To consider cabinet’s recommendation to stop progress on the western bypass and southern link road schemes which are included in the adopted core strategy and local transport plan and to approve the removal of the Hereford Transport Package and South Wye Transport Package from the capital programme.

Council considered a report by the cabinet member infrastructure and transport concerning the Hereford Transport Strategy.

The monitoring officer provided clarification relating to predetermination and bias.

The cabinet member environment, economy and skills apologised to the Council for comments she had made ahead of the meeting.

The cabinet member infrastructure and transport proposed the recommendations in the report and during his introduction he made the principal points below:

·         The report asked Council to agree to: the discontinuation of the South Wye Transport Package (SWTP) including the Southern Link Road and the Hereford Transport Package which together comprised the western bypass; removal of the projects from the capital programme; and utilisation of reserves to cover the de-capitalisation of the schemes.

·         The proposal would enable a transport strategy to focus on projects to encourage modal shift, improve methods of school travel and the introductions of better forms of public transport.

·         There would be consideration of an eastern crossing of the river Wye near Rotherwas.

·         The proposal was consistent with the climate emergency declaration and national targets to reduce carbon.

The cabinet member finance and corporate resources seconded the recommendations in the report and made the principal points below:

·         Over the previous 15 years an excess of officer time and money had been spent on road building projects that would not provide the congestion relief necessary in Hereford.

·         The schemes were undeliverable and unaffordable. Solid investment in buses bikes and bridges was necessary to deliver local solutions and improvements.

·         Ear marked reserves would be utilised to meet the need to decapitalise the projects.

During the course of the debate members of the Council raised the principal points below:

·         The implementation of local travel measures on the A49 and the relationship with Highways Agency.

·         Planning considerations for an Eastern bypass of Hereford.

·         The need to balance the requirement for economic development with ecological impact.

·         The lack of evidence to support the building of a western bypass.

·         Improvements to bus services and walking and cycling infrastructure would help to address congestion in Hereford.

·         Concern that the construction of a western bypass would result in a significant increase in housing that would be developed before the completion of the bypass.

·         The importance of undertaking measures to address air quality in Hereford.

·         Active travel measures would help reduce congestion in Hereford and required effective implementation.

·         Improvements to cycling safety were raised and the importance of continuing cycling infrastructure projects contained in the SWTP.

·         The proposals for increased car parking charges could penalise residents from rural areas where there was not extensive public transport provision.

There was a brief adjournment at 3.32 p.m., the meeting reconvened at 3.50. The debate continued with the principal points raised below:

·         The infrastructure contained in the western bypass and southern link road projects would facilitate and manage growth. It would assist in the delivery of major projects and attract business.

·         The impact of cancellation of the schemes on house building targets in the county.

·         The western bypass would reduce traffic in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36