ONE of the biggest – and most expensive – planning applications of recent years will be debated and decided next week.

The proposal to build a road south of Hereford to link up the A49 and A465 has split opinions ever since the idea was first mooted.

Herefordshire Council say it will provide a major step in delivering an outer relief road – or bypass – while objectors claim it will become a "road to nowhere" and the nearly £30m needed to build it could be much better spent elsewhere.

The Southern Link Road (SLR) – which could be extended to the B4349 Clehonger road – is recommended for approval by planning officers and forms part of a package of council measures aimed at addressing congestion and delays in South Wye while easing access to the Hereford Enterprise Zone at Rotherwas.

Herefordshire Council say the route is the 'only way to go' but campaigners have staunchly protested against the scheme, claiming it will not deliver any of the promised benefits and will do nothing to tackle congestion in the city.

Jesse Norman, MP for Hereford and South Herefordshire, has also weighed into the debate and has previously called for the plans to be reconsidered in favour of an eastern route.

Herefordshire Transport Alliance, a coalition of organisations which believe congestion in Hereford can be tackled effectively and efficiently without more major road building schemes, released a statement ahead of the scheme being put before Herefordshire Council's planning committee.

It said that the damage caused to historic, environmental and biological assets is 'unacceptable today, and for future generations'.

"The SLR will adversely impact human health by increasing air pollution and traffic noise as a result of vehicles travelling a greater distance and at a higher speed," it said.

"It will do nothing to reduce car use and may indeed generate more 'induced' traffic.

"It will not reduce congestion as only 15% of traffic entering Hereford is through traffic – the remaining 85% is destined for Hereford itself.

"The SLR will not improve access into Hereford city, nor will it reduce the volume of traffic on Greyfriars Bridge.

"Unless a shift from car use to alternative modes of transport can be achieved, as proposed in the original South Wye Transport Package, reduction in congestion and journey times, and non-car users will continue to be disadvantaged."

Campaigners also say the SLR will cause 'irreversible damage' to the setting of heritage assets, particularly Haywood Lodge and that ancient woodland and veteran trees would be damaged.

A report, which will be put before planning committee members next week, states that the SLR would provide an alternative route for some longer distance traffic using the A465 Belmont Road.

Among other benefits, this would reduce the impact of traffic on Belmont Road, allowing the creation of a better environment in the A465 Belmont Road corridor that will encourage walking, cycling and use of public transport.

That would provide wider health and environmental benefits and improve the economy by reducing congestion and delay and enabling improved access to development such as the Hereford Enterprise Zone.

The planned road, which would be just over two-and-a-half miles long, would cost about £27 million.

The proposal will be considered by Herefordshire Council's planning committee at the Shirehall in Hereford on Monday at 2pm.