South Wye Transport Package

[Colin James]

Herefordshire Council is seeking views on a range of possible active travel improvements (including walking and cycling) in the South Wye area of Hereford.

 

Holme Lacy Road, view towards the Enterprise Zone

 

 

Holme Lacy Road improvements (I am not sure I would agree that these are improvements! More Traffic Lights!!)

 

The South Wye Transport Package (SWTP) comprises the Southern Link Road (SLR) and a complementary package of active travel measures. Planning permission was recently granted for the Southern Link Road and the project delivery continues. The council is now committed to progressing the complementary active travel measures in the South Wye area and will run exhibitions on the following days, at the following venues to set out the proposals and obtain as much feedback as possible:

 

Wednesday 14th September at Three Counties Hotel, Belmont Road, Hereford, HR2 7BP.

Wednesday 21st September at Hereford Business Solutions Centre, Skylon Court, Coldnose Road, Hereford, HR2 6JL.

 Monday 26th September at The Kindle Centre (next to Asda Supermarket), Belmont Road, Hereford, HR2 7JE.

All sessions will run between 10am and 8pm. Council and BBLP staff will be available to explain the proposals and answer questions. Following these exhibitions there will be an information display at Tesco Superstore, Abbotsmead Road, Belmont, from the 29 September until 12 October. The information will then be displayed at Hereford Leisure Pool, St Martins Avenue, Hereford, from the 19 October until the consultation closes on Tuesday 25 October 2016.

 

Councillor Philip Price, cabinet member infrastructure said:

 

“The proposals for the South Wye area complement the construction of the Southern Link Road which is also the first phase of the Hereford Bypass.

 

We are committed to improving cycling and walking infrastructure in the area, making it easier for children to walk to their local school, reduce traffic, improve air quality and health for everyone.

 

The proposal will also improve access to the Hereford Enterprise Zone, making life easier for those who choose to walk or cycle to work at the zone.

 

The problems in the South Wye area have mainly been caused by the level of congestion along the A465 and the A49. This has resulted in poor levels of air quality and noise and has resulted in large numbers of short distance trips being made by car. The proposed improvements will help to counter this.”

 

The consultation will be available for completion on line from 14 September until the 25 October HERE   

[Colin James]

As for the tree boulevard, I have no words! This is a joke! Besides, they cannot maintain the overgrown tree's along the A465 as it is!

 

 

 

I would much prefer the option of a bus/cycle lane like the illustration below

 

[ragwert]

Seriously who the F**k drempt up this idea?

I'll tell you who.People who don't live anywhere near Hereford who are paid stupid amounts of money to come up with stupid ideas.


 

[ragwert]

You know whats even funnier than seeing a few cyclists in that pic on the paths.............Seeing people walking on them

[Victor Wright]

You know whats even funnier than seeing a few cyclists in that pic on the paths.............Seeing people walking on them

 

Cycling on a footpath is illegal yes? 

 

The stupid tree boulevard along belmont road os a Cllr. Phil Edwards notion by all accounts, why use this space for tree's when it could be used for traffic and help reduce the constant congestion. I also prefer the bus lane idea over the bizarre tree idea

[twowheelsgood]

Cycling on a footpath is illegal yes? 

 

The stupid tree boulevard along belmont road os a Cllr. Phil Edwards notion by all accounts, why use this space for tree's when it could be used for traffic and help reduce the constant congestion. I also prefer the bus lane idea over the bizarre tree idea

 

Those illustrations are of a shared space for both pedestrians and cyclists, so, no, it won't be illegal. It's the same as the Greenway, Bishops Meadow, Asda riverside, Lines etc.

[herefordman75]

What are they drinking in their coffee at the council? How are traffic lights supposed to help under the railway bridge on HLR? They won't stop people using HLR to get to Rotherwas unless they make it one way or block it off halfway down. As for Belmont road, well, I can appreciate the bus lane idea, don't think the homes and businesses along there will be too happy losing there frontages/front gardens/parking spaces, where are all the residents supposed to park their cars?

 

If they want some cloud cuckoo land ideas dreaming up on how to create bottle necks and generally cause even more chaos, then I am sure I could do a similar job for at least half the money they are paying the current morons that are handling the crayons.

[Glenda Powell]

As Victor said the tree boulevard and loss of front gardens is Cllr Edwards idea. this is not going to work, and with the trees they have removed the section of Belmont road to get in the correct lane to turn into Walnut Tree Ave. The man needs to engage his brain before coming up with these ideas all to enhance his ego.!

[Colin James]

Cabinet today, Thursday 20 October has approved the next key step in the delivery of the South Wye Transport Package which will see the construction of the Southern Link Road.  This will deliver the first phase of the Hereford Bypass.

Planning permission for the Southern Link Road was granted in June 2016 for the scheme and cabinet has today approved taking steps to acquire land for the road. The land required for the road is primarily agricultural land and the council seeks to purchase land by agreement. If the council is unable to purchase the land by agreement, it will consider seeking powers to compulsorily purchase the land in due course.

The Southern Link Road will run from the A49 Ross Road/Rotherwas Access Road roundabout to the A465 and the B4349 Clehonger Road. The delivery of the road will be complemented by a package of active travel measures in the South Wye area, including proposed bus lanes, improved cycle ways and easier pedestrian access.

 

Councillor Price, cabinet member infrastructure said:

“We’re another step closer to the construction of the Southern Link, which is the first phase of the Hereford Bypass.

We’re keen to ensure speedy and efficient negotiation with landowners to avoid any delay to the construction phase. We are committed to delivery of this vital piece of infrastructure and if we can purchase the land by negotiation we will look to construct the road from January 2018.

The road’s construction will allow us to implement new and much needed walking and cycling measures in South Wye.  These measures cannot be delivered as a stand-alone project and must be complemented by the Southern Link Road’s construction. We are currently in the process of consulting on walking and cycling measures, which will help to inform what we take forward. The consultation is still open Tuesday 25 October.”

 

The South Wye – Active Travel Consultation can be completed online at www.herefordshire.gov.uk/south-wye-transport-package

[Denise Lloyd]

However as per Here for Hereford (who do not normally miss a trick) the SLR has to be on the basis that it is a stand alone project and NOT part of the bypass - read on

 

 

 

"The Southern Link Road Cannot be Assessed as Part of the Hereford Bypass

Posted on October 19, 2016 by Liz

Funding for the South Wye Transport Package has always been on the basis that the road from the A49 to the A465 and continuing to the B4349 Clehonger Road, is a stand -alone project. This was made very clear by the Department for Transport in their meeting with Herefordshire Council on 13th October 2015 (see full meeting minutes here )

Herefordshire Council confirms that work on the Business Case for the scheme is based on this stand-alone assumption.

Since Herefordshire Council granted itself planning permission for the Southern Link Road, Councillor Philip Price, Cabinet member for overseeing delivery of this transport package has repeatedly stated that this road is the “first stage of the Hereford Bypassâ€. This contradicts the Department for Transport who retain oversight of the project and will not approve the final business case for the whole package of transport measures in South Wye until final cost estimates have been prepared.

It will be interesting to hear how the Southern Link Road is referred to at the Cabinet meeting 2pm tomorrow when Herefordshire Council seek to approve the use in principle of Compulsory Purchase Orders for land and properties affected by this “Road to Nowhereâ€. The meeting will also approve a further report to be prepared to “consider the business case for the purchase of properties outside of any proposed CPO boundary†so even those with homes and land not directly affected by this road scheme could subsequently face a CPO if the Council feel they have a business case."

[Maggie May]

Thanks for this Denise and for the link which makes very interesting reading. The link to the minutes of a meeting with the Dept for Transport is very different from what the Council have been telling local people. I see that in the link it says that the Council have to complete their FBC (I think this is a full business case) by October 2016 as approval has to be before Christmas 2016. The FBC needs to be signed off by a S151 officer - so will the interim S151 officer be available to sign this off in the absence of anyone permanent in the post. I heard that the Council have got to find £8million to fund this project - where is that coming from?