLR. Let's hope a more balanced council will put it right once and for all. The Council are absolutely bluffing their way around this and are making so many mistakes in the bargain. PB are a bunch of very inexperienced consultants. They even claimed that part of my land belonged to the farmer. I had to prove this with title deeds and land registery maps. They use out of date OS maps to select a suitable route and then look into how it effects land owners and necessary acquisition. Sounds backwards to me - again wasting tax payers money. I could go on for ever on this subject as I am personally affected by it BIG TIME!!!!
dippyhippy Posted April 12, 2015 Report Posted April 12, 2015 Well there's plenty of opposition to it on here, Jean..... and some very good alternative proposals!
Maggie May Posted April 12, 2015 Report Posted April 12, 2015 Was I the only person this week who noticed that with schools off the roads at peak time were deserted? Someone told me a while ago that over 50% of traffic in Hereford is school traffic. For the £20million+ that Herefordshire Council are looking to spend on the Southern Link Road could they not spend it on Safer Routes to School so everyone in Hereford could benefit. This is a Sustrans project and aims to get more children (and parents) active and out of cars http://www.sustrans.org.uk/sites/default/files/documents/srs_safe_routes_fs01.pdf and benefits everyone's health. Surely this would give better value for money for all the Herefordshire taxpayers than what seems to me a pointless road that doesn't help anyone in Hereford?
dippyhippy Posted April 12, 2015 Report Posted April 12, 2015 Certainly think that some of the city schools could look at the "Walking Bus" options. It has been tried previously at one or two primary schools, but I'm pretty sure they aren't doing it anymore. Basically, it's an escorted walk to school..... picking up children from several points along the way. It does work well in other countries..... notably Australia.... where the weather is a little kinder! With a little planning, and parents and schools prepared to work together, this could work well for quite a few urban primaries.
jeanharris Posted April 14, 2015 Report Posted April 14, 2015 Discovered today that the plans for SLR are being submitted this month before the election. Plans will go before the planning committee in June. Don't miss your chance to object to this ridiculous road with no purpose at all. Ok if you want to go to Rotherwas or sit in the traffic on A49. How is it democratic when 7 councillors (cabinet) can make a decision on a route. Scrap the cabinet I say!!!
Amanda Martin Posted April 14, 2015 Report Posted April 14, 2015 This has to be stopped at all costs. This is the kind of thoughtless indiscriminate development that is destroying the character of the county, ramping up traffic problems, threatening the local economy and destroying quality by putting people into mean, soul sapping housing estates that repel the kind of people we need to revitalise Hereford with culture and investment. By all means, let's develop but not like this. We've been on this trajectory for four decades and the results are all around us. If we want to see the consequences of this stale, crass "jobs 'n growth" agenda , we only have to look as far as Newport: a failing, degraded city now populated mainly by people without the means to escape.
Amanda Martin Posted April 14, 2015 Report Posted April 14, 2015 I thought the Southern Link Road was supposed to be supported by a package of sustainable transport measures. I couldn't make the "Public" meeting as it was so short notice. Many people I know cycle to Rotherwas most days I am interested in how this might be made a bit safer but the Council website just shows plans of a road and none of the cycle routes/bus routes, etc I was hoping to see. Can anyone help? There's a lot of greenwash about, Maggie, mostly peddled (no pun intended) by narrow blokes in suits who haven't been on a bike since 1962.
Cloudberry Posted April 14, 2015 Report Posted April 14, 2015 So while everyone is busy concentrating on other things like elections, this major Hereford-changing plan is being pushed forward? As others have said, this road could not be cost-effective, as all it does is to improve a little on the existing rat-run between the Abergavenny and Ross roads. And it would inevitably open up lots of new land for housing development, as part of all the "developer-led urban extensions" that have been mentioned in passing, plans to expand the boundaries and make Hereford city much bigger. Without support for cycling, etc., that means lots more people in lots more cars, all wanting to travel predominantly IN AND OUT of central Hereford for shops, work, hospital, cinema, etc. Surely all major plans like this should be put on hold until a new administration is in place? And don't forget, Jean has discovered she would lose her garden and trees, and presumably some other people who own land in the way of the route will be badly affected too.
dippyhippy Posted April 14, 2015 Report Posted April 14, 2015 Which is why this needs to be kept on everybody's radar. Hopefully, come May 7th......along with welcoming in IOC, we can welcome in some common sense!
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