Working in partnership for the people of Herefordshire
Council identifies potential millions for road infrastructure for the city
Herefordshire Council has taken a major step towards funding future road building without government support.
At a meeting of the Council on Friday last week, July 28, Councillors voted in favour of overturning a government inspector’s recommendation – signalling the green light for a housing development at Bullinghope.
The developers would have to cough up funds which would both go towards the cost of building the Rotherwas Access Road and contribute to further road infrastructure around the City.
The decision comes just weeks after government announced it had rejected the authority’s most recent bid for funding to help pay for the road which will service the Rotherwas Industrial Estate and take the burden of traffic off the inadequate Holme Lacy Road.
The government decision angered the Council and Cllr Roger Phillips, Leader of the Council, announced immediately that he would look at alternative ways to fund the road and “go it alone” without government funding if necessary.
At Friday’s meeting of Council, Councillors were asked to vote on whether to accept or reject proposed modifications put forward by a government inspector on the Unitary Development Plan – the blueprint for land use in the county.
The government inspector recommended that the development of 300 homes at Bullinghope be deleted from the UDP.
The Leader of the Council Roger Phillips put forward an amendment to reject this recommendation which would mean the development could go ahead and release the funds for help with the construction of infrastructure projects, including the Rotherwas access road.
“This road is crucial to the economic viability of the industrial estate.
“Government Ministers challenge councillors to stand up for the communities we represent and that’s exactly what we’re doing. We owe a great deal to those businesses that have stuck by us and our citizens who endure daily delays,” said Cllr Phillips
“We know where we stand as far as the government goes. This is my recommendation on how we can raise the funding we need to deliver what this City and County so desperately need.”
The amendment was voted on and was passed by 43 votes for, four against, with five abstentions.