Herefordshire Council agrees link road spending

Hereford's southern link road project has been restarted by the county's Conservative administration

Just over £10m has been set side to restart construction of Hereford's southern link road.

The project was stopped by the coalition which used to run Herefordshire council, but the new minority Conservative administration has recommitted itself to the scheme.

Other spending plans voted through by Herefordshire Council include £10m for road resurfacing.

Another £8m will be spend to create employment land near Ross-on-Wye.

Members also voted through £4m for the economic development in the county's other market towns and £3m to restore Hereford's Shirehall building.

The measures are part of a total capital programme of £327m between now and 2027.

David Hitchiner of Independents for Herefordshire, who served as council leader before losing power in May's elections, said the eastern river crossing alternative his group had put forward would have delivered "a badly needed river crossing in a much quicker timescale".

But Philip Price, the councillor responsible for transport said that had "started out as a cheap option but has gone several times over budget".

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