The delay in agreeing the relocation of the livestock market from the center of Hereford is slowing the progress of plans to redevelope the Edgar Street Grid which includes Hereford United's football ground.
In essence Herefordshire Council have, to date, failed to find a suitable site for relocation, which they are obliged to do, although the market is run by a private company, Hereford Market Auctioneers.
This Wednesday, March 15th, there is a public meeting to discuss the moving of the market at the Town Hall in Hereford commencing at 7.30pm.
Whether any progress comes as a result of this meeting remains to be seen. However until the new market is in operation, little progress can be made with the hoped for transformation of the area.
It could be another three to four years before any new market is operative given firstly that the council are unsure where to build it, secondly time involved in obtaining planning permission for a new site and thirdly the time after permission is granted before the market actually is ready for trading.
The council say that they will make a decision next spring on the location. That's twelve months away.
Once the market has moved, it will open up a large swathe of city centre land which is the key to unlocking the proposed Edgar Street Grid development - a ten-year regeneration scheme which will give local people a 21st-century city centre and create a significant boost to the local economy say the Council.
Therefore it will probably be at least 2020 before the Grid developement is finally completed.
Meanwhile Hereford United football club owe developers around £1 million. It is thought that this debt could be elimated or greatly reduced when the area is redeveloped by the club co-operating with the developers.
The club is currently involved with the renegoation of one of its two leases for the ground and surroundings that it uses. As with all matters of this nature, progress appears painfully slow, but it is assumed that the lease will be renewed.
With the recent enlargement of the changing rooms and the upgrading of the floodlights, Hereford United have sent out a signal to the Council and others that they are in business to stay at Edgar Street.
But any major improvement to the Meadow End may have to wait until the council finalises the plans for the whole of the Grid. They are unlikely to give the club planning permission for a new stand unless it can be tied in with other work which is in the interests of the developers.
The sooner the Council finalises their plans, the sooner Hereford United will have better facilities.
Neither can come soon enough.
Text at top (next game etc)
Next Game: Home Against Southport In The League On Saturday January 18th At 3.00pm