Scrap the Western Relief Road/Hereford Bypass

It's been somewhile since we updated this petition but a lot has been happening while we were beavering away in the background. Huge strides have been made in recent weeks with a change in the council make up following May Elections. Thank you all for sending a clear message through the ballot box that this road, in the face of all the changes to our environmental needs, is not appropriate on so many levels.

While we are not counting chickens yet, the signs are looking good.
Thank you all.

Herefordshire Council’s new cabinet has asked officers to compile reports on the financial implications of stopping major infrastructure schemes such as the proposed bypass and southern link road.

Green Party group leader Trish Marsh said stopping the bypass was an electoral promise many of the new councillors were elected on.

She said they were looking at other ways of addressing transport issues in the city.

John Harrington (IOC), cabinet member for infrastructure, said the new administration is carefully considering all the implications of deciding whether to proceed with the road projects.

“The cabinet is taking into account the full financial implications before a decision is taken,” he added.

https://www.herefordtimes.com/news/17716119.end-of-the-road-for-hereford-bypass/

Herefordshire County Council has made preservation orders on the corridor of trees that flank Kings Acre road in Hereford.

This development could further hinder any future attempts for a bypass to cut across the western entrance to the city.

“Many of the trees would be felled, and the whole character of the avenue destroyed, if plans for a western bypass and Three Elms housing were to progress.

“Giving protection to these 63 splendid trees is vital to the character, amenity and attractiveness of the area.

“They were planted in the 1930s and form an important unbroken avenue that is the finest gateway to the city."

“The trees within the order have significant landscape, heritage, biodiversity and public amenity value,” the council notice reads.

https://www.herefordtimes.com/news/17726874.orders-protect-trees-that-lie-in-the-path-of-proposed-bypass/

Here for those with the stomach or forensic interest is the complete Questions From the Public session.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qGeMgHIZnQ

A mass cycle ride through the city, followed by a rendevous with other people on foot drew a growing groundswell of support, with a staged "die-in" to add drama to the occasion.
https://youtu.be/mJD_qyudWQ8

Residents of Kings Acre Road have been adorning the avenue of limes with red ribbons in protest against the RED ROUTE for a "bypass". Five homes will be destroyed, and parts of the gardens of at least four more will be taken, leaving them living right on top of a big roundabout junction.

According to plans published in recent Herefordshire Council Agenda papers, the Bay Horse pub will lose part of its car park to the roundabout. How can it possibly remain a viable business?

Remember everyone living in this area or passing through will have to put up with months/years of very noisy, dusty construction work with reduced access and diversions.

At the same time we expect 1200 homes to be built on the adjacent Three Elms site, with more construction traffic coming and going there, and more junctions to be built on Kings Acre Road. This is too much disruption all at once, especially for local elderly or sick people.
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We went with a Free Radio reporter to the Bay Horse to meet with some very unhappy residents, and to emphasise the Council cabinet's behaviour toward people affected by both stages of the stealth bypass, we met also with a victim of the SLR. Remarkably consistent on both roads. Totally lacking humanity or any kind of manners or consideration.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyJDMUBycCE

Things are moving along with an unholy rush from the cabinet of this council. Can you smell the fear? People are waking up and realising just how much mayhem this scheme will cause.
Following on the from the choice of route we have had the travesty of pre-scrutiny which didn't scrutinise very much because opposition councillors effectively had their hands tied behind their backs ... If it wasn't so serious this would almost be worthy of a Brian Rix farce. Democracy is long since dead. We looked forward to written answers, maybe ..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW_4lYqrrMw

We've reached another crunch time with the Council cabinet playing dirty, well that is a surprise. We knew the 7 proposed routes would be narrowed to two, or possibly one as has happened, but the manner of presentation was less than satisfactory.
Letters delivered to residents potentially about to lose their homes, just three hours before details of the chosen route for the bypass being published, with no personal contact or visit. A blatantly unholy rush also to push this scheme through without the proper procedures. Over 1800 pages to be examined with only a little over a day to examine and raise questions by 5pm on Thursday.
Scrutiny are hardly likely to have time either to decide rightly whether this should be passed before their meeting next week.
A good turn out of residents the following morning to meet with Nicola Goodwin from BBC Hereford & Worcester, and express their feelings at the way they have been treated.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qr4eGLRBTM

In this episode an unusual aspect of poor traffic management is exposed, empty shops symbolise what Phil Rickman eloquently described as a 'venerable oak dying from the inside.' A look at the seats of power as they appear but we know the culture of secrecy that enables decisions behind closed doors.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrbzoULeIxc

Another campaign group say we need sustainable measures now (whether a bypass is eventually built or not) as the pollution from engines running at lights is too high and if you are a pedestrian or cyclist you are seriously handicapped if arriving at our railway station. This is their video on what you find as a visitor to Hereford arriving by rail.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50GCqnkdZuw

After looking at the light timing in December we returned in April to see if things have improved and given that this was in school holiday time, conclude that if Balfour Beatty can't get this right, why would we trust them with a bypass through new building estates with even more junctions. One of youtube's suggested tags below was 'flying pigs.' Seems apt to us. You need wings to cross the road as a pedestrian.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AlS-Koakg0

Got your bicycle clips ready?
Folks are signing up for our first event this Friday, 25th May - departing Hereford railway station at 10.00am for a short ride through the city and back to Shire Hall by 10.20am.

Come and join us and be part of this growing movement for progress. We must stop these roads before the Council turns Hereford into a failed city.

If you would like to do your bit but don't want to cycle, you can join our foot team to hand out leaflets and speak to the public. PM us at our facebook page.

So, we've been a little quiet on here, but it doesn't mean we are idly twiddling fingers, or that you should give up while thinking we have. The battle to save our county is still rumbling on.
What can you do alongside getting everyone you know to wake up and sign this if they haven't already? Petitions seldom achieve their aim without other things going on alongside it.
Don't forget, for instance, that you can also write directly to make your representations:
Department for Transport, Great Minster House, 33 Horseferry Road, London, SW1P 4DR
and explain in polite terms the reasons you think this road should not be built.

Ironic that Herefordshire Council want to destroy the landscape of Belmont House designed by Humphrey Repton (1752-1818), by pushing a "BYPASS" through the middle, and yet they are already advertising an exhibition to celebrate his work starting in October!
https://www.facebook.com/1641955076069089/photos/a.1649577801973483.1073741834.1641955076069089/2031760633755196