Have your say on Herefordshire's future

Herefordshire residents are being urged to have their say on a major consultation launched by the West Midlands Regional Assembly.

Individuals, businesses and organisations in Herefordshire are being offered the chance to influence the big planning decisions being made in the county over the next 15 to 20 years.

The "Options" consultation, which runs until March 5, 2007, focuses on housing, employment land, transport and waste disposal and is run by the Assembly in its role as the regional planning body.

This is part of the Phase 2 Revision of the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy, setting out the framework for development across the West Midlands over the next 15 to 20 years and beyond. This plan will then set the context for Herefordshire's own Local Development Framework.

People in Herefordshire can tell the Assembly how they want to see the balance between homes, jobs, congestion and the environment by answering key questions such as:

Housing: What level and type of new housing development is right for Herefordshire? Can it accommodate up to 20,500 new homes by 2026 and if so where should they be built?

Employment: How much land should be set aside in Herefordshire for industry, offices and retail developments, and where should they go? Hereford has been identified as a strategic centre within the region, which means it could be a focus for office and retail development.

Waste: Should Herefordshire provide alternatives to landfill for all the waste it generates? If so where should new waste facilities go?

Transport: What criteria should be used to decide how many parking spaces are needed for different types and sizes of development. Is there a need to come up with different criteria for different types of settlements and also take into account public transport and accessibility? Should road charging be introduced to reduce traffic congestion in parts of the region?

Councillor Roger Phillips, leader of Herefordshire Council, said: "This consultation will be important to the future of Herefordshire and I would urge everyone to make sure they do not miss this chance to have a say on major issues such as housing, transport, waste management and employment. The results of the consultation will have a major impact on the way this area develops over the next 20 years and beyond."

To get involved people can complete the questionnaire on-line at the Assembly website at RSS Revision Phase Two or by contacting the Assembly on 0121 245 0200 for copies of the consultation document. The closing date for returning questionnaires is March 5, 2007. For further details contact Kevin Singleton at Herefordshire Council.