Hereford Bypass scrapped by councillors

The Southern Link Road project was also stopped

Author: Matt MaddrenPublished 3rd Feb 2021

Herefordshire county councillors have voted to axe the proposed western Hereford bypass and Southern Link Road projects.

The Council will instead explore the possibility of a new road linking Rotherwas to the A438 Ledbury Road east of the city.

Cabinet members agreed in December to investigate this option and also improve walking, cycling, bus services and parking measures to reduce traffic in Hereford.

But all councillors had the final say on the Hereford Transport Strategy during a full council meeting today.

Councillors Jim Kenyon and Bob Matthews unsuccessfully proposed an amendment to keep some form of a southern link road.

Work on the proposed western bypass and southern link road in Hereford was paused after the local elections in 2019.

The new coalition administration, made up of Independent, Green and It’s Our County councillors, agreed to pause and review the two major road schemes which had been planned by the Conservative Party.

And the completed review, which has cost more than £400,000, came up with six different proposals including the western bypass and an eastern crossing.

Other options include schemes which focused on improving walking and cycling networks, buses and controlling traffic demand.

Councillors who scrutinised the report at a meeting earlier last year asked council leaders to abandon the western bypass and reject other major road schemes apart from an eastern river crossing.

A total of 27 councillors voted stop the progress of the southern link road and western bypass schemes while 19 voted against and six abstained.

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