Details have emerged of Hereford’s planned new central transport hub, which will now cost an extra £6.3 million.
A proposal prepared for a Herefordshire Council cabinet meeting next Thursday (October 27) asks for the plan for an “integrated modern public transport interchange” in front of Hereford railway station to be signed off.
The scheme will enable passengers to switch easily between bus, rail, bicycle and taxi, in order to “support economic growth, improve accessibility and encourage active travel”, it says.
The design “incorporates as much greenspace as possible”, aims to keep people and vehicles separate, and also to enhance the grade II listed station building, it adds.
According to an accompanying business case for the project, it will include bus stands, taxi ranks, covered waiting areas, real-time transport information, refreshments, toilets, wi-fi, CCTV, cycle parking and lockers, a Beryl bike exchange, and will have safe direct pedestrian access from the city centre.
However the work will not include upgrading the station car park, or refurbishing the railway station building.
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The scheme forms part of the wider £40-million Hereford City Centre Transport Package (HCCTP) part-funded by The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
The transport hub is expected to cost around £10 million overall. But only £3.7 million has so far been allocated to it.
The council has put in a bid for the outstanding amount from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund. But the cabinet report says that if this is unsuccessful, “there will be a requirement for council to fund the project from prudential borrowing”.
The transport hub is likely to cost a further £50,000 a year to maintain once completed, which is expected to be within the next financial year. This will pay for watering plants, emptying bins, cleaning and lighting.
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