To update the Committee on progress in respect of the Transport Hub concept being explored by Hereford Futures in association with the redevelopment within the Edgar Street Grid area of Hereford.

The Committee received an update on progress in respect of the Transport Hub concept being explored by Hereford Futures in association with the redevelopment within the Edgar Street Grid area of Hereford.

The Transportation Manager reported that the Transport Hub is a concept for integrating access at Hereford Railway Station which formed part of a wider set of proposals for the Edgar Street Grid area.  The Transport Hub concept was being led by the Hereford Futures team and progress had been made in terms of discussions with Network Rail and Arriva Trains who own and manage the railway station and key areas of land to the front of the station forming the existing forecourt area.  Delivery of the Transport Hub concept was contingent on progress being made in re-developing the Edgar Street Grid and implementation of the link road.  A Regional Growth Fund bid had been submitted to government to secure funding to deliver the link road with the result anticipated by the end of April 2011.  Appendix 1 from the ESG Masterplan had been appended to the agenda report to indicate the relationship between the proposed hub and the alignment of the new link road.

During the course of debate the following principal points were noted:

• It was confirmed that progress with the transport Hub was dependent on the success of the Regional Growth Fund bid for the link road from Aylestone Hill to Edgar Street.
• Based on the assumption that the funding bid had been submitted to meet economic deprivation, the Committee requested a Member briefing note outlining to the background the bid, particularly in relation to the financial and job creation aspects and the level of business support.
• The Assistant Director, Highways, Transport and Community Services reported that the funding bid had received support at a sub-regional level as being a sound technical bid.
• Mr Pickles, Project Engineer, Hereford Futures, commented that Hereford Futures were working with the Chamber of Commerce to improve job creation and skills levels in Hereford.
• Noting the close geographical relationship between the railway station and the sorting office car park and the proposed link road and transport hub, concern was expressed that should Royal Mail Group (RMG) decide to relocate the sorting office as a result then, it was suggested, this could have a detrimental effect on postal deliveries in the County.  The Project Engineer, Hereford Futures commented that any re-location of the RMG operation from its current site was a matter for the RMG alone.
• The Member for  Central Ward (in attendance) commented that as there were no plans or stated principals for how the Transport Hub would interact with other modes of transport in the City, then it would be difficult for the Committee to scrutinise the proposal.  In response the Committee noted that plans on the proposal had been available for some time and consultation had been undertaken.  The Assistant Director, Highways, Transport and Community Services pointed out that the Transport Hub was still at a concept stage, however as it developed its interrelationship to other modes of transport would need to be picked up in the Local Transport Plan.

RESOLVED: That the update on the proposed Hereford Transport Hub be noted and the Committee be provided with a Member briefing note on the background to the Regional Growth Fund bid, particularly in relation to the financial and job creation aspects.