Central government, via the Dept of Transport, has announced “Destination Hereford” had been successful in winning just under £5million from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund, payable over a number of years. This is excellent news in Hereford as it means that not only does Herefordshire Council get extra funding for sustainable transport measures, many of which are long overdue, but the council is now committed to delivering them.
As the Herefordshire Council submission shows:
- 67% of Hereford residents travel less than 5km to work.
- School travel can increase peak hour traffic flows by up to 52%, effectively doubling the number of cars on the roads during term times.
Implementation will be carried out by the Major Commissions Board, which manages key projects for the Council. Political engagement will be delivered through weekly briefings to the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation and briefings to the Council’s Environment Scrutiny Committee. This last element is now not possible due to the abolition of the environment scrutiny committee so we are awaiting an announcement as to how political engagement will be handled under the new regime.
It is good to read that Herefordshire Council “will also be leading by example: the Council’s travel plan has achieved significant reductions in car use over the past 8 years and we will use our best practise to demonstrate how to change organisational culture and foster a pro-active approach to sustainable travel”.
At Cabinet last week when Cllr Hubbard mentioned the number of free council car parking vouchers on display in the council owned public car parks Chief executive Chris Bull said that the matter was under consideration along with public car parking charges. Hopefully the new free car park at Plough Lane will also form part of this review.
However, the comments made in the fund submission about the importance of sustainable travel modes such as school buses; rural bus services; cycling and walking, something where Hereford could be a leader, are in stark contrast to comments in Cllr Jarvis’ report to full council this Friday (15th July 2011) where he states: “Finally I must report meeting with both Herefordshire’s MP’s regarding our referendum promise to create a second river crossing and relief road. I am determined to bring plans forward for a relief road that takes traffic from the A49 fully around the city – not half way and not pursuing a route that stands no chance of success. The future without a full relief road is unthinkable, and I am committed to its delivery.”
