Would you get on your bike to ease Hereford's traffic pain?

8:20am Monday 22nd October 2012 in News By Lauren Rogers

Councillor Graham Powell wants drivers to follow his example and get on their bikes to help cut Hereford’s congestion. Buy this photo » Councillor Graham Powell wants drivers to follow his example and get on their bikes to help cut Hereford’s congestion.

THE man charged with easing the county’s traffic woes wants more people to park outside Hereford and use bikes to get into the city centre.

Calling on people to tell him how they want to travel in and out of Hereford, Councillor Graham Powell, cabinet member for infrastructure, has revealed his own vision for easing traffic jams – a countywide network of cycle paths.

Coun Powell wants people who commute into the city to park on the outskirts.

Holme Lacy Road, Holmer, Belmont and Kings Acre Road are all options where he says drivers can leave their cars before cycling into town. It would take, he says, 10 minutes or less to bike in.

“There are changes we can make that would make a huge difference to Hereford’s roads now,” said Coun Powell.

“I’m not talking about when the relief road is going to be built; that’s another conversation.

"This is about what we can do today to have an integrated traffic network that meets the needs of everyone.

“People talk about park-and-ride and that’s something we would like to see in the future.

But we don’t have the bus lanes and people aren’t going to use park-and-ride if they’re going to sit in the same traffic they would be in if they were in their own cars.”

It is estimated there are 10,000 journeys into Hereford city centre every morning that start and end in the city. Most are five kilometres or less.

“If we can get even 10 per cent of commuters biking in, that will make a huge difference,” said Coun Powell.

Bike paths that commuters and schoolchildren can safely use are one of several objectives set out in the council’s Local Transport Plan that Coun Powell wants residents to see.

Consultation on the plan – which also discusses changes to the county’s parking strategy and 20mph residential zones – runs until November 16.

“I want everyone who travels in Herefordshire to have their say,” said Coun Powell.

“I don’t care how they get in touch. But everyone who has sat in rush hour traffic to get 10 minutes down the road or struggled with public transport in rural areas has an opinion and I want to hear it.”

To view the consultation document visit herefordshire.gov.uk/ltpconsultation.

You can take part online or write to Local Transport Plan Consultation, Freepost RLSE-HHZC-XTUG, Herefordshire Council, PO Box 236, Plough Lane, Hereford HR4 OWZ.

Comments(55)

ArmadilloSackRace says...
8:38am Mon 22 Oct 12

If we're going to encourage more people to cycle then can we please educate pedestrians that if they walk on a cycle path they should expect to encounter people in bikes? Far too many people find it impossible to stick to one side of the path so that people can actually get past. If I have to crawl along on my bike behind them then I may as well just walk.

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twoarmadillos says...
9:17am Mon 22 Oct 12

I like to walk or cycle to work. When I walk, I am nearly mown down several times each way by adult cyclists on the pavement. When I cycle on the road I am amazed I'm not mown down by angry drivers. Cycle paths into the town centre? Great! Not before I'm on a zimmer frame I suspect!

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ArmadilloSackRace says...
10:01am Mon 22 Oct 12

Good point about cyclists on the pavement actually. On dedicated cycle paths yes, but it makes me very angry when cyclists are using normal footpaths when they can use the road and is actually against the law.

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Clarkester says...
10:22am Mon 22 Oct 12

Cyclists need to learn, drivers need to learn, pedestrians need to learn also.
Cyclists need to remember to stay on the road, or cycleway AND adhere to traffic lights. Drivers need to learn some respect for other people be it pedestrians or cyclists or whoever... And adhere to road signs, traffic lights AND yellow hatching! Pedestrians need to remember that cyclists might very well be using cycle paths, you very often come across people walking three or four abreast on Great Western Way and if you dare to "ding" them with a bell you invariably get either ignored or glared at like you have threatened their very souls...

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ad47uk says...
11:24am Mon 22 Oct 12

I cycle or walk, I don't drive, but the roads are a disgrace, pot holes are not good for bikes.



The cycle lanes we have got apart from Great Western Way are a waste of time and as been said above, people just walk on them and don't take notice. the other problem is people parking their vehicles on them.


i walk Great Western Way when I don't cycle to work, but I do keep to one side.

Also what is it with cyclists who thinks they don't need lights, I got lights on my bike and I also wear a high vis, maybe the community police should do something for their money and patrol more often.

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Roger J says...
11:24am Mon 22 Oct 12

We need a ring road not a bike, end of story.

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Sonic_boom761 says...
2:17pm Mon 22 Oct 12

I like the way that he is promoting cycle helmet awareness by inadvertently being so uncool and disjointed from modern society, that the younger generation will go out of their way to do the complete opposite and wear a helmet.

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bobby47 says...
2:29pm Mon 22 Oct 12

He should pop his helmet on, ride across Town and try the hazardous journey along the three foot wide cycle route up Aylestone Hill.
There is no better example in the City than this route that defies logic. Even the bike that's painted on the red route has a buckled front wheel and twisted handlebars.
To complete this journey safely you need to pray, throw a double six and have the mindset of a leper bereft of any will to carry on living.
Send our Graham up there and then ask him his views on the expansion of our City cycle routes.
We need more than cycle paths to aid our misery. We need Devine intervention.

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Patley says...
3:58pm Mon 22 Oct 12

Laudible sentiments but not always practical. We have a high level of older generation in Hereford and this would be positively dangerous. Where are the bikes to be left whilst shopping in town - good job not many shops as we wouldnt be able to carry many purchases!

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Patley says...
3:58pm Mon 22 Oct 12

Laudible sentiments but not always practical. We have a high level of older generation in Hereford and this would be positively dangerous. Where are the bikes to be left whilst shopping in town - good job not many shops as we wouldnt be able to carry many purchases!

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Sonic_boom761 says...
4:17pm Mon 22 Oct 12

We have a high level of elderly in Hereford so let's discount the rest who are still living and are going to work! You are right about the older generation being "positively dangerous" you should see them drive! I am fed up about everything being about the older generation, why don't we just go the whole hog and introduce the first network of mobility scooter lanes. It will sure save me getting charged out the way on the footpaths.

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Graham Powell says...
4:25pm Mon 22 Oct 12

I ought to explain about the helmet - this was a picture astride the bike rather than riding it on the road. I always wear a helmet when I'm out and about. I want us to build new, safe, cycleways that join into the centre of the city. I know it's not there at this time but I am determined to do something about it. There are always plenty of reasons why we can't do things - I and many others take a different view - if we want it we can do it, and that is certainly the attitude of the school and college students that I speak to. I have cycled up, and down, Aylestone Hill and I know it needs work doing to make it safer - work in progress and better to come. I'm looking forward to comments and suggestions during the consultation period.

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Sonic_boom761 says...
4:31pm Mon 22 Oct 12

Graham Powell wrote:
I ought to explain about the helmet - this was a picture astride the bike rather than riding it on the road. I always wear a helmet when I'm out and about. I want us to build new, safe, cycleways that join into the centre of the city. I know it's not there at this time but I am determined to do something about it. There are always plenty of reasons why we can't do things - I and many others take a different view - if we want it we can do it, and that is certainly the attitude of the school and college students that I speak to. I have cycled up, and down, Aylestone Hill and I know it needs work doing to make it safer - work in progress and better to come. I'm looking forward to comments and suggestions during the consultation period.
For starters to get people involved a working link may help as the one above "herefordshire.gov.u
k/ltpconsultation." does not.

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jd1950 says...
4:57pm Mon 22 Oct 12

who thought this one out? where the hell are the parking places going to be provided for those who don't live in Hereford. After all we only get a half hearted christmas parking, in totally unsuitable places, and for such a short time, get to grips give us proper park and ride, with a proper ring road, Come on, Hereford is a road locked little town, away from all the main motorways, and because of the attitude of previous councils.

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bobby47 says...
5:06pm Mon 22 Oct 12

Mr Powell, it's very good of you to come on here and address us Posters.
I truly wish you well in this scheme.
Now we've got you here, can I ask you on behalf of many of us who worry about our City, do you think members of the Council should resign regarding the worrying revelations that our Child Protection Services are inadequate.
We'd all be very grateful if you could spare a moment and comment upon this issue.
My very warmest regards to you.

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RogerLFC says...
5:12pm Mon 22 Oct 12

Especially with the weather we've had today hardly anyone is going to cycle 2 miles into the centre and get drenched in the process! Poll currently shows 59% not interested in getting on a bike.

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jd1950 says...
5:17pm Mon 22 Oct 12

Sonic-Boom, you must be one of the mad bad drivers, who I meet every day in my lorry, I am also sick of people driving through red lights, because they can't work out the difference between the colours, blocking crossings, parking and causing a danger to all, total disregard for anything or any one, once they learn to drive safely, we will all be better off

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Graham Powell says...
5:18pm Mon 22 Oct 12

Park and Ride will only work when we have priority bus lanes, and that will be after we have a relief road - the consultation is for the period 2012 to 2015 - I am looking at actions we can take in the near future to make a difference. I'm a positive person - the poll currently shows that 40% are prepared to give it a go.

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Graham Powell says...
5:24pm Mon 22 Oct 12

I have just used the link in the newspaper article above and it works fine.

There is a link to the consultation documents on the home page of the Herefordshire Council website if anyone is having difficulties.

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bobby47 says...
5:26pm Mon 22 Oct 12

Mr Powell, I think you've missed my posting. Would you please read it and comment upon our Child Protection Services. Do you think someone should resign?
Again my very warmest regards to you.

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bobby47 says...
5:28pm Mon 22 Oct 12

Come on kiddo. Your Posting time suggests you are sat reading this stuff with me. You can do it. I know its difficult but its important.

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bobby47 says...
5:30pm Mon 22 Oct 12

Come on. Be brave. Do it and do it now!

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Bignewy says...
5:34pm Mon 22 Oct 12

I try to keep out of the city, I don't find it a pleasant experience.

What we need is a bypass, Lebury has one, Leominster has one, but Hereford as usual is stuck in the past.

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bobby47 says...
6:11pm Mon 22 Oct 12

Mr Powell, You aint going to answer me are you?
I appreciate its difficult for you but its simply no good ignoring my question. You could have wriggled out of it by saying, 'The findings are upsetting and whilst I appreciate everyones concern an internal enquiry is going on and therefore, I am unable to comment.'
But instead, you do what our Council allways do, go secret on us, dont say a thing and wait for the next disaster to develop.
I aint going to stop. I'm going to check this site on the hour and appeal for you to comment upon my important question. It'll be embarrassing for me but I'll get over it. Come on, call Mr Jarvis, he'll tell you what to say and then the agony is all over.
Come on you can do this. I know you can.

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Lukio says...
6:21pm Mon 22 Oct 12

Come on Cllr. Powell, don't leave Bobby hanging there like that! You can't come on here, make a few cursory comments about this and then sod off! He's called you out on a massively important issue and you should have at least a little decency to acknowledge his comments. His nerves can't take it much longer...he'll be back to the docs tomorrow for more diazepam I guarantee it!

But seriously, you've outed yourself now. We have known that you lot read these posts on here - it's obvious, you have egos to inflates. Lets not pussyfoot around on talking about piffling little cycling schemes.

Let's talk about really serious stuff like how HC have mismanaged the Child Protection Services to the point where the NSPCC are concerned, who is accountable for this catastrophic failure and what is going to be done about it. As Bobby suggests, someone amongst your number should really be holding their hands up now and either resigning or being sacked.

I'm affeared that's the last we'll hear from you on here. Oh, and don't split hairs - you're sat on the bike so put your helmet on! Jeez, no wonder you're a politician!

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Ubique5740 says...
6:30pm Mon 22 Oct 12

Come on Cllr Powell, we know that you are monitoring this forum, simple request from Bobby47, you owe it to the residents of Herefordshire to make a public comment re the failings of the Child Protection Service ideally on the HT report relating to the inadequate achievements of your Council and partners relating to child protection.
Thank you in anticipation .

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bobby47 says...
6:30pm Mon 22 Oct 12

Thank you Lukio. Mr Powell I'll be back on this at quarter past seven and leave you another message.

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bobby47 says...
6:33pm Mon 22 Oct 12

Thanks Ubique.

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Sonic_boom761 says...
6:46pm Mon 22 Oct 12

jd1950 wrote:
Sonic-Boom, you must be one of the mad bad drivers, who I meet every day in my lorry, I am also sick of people driving through red lights, because they can't work out the difference between the colours, blocking crossings, parking and causing a danger to all, total disregard for anything or any one, once they learn to drive safely, we will all be better off
JD how did you come up with this crazy conclusion, I was referring to cycling as per the blog. I get infuriated with cars and taxis who think it is ok to pull up to the front of the traffic lights and wait in the red designated cycle area. Also the amount of times I have nearly been killed by taxi drivers doing kamikaze U-turns on commercial road without a care for other road users is rediculous.

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Sonic_boom761 says...
6:54pm Mon 22 Oct 12

bobby47 wrote:
Thank you Lukio. Mr Powell I'll be back on this at quarter past seven and leave you another message.
Surely Cllr's wont be looking at anything remotely work related outside the hours of 9 - 4:30? The council probably removed funding for child care to give to the 'aging population', to appease their voters.

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silentbull says...
6:56pm Mon 22 Oct 12

Using cycles are fine when traveling from A to B but only when theirs proper cycle lanes being used correctly, but sadly there isn't and not enough of them.
But lets say 'your great plan' got started, where are the cars going to park?? Who would want to leave their cars in a car park outside the city with no security?? And if theirs going to be security how much will the car parks be?? Like you said there's a lot of work to be done, bus lanes, cycle lanes which should be clearly marked, car parks, the by pass which nearly everyone has been waiting for for over 20years and what's going to happen when our new shopping complex gets started??
If 'our council' gets just TWO of what I've just listed then i will be very impressed 'but' the record of Herefordshire council ISN'T VERY IMPRESSIVE is it

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bobby47 says...
7:29pm Mon 22 Oct 12

Stubborn fellow. I really thought you might have cracked by now.
Let me try and tempt you out of your burrow Councillow Powell and dress the question in a way that gives you some wriggle room.
Do you think that this report which concerns the protection of children is something important or not?
Lets try you on that. Do you fancy scurring up and emerging to address that little question.

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Graham Powell says...
7:45pm Mon 22 Oct 12

I have no intention of responding to an issue as important as the Ofsted report on an Inspection of local authority arrangements for the protection of children on this forum with a group of anonymous people many of whom have, I suspect, not read the full report. My contact details are in the public domain and if any of you wish to telephone me I will make arrangements to meet you to discuss your concerns. I apologise for the delay in responding to the earlier posting but I was attending a meeting in my ward.

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KNIGHTROOK says...
8:03pm Mon 22 Oct 12

Roads in Hereford need considerable improvement if both transport and business are to flourish.

Cycling has a low impact on both the environment and the congestion that plagues our city particularly during School term time.

With the development of the cattle market grid it is only going to worsen.

The best solution would be for Councillors to determine the best course of action in secret meetings akin to the decisions about the cattle market grid.

But like all council plans in Hereford the ultimate decision will be made in the Lodge in Catherine street.

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bobby47 says...
9:00pm Mon 22 Oct 12

Thank you Mr Powell. I really do appreciate you coming on here. But, my question still stands. Its simple and straightforward, 'Do you think that someone should resign?'
I accept that you aint going to answer it and I do fully understand the position you are in but from our perspective its something so important that someone should step forward and take responsibility for this gross failure.
I'll end this conversation by saying, that I do want you to come onto this site and post comments. I also realise that from hereon you'll think twice because of 'me' ripping at you. So, my promise to you is, I will never go at you again unless I get flattened by a lorry on one of your new cycle routes.
My very warmest regards to you.

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TwoWheelsGood says...
9:28pm Mon 22 Oct 12

In 2005, I and many others joined with the Council to campaign for funding from Sustrans for a new cycle route to Rotherwas and onward to Holme Lacy. Against all the odds and hundreds of other applicants from all over the UK, we won £350k, to be spent within 5 years. I subsequently sat on the Steering Group until I realised it was only paying lip service to consultation - Amey and the Council were going to what they wanted to, regardless, and that to date has comprised of endless talking and no progress on the ground. Planning permission was granted over a year ago - the Councils website was last updated a year ago. Construction was due to start this spring - nothing. No news, no information. Its clear the March 2013 deadline will pass and the Council will lose the money. Its against this background Mr Powell that you launch your proposals - as laudable as they are - why should we have any confidence in this Council? Amey have done well out of Connect2 - endless redesigns and a fee in the region of 20%. The people who put in the hard slog at the outset in good faith have been sorely let down. Put our money where your mouth is - get THIS scheme in place first, start building some trust, some bridges (literally and metaphorically) and then perhaps we'll get behind your proposals.

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KNIGHTROOK says...
9:41pm Mon 22 Oct 12

Do you know it costs Hereford Council more to employ AMEY than it did when the council operated the services itself.

Amey is mismanaged debt ridden and financially unstable.

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ad47uk says...
9:49pm Mon 22 Oct 12

KNIGHTROOK wrote:
Do you know it costs Hereford Council more to employ AMEY than it did when the council operated the services itself.

Amey is mismanaged debt ridden and financially unstable.
Like Hereford then,.

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TwoWheelsGood says...
9:59pm Mon 22 Oct 12

Amey is based in Oxford, but it is a subsidiary of Spanish company Grupo Ferrovial. Not only does our council tax not stay in the county, it ultimately goes to shareholders of a Spanish company. The Council Officer who brokered the deal with Amey is, of course, long gone (left with £250k of swag in 2010), so he doesn't have to account for '£1m a year saving' that he claimed when the deal was done - how much of this has come to fruition (little I'll guess) and where is it accounted for?

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Graham Powell says...
10:07pm Mon 22 Oct 12

The Connect 2 Greenway will be built, we have not "lost" the Sustrans money, and we are committed to building more cycleways. All of that is a matter of record, which I am happy to repeat. The future of the highway maintenance contract has also been well publicised - the current contract expires in August 2013 and a new contract will be negotiated through an OJEU tender. Happen to replace fiction with fact.

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bobby47 says...
10:15pm Mon 22 Oct 12

Mr Powell, If from time to time we get our facts wrong, it's only because our Council keep things secret.
I aint having a go and I'm not trying to go at it again, but do you think, with hindsight, the Council could be more open with us the public?

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TwoWheelsGood says...
10:32pm Mon 22 Oct 12

Mr Powell - I did not say the Council had lost the money. The March 2013 deadline is fact. I welcome your assurance that Connect2 will be built, however, we are tired of hearing this - it is a matter of record that your officers have repeatedly failed to implement this proposal in a timely manner and deadlines have repeatedly not been met. This is fact, not fiction. Give us facts and stand by them - when will construction start on Connect2?

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bobby47 says...
10:39pm Mon 22 Oct 12

TwoWheels, Go for it my good friend. I hope you do better than me.

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richybeaver says...
9:08am Tue 23 Oct 12

Funny how the Sustrans project miraculously increased from its initial £350k to the present millions.

The contract must have gone to Amey.

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nickt2635 says...
9:47am Tue 23 Oct 12

I used to enjoy riding my bike, but nowadays it's just so dangerous to do so.We all know that in the absence of a cycle lane the normal place to ride is on the road close to the pavement, but that is where the road surface is at it's worse, loose tarmac. sunken drains etc forcing cyclists out into the road, much to the annoyance of impatient motorists who brush by with millimetres to spare!!! My route into town was down Grandstand rd, across widemarsh common, Penhalligon way, Moorfield st and under the subway to Jessons. Grandstand rd is a nightmare for cyclists now because of the state of the edge of the road and all the HGV'S that use it, when you get to the bottom of Grandstand rd you can signal your intention to turn right onto Widemarsh common all you like but motorists just wont let you, eventually you have to dismount and walk your bike across the road. Then you try to ride up the cycle/pedestrian path linking the common with Penhalligon way and even though i am one of the rare breed who does have a bell on my bike i can ping it to my hearts content but pedestrians and dog walkers only frown at you an deliberately block your path!!! And please don't anyone mention the "GREEN" aspect of cycling when postmen and women have recently had all their bikes taken off them and been given vans for "Health and safety" reasons. Because the roads ARE just too dangerous now!!!

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nickt2635 says...
9:58am Tue 23 Oct 12

Also i read in the Hereford Times months ago that the new cycle path and bridge linking the city centre to Rotherwas via outfall works road was DEFINITELY going to start this autumn, well they're leaving it a bit late because i walked down outfall works rd on Sunday and there's absolutely no sign of anything being started!!! Stop lying to us Herefordshire Council, don't forget who pays your wages!!!

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bobby47 says...
10:59am Tue 23 Oct 12

Nick, I fish down there and I've watched them every day for the last 12 months.
They've spent thousands on consultancy, they've had literally dozens of meetings there, they've drilled to check the bedrock and under water deposits, they've cut back the vegetation twice, they've built a frame to handle a crane and taken it down, they've netted the embankment to stop sand martins nesting, built the birds a box to nest in and now......it's all off.
Nothing. Nothing is going to happen down there for at least another year.
This Council have wasted thousands on this project and they don't say a word.

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Lukio says...
12:04pm Tue 23 Oct 12

Alas it seems we have lost Cllr. Powell's interest on this. As he rightly states, he won't come on here and discuss '...an issue as important as the Ofsted report on an Inspection of local authority arrangements for the protection of children on this forum..' but he will discuss a suggestion about riding your bike into town. Is that tacit admittance that the cycling scheme is not important as he WILL discuss that but not about the council's mismanagement of children's services?

I think we all know which is the most important of the two. But it's all about priorities - something HC has not demonstrated very well here.

And for the record, I have read the report. It's very uncomfortable and if I was senior management I'd be calling for an emergency meeting at Brockington Towers this morning as to why the hell we were in this situation.

But as I suspect, you'll all be too busy watching the diggers down at the OLM and thinking what a difference you're making to Hereford.

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Lukio says...
12:05pm Tue 23 Oct 12

Alas it seems we have lost Cllr. Powell's interest on this. As he rightly states, he won't come on here and discuss '...an issue as important as the Ofsted report on an Inspection of local authority arrangements for the protection of children on this forum..' but he will discuss a suggestion about riding your bike into town. Is that tacit admittance that the cycling scheme is not important as he WILL discuss that but not about the council's mismanagement of children's services?

I think we all know which is the most important of the two. But it's all about priorities - something HC has not demonstrated very well here.

And for the record, I have read the report. It's very uncomfortable and if I was senior management I'd be calling for an emergency meeting at Brockington Towers this morning as to why the hell we were in this situation.

But as I suspect, you'll all be too busy watching the diggers down at the OLM and thinking what a difference you're making to Hereford.

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roundtowntwowheels says...
12:34pm Tue 23 Oct 12

Guys I say take this challenge on - the more people who cycle, the better the infrastructure will become. I have saved thousands of pounds by not running a car, surely in these tough times running a car should be a luxury. It is also the only thing that keeps me fit in my sedentary job. If you cannot cycle, then please be kind and considerate to cyclists because it is so very tough out there. We are either on the paths, which is the domain of the pedestrian, or the road which is the domain of the cars and lorries, there are very few cycle lanes in Hereford. On my daily commute, I encounter both pedestrians, vehicles and other cyclists who could do with a bit more courtesy, and with a bit more respect, Hereford can become a much better place to cycle in.

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bobby47 says...
1:05pm Tue 23 Oct 12

Well said Lukio. It's all so bloody depressing.

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nickt2635 says...
3:07pm Tue 23 Oct 12

bobby47, i know, i don't fish but i've walked down there almost every Saturday and Sunday for years with my son, but having just had a 12 month break after 3 heart attacks last year i did walk down there last Sunday full of expectation, the only things i saw were new hand rails at the bottom of the bank, a really strange looking thing resembling a firework rocket in the field opposite, and some metal brackets welded to the existing hand rail on the bridge!!! I was talking with a man who is always there with his two dogs and white van (think he's a water bailiff or something) and he said there's always men with "Hi Vis" jackets and clip boards walking about there but nothing actually gets done!!!

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bobby47 says...
3:54pm Tue 23 Oct 12

Nick, You've spoken to Mr Pritchard, the Hereford Angling Bailiff. Everything he's told you is correct.
The rocket, there's two of them are intended for birds to nest in. they both cost the Council ten thousand pounds and I swear not one creature that flys, crawls, swims or walks has managed to get inside the bloody stupid structure.
The handrails were put there at huge cost to prevent the bridge builders falling into the Wye.
Ain't it madness.

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nickt2635 says...
4:37pm Tue 23 Oct 12

What bloody bridge builders??? And i swear that if you put up a monstrosity like that bird box in your front garden the council would make you take it down!!! I honestly thought it was put there by the same so called "street artists" who have adorned the castle pool lawns and the wall of the old hospital with rubbish!!!

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bobby47 says...
5:57pm Tue 23 Oct 12

They Council hierarchy arrived one day and we fisherman pointed out that Sandmartins and Kingfishers nested in the embankment where the suspension bridge was going to hang.
They then turned up with some Wildlife Protection Officer and then subsequently produced the two wooden rockets for the aforementioned birds to nest in. They then went on to evict the birds from the embankment by netting it.
The netting has since been washed away by the floods and the birds are back nesting in the embankment. That was a year ago when they stated they were going to start the work.

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