To receive a report on the Scrutiny Review of the Edgar Street Grid Project, held on 30 September 2008 at the Courtyard.

The Committee considered a report on the Scrutiny Review of the Edgar Street Project, held on 30^th September 2008 at the Courtyard Centre for the Arts, Hereford, presented by the Head of Economic and Community Services.

The Cabinet Member (Economic Development and Community Services) replied to a query from a Member by saying that the Council was adopting a holistic approach to the regeneration of the city, and that this included the carbon footprint.  Measures were being considered ranging from Park & Ride, the transport infrastructure and the passage of traffic through and around the city.  Discussions were underway with Arriva regarding the Transport Hub, and the first meeting of the Working Group to address the matter would take place in January 2009.  Consideration was also being given to the issue of lorry and freight transport into the city.  He added that the reduction of emissions from traffic travelling around the city looking for car parking spaces should not be underestimated.

A Member thanked Officers for the report, and suggested that it would be possible to get better engagement with the project if greater linkage could be demonstrated between the project and the city, especially on Widemarsh and Catherine Streets.  The Chief Executive, ESG Ltd said that there was a great deal of work in hand with the project, and one of the options was to siphon more traffic out of the inner ring road.  One way of doing this would be to increase the size of the link road.  The Cabinet Member added that Ben Hamilton-Bailey had been engaged as an urban design consultant and was nationally renowned in his field.  It was important that the image of the city itself should be carefully considered, and central to this was the impact of Blue School Street and the link with Widemarsh Street.  There would need to be a commonality of image for the area and choice of materials that would provide a link to the city in visual terms.  Mr Hamilton-Bailey would help to ensure that the single city concept was achieved.

The Committee considered the recommendations of the report.  It was agreed that Cabinet be requested to consider Recommendation 7.1, that the scheme be referred to as ‘The Expanded City Centre’.  It was further agreed that Cabinet be requested to consider Recommendation 7.2, subject to the following amendment: 

Consultation – The importance of full consultation is recognised both to ensure the best results for the people of Herefordshire, but also to ensure compliance with planning regulations.  ESG Ltd should continue with its current consultation (both giving and receiving) and to investigate and use other innovative methods of consultation as appropriate. 

It was agreed that Cabinet be requested to consider Recommendations 7.3 and 7.4.

A Member stated that it was imperative that better linkages should be created to the Courtyard, and asked that the recommendation be strengthened.  The Chief Executive, ESG Ltd replied to a comment from another Member by saying that there was ongoing detailed analysis of the project, and that consideration had been given to move the proposed multiplex cinema development further North on the site, and therefore closer to the Courtyard.

In reply to a further question, he went on to say that a bridge across the A49 was not entirely out of the question, but that it was not necessarily the best solution to the problem.  A bridge was appropriate were there was a differential of levels between the sides that were to be joined, but it was more appropriate wherever possible to keep pedestrians at the same level they were starting out from.  A bridge at this point over Edgar Street would also be extremely costly, and would not be an efficient use of public money.  The Director of Regeneration added that a solution to the issue of the A49 coming through the City was required.  The Council would continue to work with the Highways Agency to construct an outer distributor road and therefore allow the A49 through Hereford to be downgraded.  After a brief discussion it was agreed that Cabinet be requested to consider Recommendation 7.5 of the report.

RESOLVED:

That      (a)     the report of the Edgar Street Grid Review, in particular its Recommendations set out at section 7, as amended in item 7.2, should be submitted to Cabinet.

(b)    the Executive’s response to the Review including an action plan be reported to the first available meeting of the Committee after the Executive had approved its response;

(c)           a further report on progress with respect to the Review be made after six months with consideration then being given to the need for any further reports to be made.

                       and;

(d)           A further report on the following areas should be brought bacjk to the next meeting of the Committee: Hereford City Centre Regeneration Strategy; Support for Businesses relocating from the Grid and Inclusion of the Football Ground in the development.