Between 2011/12 and 2014/15 Herefordshire Council delivered the DfT funded Destination Hereford (DH1) project which successfully delivered behavioural change and modal shift from car use to sustainable transport alternatives.

The council was unsuccessful at securing an extension to Destination Hereford for the period 2014/15 which placed pressures on the council’s revenue budgets in order to continue a reduced project.

In June 2016 the council successfully secured £419k to deliver Destination Hereford Phase 2 (DH2) under the preceding DfT Transition Fund which is currently live and runs until 31^st March 2017. DH2 was developed in conjunction with early planning for the Access Fund and is intended to act as the springboard into a longer term DH3 project.

The infographic above illustrates the strategic fit between the council’s strategies, key infrastructure projects and behavioural change projects which this would support and accelerate. Securing these funds will contribute to delivery of the behavioural change projects required to compliment the key infrastructure projects. 

The main objectives of the project are to increase levels of walking and cycling, support access to jobs and education, addressing health and wellbeing and reduce CO2 emissions all of which are corporate priorities.

Not to accept the funds and not to proceed.

The council is currently delivering ‘Destination Hereford Phase 2’ (DH2), which is funded through the preceding, successful DfT Transition Fund. If the council chooses not to proceed the allocated funds would not be drawn down, the DH3 project would not be undertaken and the existing DH2 project would terminate in April 2017.

Not proceeding would result in a missed opportunity to significantly improve and upscale existing walking and cycling promotions across the county. These activities are in line with the council’s policies within the draft Local Transport Plan and the complementary measures within the Hereford Transport Packages.