£1.2 million is set to be spent by Herefordshire Council on the implementation of county wide 20mph zones, in Hereford and surrounding market towns.
A decision was made at a meeting on Thursday to approve the following movements in reserves to fund the following projects:
a. Implementation of countywide 20mph speed limit zones £1.2m.
b. School travel plan support £0.31m
c. Building retrofit and supply chain development £0.58m
d. Further development of the Eastern River crossing business case £1m
e. Reducing the backlog of Traffic regulation orders and carrying out further signing and lining £0.66m
Councillors believe that introducing 20mph speed limits in areas of Herefordshire could help improve road safety.
Councillor Harrington informed Cabinet members in June about plans for new transport measures in Hereford and was confident that reducing the speed of traffic would make roads safer.
Herefordshire Council are looking at the possible introduction of a 20mph speed limit in appropriate zones of the city. This measure will assist with the package in making these localities “streets” for people rather than a road for vehicles, reducing speed levels and increasing safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
Buses could also soon be given priority over other motorists on a busy route in Hereford city centre, if Herefordshire Council receives funding from central government.
Herefordshire Council wants to use Government money to create new bus lanes, new cycle lanes as well as enhancing current ones, plus 20mph speed limits and a new transport hub in Hereford.
Many residents will remember the short bus lane that was introduced on Commercial Road during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was around 100 yards long and was soon removed after public criticism. 20mph speed limits in many residential streets and other routes were also removed after active travel measures introduced during the pandemic were lifted.
The Council has applied for £46 million of funding for a number of levelling up projects in Herefordshire. The projects include one in the North Herefordshire constituency and one in the Hereford & Herefordshire South constituency. The application would also include money for a transport package.
As part of the transport package, Herefordshire Council is considering introducing bus lanes on routes in the city centre, including bus priority measures along Blueschool Street and Newmarket Street.
