Axing Hereford bypass was 'catastrophic' and city now faces gridlock

Closing the bridge for looming repairs would mean gridlock for Hereford and havoc for thousands of vehicles that use it daily. In 1966, Greyfriars Bridge cost £500,000 to build, equivalent to just under £12m today.

Herefordshire Council recently expended £1.1m on the arguably pointless St Owen Street cycle path.

RELATED LETTERS:

• I'm not visiting Hereford again because there's no parking or bypass
• I'm worried about Greyfriars Bridge – what happens if there's a crack?
• Why would anyone actually want to visit Hereford?

The council’s “vision” appears to be a Utopian fantasy of people strolling across a “gateway space” at Eign Gate, where the dual carriageway is now, breathing in the pure Herefordshire air.

What will happen to the traffic?

One thing is clear; by closing most of the car parks and upping the charges on any remaining parking spaces, drivers will be discouraged from coming into the city centre.

Shoppers will not want to cycle into the city or traipse in by bus, and then return laden with shopping. Businesses will close.

OTHER NEWS:

• Snowman-kicking Herefordshire ex-binman smashed door and had knife in his sock
• Inside the dirty pub with 'foul-smelling' chicken and ‘rancid’ pork
• 'Anti-social' travellers set up camp in Herefordshire housing estate

The solution is in the answers to simple questions: who is using the roads, why are they there, where have they come from and where are they going?

Hereford can become an even greater place to live and work if we solve the problems we face today. A bypass for Hereford is vital. Like a heart bypass; without it, the heart of the city will surely die.

JOHN AUCKLAND

Allensmore, near Hereford

What are your thoughts?

You can send a letter to the editor to have your say by clicking here.

Letters should not exceed 250 words and local issues take precedence.