PROMINENT COUNCILLOR FEARS FOR FUTURE OF HEREFORD

9.00.00am GMT Thu 9th Mar 2006

Marcelle Lloyd-Hayes, Liberal Democrat councillor for Tupsley ward, has voiced serious concerns over the redevelopment of High Town and the on-going Traffic problems in the city.

Cllr Lloyd-Hayes criticises the current traffic system with its poor road access to the Cathedral and questions the wisdom of current work to improve the City centre, work being carried out even though Hereford is due to host the Three Choirs Festival this year.

Cllr Lloyd-Hayes writes:

'Once every three years this city has the chance to show itself off when it hosts the international Three Choirs Festival…But what will Hereford have to show off this year: congestion on the A49; no pedestrian access to Castle Green and a city centre that is in a state of redevelopment?'

In addition to the inconvenient timing of the large-scale refurbishment, she calls attention to the great number of residents who have 'raised concerns about the poor quality of design' and believe that 'the budget will not achieve the outcome all expect.' The budget in question being £2 million, a sum unlikely to allow the work to be carried out to a satisfactory standard.

'We all know the £2 million budget for High Town will only be a quick fix, I think we should let the dust settle on the upheaval of the past three years and delay it for a year while other funding sources are investigated and quality designs are implemented.'

The redevelopment work in High Town and the management of traffic flow are responsibilities of the Conservative-led Herefordshire Unitary Council, rather than the Liberal Democrat Hereford City Council.