A BYPASS for Hereford, whether it be to the east or west, has not been ruled out.

The announcement comes from the Conservative's prospective parliamentary candidate, Virginia Taylor, who has been told a bypass solution is amongst options being considered for the city by the Government Office of the West Midlands.

The information is in response to a letter to Alistair Darling MP, Secretary of State for Transport, from Mrs Taylor, informing him of Hereford's traffic problems.

She has been told recommendations for a strategy to address transport problems in and around Hereford will be made as part of a study, due to be completed early next year.

"The option packages cover a range of traffic management solutions, as well as road-based options, which include a western bypass or eastern bypass solution," said the Government Office for the West Midlands.

The study takes into account the Rotherwas relief road and once complete will require Herefordshire Council to decide which aspects of the recommendations should be included in the Local Transport Plan.

"In doing so they will need to take into account the views of the Government Office, Highways Agency and Regional Planning Body as well as those of other partners. If the local authority were to bid for a major scheme, this would be appraised by the Department for Transport," Mrs Taylor was told.

l Meanwhile, a survey by Hereford Conservatives of 10,000 households in the Hereford parliamentary constituency has revealed that the need for a bypass remains a key issue.

Other areas of concern, according to the survey results, were the high level of council tax and the beds situation at Hereford County Hospital.