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Phillips welcomes plans
In a press release yesterday, Herefordshire Council leader Roger Phillips welcomed new plans for the multi-million pound regeneration of a 100-acre site close to Hereford city centre, known as the Edgar Street Grid.
Local people are being asked to give their views on ideas contained in the four options before Herefordshire Council’s cabinet meets in mid-July.
“The ideas that have been presented are exciting and provide the vision we need for the development of the area over the next 20 or 25 years,” said Councillor Phillips. “The status quo is not an option for us and our partners from the public and private sectors. It is vital that local people and organisations comment on the options that have been produced over the next few weeks so that the council can take on board local views before picking one option to take forward.”
Changes to the traffic system could involve a new road taking an arc north of a redeveloped football ground, crossing Widemarsh Street, going past the station and joining Commercial Road. Plans for the development of the football ground explore the potential of an integrated conference and leisure or cinema facility and car parks would be moved and redesigned with no loss of provision.
The unveiling marks the start of an extended period of consultation which will end with the final masterplan being included in the county’s Unitary Development Plan (UDP) as supplementary planning guidance. The consultants worked with a stakeholders group which met twice over the study period to help identify the key issues for the city and the county over the next twenty years.
The group included representatives from Hereford United Independent Supporters' Association (HUISA), the Civic Trust, the Chamber of Commerce, voluntary organisations, the council, the Herefordshire Partnership, the Canal Trust, local schools, the College of Art and Design and the Courtyard Theatre. The consultants also held a series of meetings with Hereford United Football Club, key businesses, landowners and organisations within the regeneration site area.
Those interested can look at the plans at www.herefordshirepartnership.com or by visiting the council planning office at Blueschool Street. Downloading the plans from the internet does take a little time but the detail is better.
Hereford United supporters will be pleased to find that the stadium features in future plans and to have the whole area improved will transform the surroundings. However, the car park facilities are open to question as, with option one, there only appears to be one entrance/exit and with option four it is difficult to see where the parking will be. There could be an argument that to provide some sort of parking area just for away fans could be beneficial.
Another point with option four which could involve moving the pitch by 45 degrees is whether this could mean difficultues for players with sun in their eyes whilst defending the Meadow End. Of course, if the new stands are high enough this would not be a factor.
The future of Hereford United looks more certain than for some years with these new plans. Let us hope it is not too long before we see some action.