I WRITE in response to the editorial comment last week calling for my administration to reach out to those disappointed by the cancellation of the Western Bypass and to forge alliances beyond the corridors of Plough Lane.

I wholeheartedly agree. Indeed, this has been our approach since May 2019, although it seems that we have not been successful in communicating what we are doing. We need to shout about what we are doing more loudly.

At our most recent cabinet meeting we pressed the ‘go’ button on the first bundle of projects to deliver an exciting mix of improved travel options for city residents.

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These will make travel faster and cheaper within Hereford and by doing so will create road space for non-city residents to move more conveniently.

These plans have been developed with input from a wide range of local groups, as well as national experts.

One of these projects is for a much-needed second city bridge. Officers initially suggested that an eight-year period was realistic for completion. We think Herefordshire deserves better, and have asked for plans to be developed to accelerate achievement of this crossing in five years.

Unlike the old bypass, our crossing will not require thousands of houses to be built first to make it affordable. Our plans will genuinely improve the city’s traffic troubles and will do it more quickly and for less cost – both to the public purse and to the environment.

Our plans will reduce vehicle numbers, improve air quality, and will give people healthier, swifter, cheaper travel options.

I don’t expect everyone to wade through the detail of the transport studies and technical reports which prove this will be the case. However, after more than 20 years of hollow promises and things just getting worse under the Tories, I do ask readers to give us the time and space to prove it.

We don’t have interests in opening up land for development. We don’t have developers propping up our existence. We are local people whose only motivation is working with what makes Herefordshire special and doing the very best for all the people who live here.

In doing this we shall continue to work with anyone and everyone who has the best interests of Herefordshire at heart.

David Hitchiner
Leader of Herefordshire Council