Herefordshire has had mixed fortunes in its bid for nearly £45 million of Government “levelling up” money.

Herefordshire Council has been awarded just under £20 million from the Levelling-Up Fund, worth over £2 billion nationally, for transport and travel measures in Hereford.

Headed by a new transport hub at the city’s station, the plans are to be match-funded with £5.3 million of Herefordshire’s own money.

The council says it has already invested £3 million in the hub, which will provide new bus stands and layovers, taxi and car parking areas, including commuter and short-term parking, and covered cycle facilities and lockers to encourage commuter cycling.

The travel funding package also includes measures to encourage cycling and walking elsewhere in the city, including a cycle route from the city centre via the hub to Aylestone Hill along the A465 and Commercial Road.

Blueschool Street and Newmarket Street will also get new bus priority measures, and there will be improvements to the Great Western Way, the off-road walking and cycling path to the west of Hereford.

South of the river, work will be carried out to create or improve routes for walking and cycling to the Hereford Enterprise Zone in the southeast of the city.

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There will also be initiatives to make routes to school safer for walking and cycling, and new 20mph speed limits introduced.

Council leader Coun David Hitchiner said: “The package of measures will improve connections between residential, employment and leisure locations, making it easier and safer for people to choose sustainable means of transport in Hereford.

“This will in turn provide health benefits, along with improved air quality, and reduced noise and traffic congestion.”

Hereford and South Herefordshire MP Jesse Norman, who as transport minister has responsibility for promoting cycling and walking, tweeted: "Fantastic that so many #activetravel projects have been awarded funding as part of the £2.1bn Levelling Up Fund 2 announcement today."

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However two other bids to the fund, for £19 million to develop an enterprise park for Ross-on-Wye, and £4.6 million for public realm improvements in Leominster and Ledbury, were not successful.

“Of course, we are disappointed,” added Coun Hitchiner.

“We had confidence in the strength of all three bids, but we recognise it is a competitive process, with authorities across the country vying for funding to improve their local areas.

“However, we remain committed to these other projects that are so vital to ensuring the ongoing strength of our local economy, and we will continue to explore the available funding options.”

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