Herefordshire’s Liberal Democrats claim to have “forced a rethink” on plans to radically shift spending in the county.

Totalling over £25 million, the package of changes, covering everything from roads to Hereford’s Shirehall, was up for approval by county councillors last Friday (October 13). But the minority Conservative-run administration needed support of smaller groups to pass it.

The Greens and Independents for Herefordshire had already voiced strong opposition to the measures, which also included withdrawing funding for community hubs, home heating efficiency and new housing.

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But when the LibDems declared they too could not support the package, the item was dropped from the meeting and put back until December.

Unlike the other two opposition groups, the LibDems support planned £12.3 million spending on the revived Southern Link Road project “as a step towards the [western] bypass” around Hereford.

But it opposes removing funding from housing and community projects, which it said would “dramatically impact residents with the lowest incomes who most need support”.

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The LibDems also said they “need to see the estimated total cost” before committing the council £6 million to bring Hereford’s Shirehall back into use. A report on whether this should be home to the city’s proposed new library has yet to be published.

“We cannot and will not write the Conservatives a blank cheque,” the group’s leader Terry James said.

“The people of Herefordshire did not give the Conservatives a majority and it is high time that they recognised that fact.

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“The Conservatives now have time to work with all political groups to agree a capital budget and a delivery plan that can win the support of the majority of councillors.”

Chair of the council’s Conservative group Dan Hurcomb said the changes they proposed would “deliver on key manifesto pledges including phase one of the Hereford bypass”.

“Councillors from all political parties, including the Liberal Democrats, asked for additional time to consider these proposals, and as a result the decision was taken to withdraw the proposal from the agenda on Friday October 13,” he said.

“We believe there is a robust case for this programme, which will see targeted investment right across Herefordshire, and we look forward to finding a consensus that will hopefully unlock tens of millions of pounds of vital investment.”