PLANS for the Southern Link Road went on display for the first time yesterday showing where it would start and end.

The mooted road would link up to the A49 Rotherwas roundabout and run across to the A465 Abergavenny Road, where a new roundabout would be constructed.

At the roundabout, which will be further south from the Clehonger turn, a new road would be constructed to link up to the B439.

The proposed relief road would go across bridges at Grafton Lane and the railway line and underneath a structure at Haywood Lane.

There was a steady flow of interested residents looking at the plans.

Sue Wapshott, who lives in Hereford and has a cottage at Clehonger, said: "In terms of helping the traffic problems the only advantage I can see is traffic going from Rotherwas to south Wales."

She added: "I can only think this must be the first part of a south main road that is going to go across the river.

"If that is the case, that is fine by me. If it isn't, it is a waste of money."

The plans will be on display in Hereford Library and Belmont Library up to and after the planning application has been submitted, which is expected in early February.

Mairead Lane, construction manager for Herefordshire Council, said the proposed road has always been an aspiration for the council to link up the enterprise zone at Rotherwas to the A465

Councillor Phillip Price, cabinet member for infrastructure, said: "My position is well known. I believe this county will not go anywhere unless we have finally secured a bypass for Hereford... This is the start of a bypass, even though this road is sustainable in its own right.

"The real achievement will be a full bypass with the A49."

He said the funding for the road has come from a provisional allocation of £27m in government funding secured through the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership.

A resident, who did not wish to be named, said the route may help the current traffic problems in Haywood Lane.

They said the narrow road has become a rat run with heavy good lorries and vehicles that exceed the 40mph speed limit.

Anna Coda, from Peterchurch and Labour's candidate for Hereford and South Herefordshire, said: "I can't see that it is necessary in terms of the amount of transport that will need to use this link."