A LEADING opposition councillor claims there has been no genuine research into the feasibility of a possible bypass route east of Hereford.

Independent group leader Bob Matthews believes the lack of objections from government agencies to proposals for a farm access road being built just yards from the Lugg Meadows nature reserve shows a bypass could be built there.

Councillor Matthews says engineers could design a route along the base of the Tupsley Ridge, with no adverse impact to the nearby meadows and at a third of the cost of the current proposals west of the city.

“Neither Natural England nor Historic England had any notable objections, there were in fact no objections from the city or the local parish councils,” he said.

“This proves what we have suspected over recent years, that there has not been any effort made by Herefordshire Council to genuinely research the viability of an eastern route.”

He believes the council could afford to spend up to £40m on improving the Bridge Sollars Road and complete an eastern bypass project for around half the estimated western route cost.

“Councillor Price continues to tell us that a western bypass would drastically reduce air pollution and carbon emissions within the city corridor, yet our own officers have repeatedly stated in the past, that the bulk of the traffic will continue over the present bridge into the city centre and independent engineers at various public meetings have confirmed a western route could produce an additional 30,000 extra vehicles from proposed local development,” he said.

He said his group always supported another city bridge over the Wye and accepted the principle of ‘reasonable development’ to the west.

A Herefordshire Council spokesperson said they have done detailed studies to identify a bypass corridor both sides of the city.

He said: “The eastern bypass options were reassessed, and confirmed the significant risks associated with both a full and partial eastern bypass. Additional analysis indicated that a western route would also support more new homes and generate more jobs than a full or partial eastern route.

“A possible eastern bypass has therefore been deemed unsuitable due to its significant environmental impacts and lesser benefit for the local economy.”