Herefordshire Council has unveiled detailed plans for a new £6 million access road to Rotherwas.
The road will secure Rotherwas as the key industrial base for Hereford and confirms the council's commitment to overcoming the current access problems to the site.
A planning application for the proposed Rotherwas Access Road, submitted on Wednesday, September 4, makes clear the vital importance the Council attaches to this scheme for the future economic success of the Rotherwas Industrial Area and Hereford itself.
The new road, a 3.3 km (2 miles) long single carriageway road, will link the A49 trunk road near the Grafton Inn to Holme Lacy road in Rotherwas.
At an estimated cost in the region of £6 million, it will pass below the Hoarwithy Road, just south of Green Crize, and cross the foot of Dinedore Hill to enter the industrial estate at Gatehouse Road.
Extensive investigations have been carried out during the design process to ensure that the impact on the local environment is minimised and the design incorporates large areas of landscaping and much of the route will be in shallow cutting.
Cllr Chris Chappell, Cabinet Member (Economic Development), stressed the importance of the new road and said: "This Planning Application for the Rotherwas Access Road marks a key stage in a project that is vital to the future development of Rotherwas as the industrial base of Hereford.
"Herefordshire Council has made absolutely clear that it is committed to overcoming the inadequacies of the current access into Rotherwas from Holme Lacy Road. We intend to provide the infrastructure necessary for the long term development of this major industrial area.”
Cllr Chris Grover, Cabinet Member (Environment), said: “The design of the new road demonstrates the importance we place on balancing our economic and environmental ambitions for Herefordshire.
"We've carried out exhaustive studies to establish the best overall design for this road, which will bring long awaited relief to the communities on the Holme Lacy Road whilst recognising the constraints of any development within Herefordshire’s beautiful countryside.”
The Rotherwas Access Road is a key element of Herefordshire Local Transport Plan. Subject to Planning Approval, construction is expected to start in 2005 with completion in 2007.