Hereford bypass plans progress despite opposition

One councillor said "the overwhelming majority of the public" want the bypass to happen

Plans to build the first phase of a bypass around Hereford have passed another milestone – but strong opposition to the scheme remains.

Former county councillor Tracy Bowes asked cabinet member for transport Philip Price at a cabinet meeting how likely it was, given the aim of "de-trunking" the current A49 north of Grafton, that a 60mph road could be built around to the A465 to National Highways standards "for just £35m".

Price said construction standards had not changed since the previously approved scheme, "which had approval from National Highways".

The procurement strategy for phase one of the bypass was agreed at the cabinet meeting.

Cabinet member for finance Pete Stoddart said the phase one strategy would "bring on board a contractor who is able to refine the design and provide a more informed estimate of cost", which will "inform the full business case" for it.

Group leader of the Independents for Herefordshire Liz Harvey said that "if this really is such a no-brainer decision, then you really should have come up with the evidence to support it".

But Liberal Democrat group leader Terry James said: "What there is, is the overwhelming majority of the public who want this to happen and who are sick to death of the shenanigans trying to stop it," he said.

Independents for Herefordshire councillor David Hitchiner claimed the authority was now applying "undue haste on getting diggers on the ground".

He also said the design for the road approved nine years ago terminates at a four-arm roundabout at the A465, lacking a fifth arm which would form the start of phase two across the river Wye.

Price replied: "When we have planning permission for phase two, for which we will have the outline case by next summer, we will know how we will join the two together" – at "a four-arm roundabout that has the capability of expansion".

Details of the council's approach to construction procurement and land acquisition, now approved, have not been made public for reasons of commercial confidentiality.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.