Thousands of residents are expected to participate in discussions to help turn Herefordshire into a new land of opportunity, with more and better paid jobs, more decent and affordable homes, and better transport links.
Herefordshire Council is launching next week (Monday 18 January 2010) the Shaping Our Place 2026 consultation, the findings of which will affect everyone who lives and works in the county.
The consultation runs from 18 January to 12 March 2010 and launches with a public drop in event at the Kindle Centre at Asda in Hereford from 10am to 4pm. The council is holding several exhibitions and road shows across the county in the coming weeks, as well as workshops in schools and colleges. People’s views will be analysed and proposed policies developed and presented back to cabinet later in 2010 and publicised, before being submitted to the Secretary of State, who will arrange for a public examination and inspector’s report with final adoption anticipated in 2011.
It provides a chance for everyone to help finalise the Local Development Framework, which will be the blueprint for planning and developing Herefordshire for the future.
In parallel, the council is also running a consultation on the Local Transport Plan, which will be adopted by April 2011 and will drive the county’s transport strategy for the next 15 years.
The consultation is driven by the need to grow the county. Herefordshire has below average wage levels for the region but above average house prices. There are 5,000 people on the county’s housing waiting list and demand is high for homes that are decent and affordable.
Herefordshire is recognised as providing a good education. But without a university, or sufficient higher education to build skills and qualifications, or good career prospects, the council knows young people are more likely to find better prospects elsewhere.
The county also needs more enterprises, offering high quality jobs. More space for employment land has to be found. Growth in the county will provide stronger markets for local firms to thrive and prosper - and safeguard local essential public services.
Sorting out Hereford’s traffic problems is a major priority. Previous consultation shows that most local people feel that a blend of public transport improvements and a new relief road and second river crossing is the preferred solution. However, the route – either to the west or the east of the city – needs careful consideration and the consultation details the implications of either option. Leominster is also identified as requiring a southern relief road.
The strategy for the market towns is to further promote their roles as service and economic centres for their rural hinterlands but also improve links with Hereford. Several villages could see development designed to increase affordable housing and sustain essential services, including schools, and new shops, along with rural transport improvements. The options are also to promote extended employment land and more enterprise centres to encourage the creation of new jobs, particularly creative industries and environmental technologies to boost the economic viability of villages.
“Herefordshire Council needs you to share your views now in what will be one of the most important consultations ever to take place in the county”, said Councillor John Jarvis, cabinet member for environment and strategic housing. “The council wants to help create a land of opportunity, right here in Herefordshire, for all our communities.
“Herefordshire has the room and freedom to grow, while retaining its special heritage and environment. Everyone has a view about how Herefordshire can be improved – whether we need a relief road for the city, more decent and affordable homes, a university or better-paid jobs. But it will be up to local people to help grow the right future for the county, the city and the market towns”.
The review of the transport strategy, which will cover the same 15-year period as the Local Development Framework, is intended to align transport policy with the wider needs of the county and will help coordinate support for growth. The Local Transport Plan consultation enables local people to let the council know what their priorities for transport are for the county, whether it is greater public transport investment, more cycle routes, better highway maintenance or further road safety improvements.
Members of the public wishing to comment can access the consultation documents on the Place Shaping Option Stage page Literature can also be picked up from council facilities like info shops and libraries.
More public events are expected to be announced by Herefordshire Council soon, but the following have been arranged:
- 18 Jan - Launch at Kindle Centre, Asda, Hereford. Turn up any time from 10am to 4pm
- 26 Jan - Public event at the Town Hall, Hereford from 10am to 1pm
- 02 Feb - Road show at Ross Market Square. Visit any time from 10am to 1pm
- 03 Feb - Road show at Leominster Corn Square from 10am to 1pm
- 04 Feb - Road show at Evans Easyspace at Rotherwas, starting 11am
- 09 Feb - Road show at Kington Mill Street Car Park from 10am to 1pm
- 11 Feb - Road show at Bromyard Tenbury Road Car Park from 10am to 1pm
- 13 Feb - Road show at Hereford High Town from 10am to 3pm
- 23 Feb - Road Show at Ledbury St Katherine Street Car Park from 10am to 1pm
- 23 Feb – Evening event at Hereford’s Aylestone School from 6pm to 8pm
- 24 Feb - Road show at Ewyas Harold Memorial Hall Car Park from 10am to 1pm