Provision of a transport hub and public realm improvements at Hereford Railway Station including the creation of a bus interchange, waiting area, canopy and layover space, provision of passenger drop- off and parking areas, and formation of a new access junction via City Link Road.

Application approved with a change to conditions.

Councillor Dan Powell left the meeting at 10:55 a.m.

The Principal Planning Officer provided a presentation on the application.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking, Ms Davis spoke on behalf of Hereford City Council, Mr Frecknall, local resident, spoke in objection to the application and Mr Butterworth, on behalf of the applicant, spoke in support.

In accordance with the council’s constitution the local ward member spoke on the application. In summary, she explained that the principle of a transport hub was supported but the current proposal had a number of shortcomings. The proposed transport hub would not provide a central location for all city buses but only services from the county bus station. The four bays at the hub for buses would not be adequate for the number of services using the transport hub or the National Express coaches. The layby for the Zipper bus service on the City Link road was not a good solution to provide a bus stop for the service. The access to the layover area would be impeded by parking on the junction by the Hereford Medical Group. It was queried how motorists would be prevented from accessing the taxi drop off area. The lack of covered bicycle racks was a concern. There was a concern that the design of the building would form a wind tunnel. It was acknowledged that the proposal was an improvement on the current frontage to the station but it was a missed opportunity to construct a comprehensive transport hub to co-ordinate services across the City.

The committee debated the application. There was division among the members of the committee.

There were objections to the application among some members of the committee who considered that:

-       The design was poor and a redesign was required. The proposals of the civic society should be incorporated into the design;

-       Fours bus bays at the hub were not sufficient;

-       There were highway safety concerns relating to reversing buses;

-       The proposed drop off/pick up point was too far from the railway station.

There was support for the case officer’s recommendations among other members of the committee but clarification was sought on the following issues:

-       A possible change to conditions to ensure that that dedicated drop off/pick spaces were allocated in the NCP car park, as a minimum 11 drop off/pick up places and 11 disabled placed. The car park was often full which would prevent the drop off/pick up arrangements as proposed in the application;

-       A possible change to conditions to include a requirement to plant screening around the perimeter of the layover area to reduce the impact of parked buses on the landscape;

-       The natural desire line for pedestrians from the student accommodation across the taxi rank to the station posed highway safety concerns;

-       The surface treatment and dressing of the local highway network should demonstrate where there was priority for pedestrians and cyclists to counter the predominance of motor vehicles on roads  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77