The Old Bridge in Hereford will reopen to all motorists once again on the 1st October, over a year after it was initially closed to motorists, except buses and taxis, in an attempt to get more people walking and cycling into the city centre and to give people plenty of room to socially distance, to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Herefordshire Council announced that changes to Emergency Active Travel Measures would be made, with a number of them already being lifted, such as:
- Footway widening in High Street Bromyard, Broad Street and King Street Hereford.
- Temporary 20mph limits in Hereford and the Market Towns
- Highway Covid warning signage in Ross on Wye & Kington
- Friday closure of High Street Leominster
- Extension to closure time of Widemarsh Street Hereford
At the end of September, the next stage of the lifting will continue, with the following happening:
Elements to be removed at the end of September;
- Old Wye Bridge Closure Hereford
- Footway widening in Bridge Street Hereford
However, some of the measures will remain in place for the time being:
- Closure of Aubrey Street Hereford
- Advisory cycle lane on Ledbury Road Hereford
Cllr John Harrington, Cabinet member for Infrastructure and Transport, said: “In line with the government’s advice that social distancing and other restrictions are no longer mandatory, we will start to return roads and pavements back to their original layout.
“During this period many hospitality outlets have applied for pavement licences which we have been happy to support to allow these local Herefordshire businesses to trade as best as possible. Businesses will be able to continue trading until these licences expire at the end of September, so that they and patrons can enjoy the summer and school holidays.
“After some consideration we have decided to keep the Old Bridge closed to non-pedestrian or cycling traffic (except emergency vehicles, buses and taxis) until the end of September. We have seen significant increases in walking and cycling in this area during the partial closure and I hope businesses who were initially nervous have seen the benefits of slower and less congested streets. The footway widening in Bridge Street will remain in place until 30 September to support the continuing closure of the Old Bridge and street pavement licences.
“I want to thank everyone for their input over the last few months, I know these measures were not universally popular but I believe this period of restrictions has allowed us to see a different way of using our streets. I am committed to providing the best environment for both continued use of motor vehicles in the centre of Hereford whilst encouraging better walking and cycling routes and better use of our pavements for hospitality outlets.
“We are working towards a masterplan for the City environs and will consult fully with all stakeholders and the public to get the best input for the vision we hopefully all share for our vibrant city and market towns.”
