Herefordshire Council's ongoing commitment to the regeneration of Hereford has been reaffirmed this week with moves to enable the authority to buy the land and rights needed for the Yazor Brook flood alleviation scheme.
The flood alleviation scheme will directly protect 115 homes and businesses in Hereford and was given full approval by Herefordshire Council's planning committee, in October 2009.
It is also an essential part of the plans to improve the infrastructure in the city, including the proposed link road, which will ease traffic congestion and join up planned redevelopment to revitalise the city.
The council authority made a Compulsory Purchase Order, to enable it to acquire all the land and rights necessary for the flood alleviation scheme.
The decision to make a Compulsory Purchase Order was made by Councillor Wilcox, Cabinet Member Highways and Transportation, in October last year.
Councillor Brian Wilcox, said: "We remain totally committed to this scheme and have already secured more than £4million in funding from the regional development agency Advantage West Midlands (AWM).
"We're publishing this order at this time to ensure we can meet our timetable for the start of work on site.
"If possible, we intend to acquire any land or rights required by agreement. However, it's vital that we ensure that the council acquires all the land and rights on which work is due to be carried out. In case we can't reach agreements with landowners by the required date, we are proceeding to make the formal arrangements to compulsorily purchase land and acquire rights, but with everyone's co-operation, hopefully this will not be necessary," he added.