Widemarsh Street Consultation Continues
The views of businesses, traders and residents are being sought as part of an extensive consultation over the trial pedestrianisation of Widemarsh Street in Hereford City Centre.
About 3,000 questionnaires will be sent to public buildings across the County this week (beginning September 19) as part of Herefordshire Council’s consultation.
So far 600 face-to-face interviews have already been conducted and dozens of letters have been received.
Herefordshire Council has also held an open meeting with retailers and representatives of Hereford Cathedral to gauge the initial impact of the trial.
Now the Council is stepping up its consultation process by sending thousands of questionnaire forms to libraries, Tourist Information Centres and Info Centres across Herefordshire.
The forms come attached with free post envelopes. Copies of the questionnaire may also be obtained by contacting Herefordshire Council on (01432) 260967.
The consultation will be extended to retailers and other key stakeholder groups with special retailers’ questionnaires being issued to city centre traders over the autumn.
The questionnaire will also be available on the Council’s website, www.herefordshire.gov.uk, from the end of October while Herefordshire Matters, the Council’s in-house magazine which is posted to 79,000 addresses across the County, will also carry the questionnaire and tear off slip in its November edition.
Cllr Brian Wilcox, Cabinet Member (Highways and Transportation), said: “Retailers, shoppers, bus companies, taxi drivers, tourism managers as well as other interested parties will all be able to have their say on how the trial pedestrianisation of Widemarsh Street is going.
“The Council welcomes everyone’s view. So far there has been a mixed reaction with some against and some for pedestrianisation.”
Under the trial pedestrianisation vehicles are stopped from entering Widemarsh Street between 10.30am – 4.30pm seven days a week.
This trial closure was widely called for after Transco forced the closure of a section of Widemarsh Street last summer for vital maintenance works.
