OPPOSITION councillors want to know when Herefordshire Council will announce its new plans to solve the regular tailbacks in Hereford.

True Independents councillor Bernard Hunt expressed his concerns over the increase in pollution from traffic fumes in the city in a letter to the council’s cabinet.

He asked if they could say when the current administration, which is formed by a coalition of Herefordshire Independents, It’s Our County and Green Party councillors, will set out their policies for the county’s road network.

Infrastructure and transport cabinet member John Harrington said he expects to announce a formal decision regarding the review of the planned Hereford bypass and southern link road schemes in January.

He said: “Tackling traffic congestion and air quality in Hereford is a priority for me and, together with Highways England who manage the A49, I am actively exploring ways of keeping the county moving.”

Coun Harrington said the scope of the review into both road schemes has now been developed.

“This will determine the next steps to be undertaken and a timescale for this work,” he said.

“The review will look at other options including an eastern link/river crossing, removal of traffic signals and emergency incident response arrangements to remove blockages on the city’s roads, an electric bus fleet for the urban bus network, a very light rail system and further improvements to cycle and pedestrian provision across the city including safer routes to schools.

“Meanwhile, I am also progressing an ambitious programme of other improvements to deliver public realm and active travel schemes in Hereford.

“This includes the provision of a high quality transport hub at the train station, public realm improvements on Commercial Road, Blueschool and Newmarket Street, improvements to the public realm in the High Town area and South Wye area.”

He said the council’s draft budget for next year will allocate funding to take this work forward.

Coun Harrington decided to pause the road schemes in August.

“All options need to be considered as we look to the long term and towards providing a high quality, integrated and low carbon transport system for the whole of Herefordshire, not just for the immediate future but for generations to come,” he said at the time.