I HAVE read many letters in the Hereford Times on the subject of traffic congestion and the proposed new bypass for Hereford.
Having driven a car into and around Hereford for several decades, these are my observations.
Apart from a couple of hours every day during rush hour, traffic in Hereford is relatively light compared to other cities and congestion is often fairly limited. Traffic also reduces markedly during the school holidays.
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It seems eminently sensible to introduce a citywide 20mph speed limit to encourage cycling and walking in a safer environment. A well-planned, low-cost, electric school bus service, combined with a strict parking ban around schools would further reduce air pollution and traffic congestion.
Electric buses and a cheap park and ride scheme would cut toxic vehicle emissions and lessen traffic delays.
I am not opposed in principle to a new western bypass and river crossing, although the solutions already mentioned so far would be much more effective in reducing congestion within Hereford. In my view, it is totally unfair to expect Herefordshire ratepayers to foot the whole bypass bill, especially as many residents will not gain directly from it.
The biggest beneficiaries of a new bypass will be the large housing developers cashing in on infill housing schemes and also drivers wishing to avoid the city centre to travel to destinations further afield. So I would argue that the new road should be funded by national government (which has raised required house building targets) and by an additional levy on housebuilders.
What are your thoughts?
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Another useful source of finance could be obtained by using bridge tolls. A very good example of such a scheme is the Merseyflow toll system, which employs ANPR and has helped to pay for a fantastic new bridge over the river Mersey. The cost per car is £2 each way, rising to £8 for the largest lorries. Any toll would need to apply to the new river Wye crossing and also the existing Greyfriars bridge, with the extra monies raised here being used for essential bridge repairs. Vehicles such as buses, taxis etc could be exempted from the tolls and local residents could be offered a cheaper annual pass.
If the above measures were adopted by Herefordshire Council in full, then the considerable costs of a new bypass could be much more fairly allocated and traffic congestion and pollution within the city boundaries significantly reduced.
RICHARD MATTHEWS
Welsh Newton
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