Feedback sought on new measures for cyclists and pedestrians in historic street.

[Hereford Voice]

Consultation to focus on Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) in St Owen's Street

Herefordshire Council is encouraging local people to take part in a consultation around the details of improved measures for cyclists and pedestrians in St Owen's Street, Hereford.

An earlier consultation on whether to introduce the contraflow proved that there is strong support for the proposed scheme. This consultation does not revisit that question but is a necessary next stage in the process where Herefordshire Council is legally required to consult on elements of the scheme.

The St Owen's Street cycle contraflow scheme will create a safer cycle route from the east of the city, promoting sustainable and active travel, while at the same time improving safety for pedestrians and motorists.

The scheme is part of ongoing improvements in Hereford city centre to create a more attractive environment for residents, visitors, shoppers, workers and local businesses, encouraging people into the city and ensuring they have a great experience when they are there.

As part of the work to introduce the scheme, Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) are required, which in turn requires a statutory consultation. The changes to the TRO cover the permitting of cyclists to travel in both directions on the one-way street, adjustments to parking, loading and bus stop layouts to incorporate the physical features of the scheme, and the introduction of areas of raised carriageway on St Owen's St.

Cllr John Harrington, cabinet member infrastructure and transport said: “In these difficult times it is more important than ever to support businesses with measures that will promote the economic success of the city. The proposed improvements in St Owen's Street will hopefully be a boost to our measures to allow people to use alternatives to the car to travel into and through the City. Contraflows can decrease journey times for cyclists compared to those travelling by car by providing more direct, safer, travel routes, and can also reduce inappropriate cycling on the pavement.

“We are asking for the views of local people around the specific details of the Traffic Regulation Orders, which are vital components of the street layout that will allow us to implement the scheme in the most effective way.”

The consultation starts on 19 May 2022, and runs to 16 June 2022.

People can find full details and take part in the consultation via the Herefordshire Council website.

Alternatively, if you are unable to complete the online form, you can post a written response to: BBLP St Owen's St Consultation, Balfour Beatty Living Places, Unit 3 Thorn Business Park, Rotherwas Industrial Estate, Hereford, HR2 6JT.

Responses to this consultation must be received on or before 16 June 2022.

If you require any further information on this scheme, please contact by email: StOwensSt@balfourbeatty.com.

[twowheelsgood]

That image is misleading (from the previous consultation, one of so many) - the scheme has been changed (again) and the cycle lane now runs between the footpath and the parked cars and will sport green macadam.

[ragwert]

On 20/05/2022 at 19:04, twowheelsgood said:

That image is misleading (from the previous consultation, one of so many) - the scheme has been changed (again) and the cycle lane now runs between the footpath and the parked cars and will sport green macadam.

Yes, and a few signs to the tune of over £700,000 for just over 100 yds of road to cycle on because once they get to St Peters Sq they will have to dismount between the hours of 10.30 & 4pm.(Not that any of them do).
Unless a cycle lane is continuous to a cyclists destination most of them simply don't get used.0

[twowheelsgood]

Work is starting at the end of the month, despite detailed concerns by 33 objectors, including the ward councillor. The section between Cantilupe St and Bath St is to have vertical posts included with the lane demarcation features and the spacing of these be reduced to ensure vehicles cannot enter the contraflow cycle lane. I am reliably informed that costs have already further risen to £1m. Politically and economically, the timing could not be worse, but still the Cabinet Member ploughs on (despite saying, only a little while ago, that he was uneasy at the then cost of £300k). 

[Aylestone Voice]

Just as bad as the above in my opinion are the useless two crossing points in St Owens Street. Who on earth is going to go out of their way to use them rather than just crossing the road where they want to.

But as TWG says the Council just carry on with just bland dismissals of the objections raised in the consultation.

 

[M. Preece]

Personally, the improvements I believe will be good especially encouraging cycling 

[twowheelsgood]

Another from the 'you just can't make it up' department of Herefordshire Council - local St James residents have had a letter from BBLP, advising that "we are currently carrying out remedial works following a quality review of the initial works undertaken as part of the cycle contraflow scheme". St Owens Street will once agin be closed for night works from 27 March. Perhaps if the work was done in daylight, it might just be to a better standard? It couldn't be any worse - with over 40 years experience in construction, this £1.2m scheme is some of the worst work I've ever seen. Let's not forget this was a scheme costed at £254k, that somehow ended costing nearly 500% more, yet less than 3 months after completion it's being dug up again. The Council's response to complaints is to the effect they can't do anyhting about it, BBLP are autonomous. No one elected them. The current administration came to power on the promise of a fundamental review of BBLP, but, like the traffic lights promise, nothing has happened.

As the great John Lydon once said “Ever get the feeling you've been cheated?”

[Aylestone Voice]

Beggars belief!

Harrington is spending £1m+ in Widemarsh Street to get rid of low kerbs (imo not at all necessary) but this rubbish in St Owens Street has created almost identical low kerbs (although not of such a quality material) and he has no intention of fixing it. 

Hopefully May will bring change - but I am not holding my breath!

[twowheelsgood]

For the first time ever, I am considering not voting. I had high hopes of this administration, I naively perhaps thought they might change Hereford for the better, but it's been quite the opposite in an accelerated manner. It's not only the failing infrastructure and wasted money, but people's lives affected by woeful failures of social services.

[twowheelsgood]

Part 2 of the ongoing 'you just can't make it up' saga of this debacle - following on from the March remedial works (which didn't seem to achieve much, save for making things worse, including leaving open trenches in the cyclepath), local St James residents have had another letter from BBLP, advising that they will 'be delivering the remaining remedial works required for the scheme'. Works will commence on Tuesday 6 June and will take approximately NINE WEEKS to complete (the original contract was 16 weeks) - that's some sort of remedial list. They claim it will be at 'no additional cost to Herefordshire Council or the taxpayer' but I cannot believe that.

This was a complete failure on Harrington's watch - people with huge experience of cycling infra (certainly not BBLP) advised him it would fail but he would not listen and he paid the price. However, we are left with something that wasn't asked for, was changed from the agreed scheme with stakeholders and does not work, even when or if it's built properly. There have been numerous very close misses and several collisions at the Cantilupe Street junction, albeit that's down to poor driving, but it should have been designed out and should never have got through the safety audit. It's cost an obscene amount of our money and stands as a folly to those who put political aspirations before common sense.

 

[twowheelsgood]

Nearly 3 weeks the cycle path has been closed off and high double screened fencing erected to hide the remedial works ... or perhaps not. I popped my camera above the screens to record, well, not a lot of work done really, but then, this is BBLP direct labour. What a debacle this whole thing has been.

[ragwert]

On 30/05/2023 at 14:22, twowheelsgood said:

Part 2 of the ongoing 'you just can't make it up' saga of this debacle - following on from the March remedial works (which didn't seem to achieve much, save for making things worse, including leaving open trenches in the cyclepath), local St James residents have had another letter from BBLP, advising that they will 'be delivering the remaining remedial works required for the scheme'. Works will commence on Tuesday 6 June and will take approximately NINE WEEKS to complete (the original contract was 16 weeks) - that's some sort of remedial list. They claim it will be at 'no additional cost to Herefordshire Council or the taxpayer' but I cannot believe that.

This was a complete failure on Harrington's watch - people with huge experience of cycling infra (certainly not BBLP) advised him it would fail but he would not listen and he paid the price. However, we are left with something that wasn't asked for, was changed from the agreed scheme with stakeholders and does not work, even when or if it's built properly. There have been numerous very close misses and several collisions at the Cantilupe Street junction, albeit that's down to poor driving, but it should have been designed out and should never have got through the safety audit. It's cost an obscene amount of our money and stands as a folly to those who put political aspirations before common sense.

 

I have been watching these clowns daily . 90% of the time nothing is being done and the workforce can be seen in the cabin by side of road most of the time.
Took them over three weeks to lay a few anti slip tiles and a bit of temp tarmac.

 

[twowheelsgood]

Part 3 of the ongoing 'you REALLY just can't make it up' saga of this debacle. The 9 week remedial works outlined above have now been going on for 28 weeks and appear to have been abandoned, with areas fenced off and left unfinished. Enquiries to both the ward councillor and the cabinet member have not been answered. Local residents have today received yet another letter from BBLP advising the whole length of the road will now be CLOSED for YET MORE overnight working from Monday 9th October for 5 nights. They appreciate our patience! Who knows, the works may even be completed before Christmas at this pace.  I repeat, the original works were programmed at 16 weeks and it's now been over a year since they were started and still no end in sight. It's not even as though it's a good (or even safe) scheme! Why does no one in authority give a monkeys?