To consider consultation feedback and approve the Hereford city centre improvements delivery programme including on street parking in Hereford.

Cabinet received a report to improve the public realm in Hereford and to consider consultation feedback and approve the Hereford city centre improvements delivery programme including on street parking in Hereford.

In the ensuing discussion, the following points were made in reply to questions from a Group Leader:

·      That whilst the centre of High Town had been resurfaced in 2009, the work had been undertaken using existing materials.  The work would now be carried out using new materials which were more robust.

·      That there had been discussions with the civic society and cycle groups as to how the palfrey sets would be used, and the council would ensure that routes could be used by all.  The sets were not causing problems for cyclists in Widemarsh street.

·      That Balfour Beatty was working with the organisers of the Three Choirs Festival in order to minimise disruption in the city during the festival in 2018.

 In reply to a member in attendance, the head of infrastructure delivery said that discussions were in hand with the civic society and other users to support the continued use of historic features in High Town.

Resolved:

That:

(a)       The High Town public realm scheme shown in appendix A to the report be approved for phased implementation;

(b)       Funding of up to £1.6m be allocated from within the existing highways and transport capital budgets within the approved capital programme to enable the delivery of phase 1 of the High Town public realm scheme as set out in appendix B to the report to be delivered in 2016/17 and the schemes identified in (c) and (d) below. Subject to funding being available, further phases be included in future public realm annual plans from 2017/18 until the schemes are completed;

(c)       a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) be promoted to enable the introduction of on-street parking charges together with appropriate consequential changes to existing restrictions in the streets listed in paragraph 12 of this report and that authority is delegated to the assistant director environment and place to finalise the details required to commence the formal consultation process, and that, subject to the consideration of any representations received, take the necessary operational decisions required to implement an appropriate TRO; and;

(d)       public consultation be carried out in relation to the potential introduction of residents parking schemes within residential areas to the west of the A49 trunk road between the River Wye and Widemarsh Common and the introduction of a cycle contraflow on St Owen Street as shown in Appendix C to the report.