Club trying to reassure road chiefs that new floodlights won't affect traffic

Edgar Street, as seen from the south from the Old Market Shopping Centre

Bosses at Hereford FC are trying to reassure National Highways that the new floodlights at Edgar Street won't affect drivers using the A49.

The government body, which manages trunk roads including the A49 Edgar Street, said more detail was needed over any impact the delivery and constructing of the new floodlights would have.

Plans submitted to Herefordshire Council show four 21-metre energy-efficient LED floodlights would replace the four "outdated" 30-metre pylons.

As part of the consultation period before planning permission can be given or refused by the council, National Highways had to be consulted.

But the club has moved to reassure the body.

Stadium director Darren Ball, who is leading the project for the club, said items will be delivered in parts and assembled inside the stadium and access will be made at the rear of the stadium on Blackfriars Street.

He has confirmed this with the suppliers and is "confident that there will be no impact" on Edgar Street but did not mention how the old towers would be dismantled and taken away.

"I hope this helps with any concerns that National Highways have," he said, offering a conversation with himself or the project manager at supplier Musco Lighting.

It comes after Herefordshire Council's highways team, which manages local roads like Blackfriars Street, said it also needed more information, in the form of a detailed construction management plan outlining how the proposed four columns of LED lighting will be built.

Officer Hope Rees's points included how the work could affect the A49, Blackfriars Street and the council-owned Merton Meadow car park.