Hereford’s western bypass plan is back on after a key policy paper put it forward as the preferred transport option for the city.

The newly published road strategy for Hereford, commissioned by the county’s ruling Conservative administration, says that a bypass, effectively re-routing the A49 in a wide arc west of the city over a new bridge across the river Wye, would best meet the county’s strategic goals of improving transport resilience, reducing traffic in the city centre and supporting more homes and investment.

The move must still be backed by Herefordshire Council’s cabinet next Thursday (March 28) before it can progress, but this is expected to be a formality.

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Cabinet member for transport and infrastructure Coun Philip Price said: “The decision we’re taking next week is an important one for the future of our city and our county.

“We need to make sure we choose a road strategy that strengthens the resilience of our network, delivers more reliable journey times and improves road connections across the city and county.”

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He added: “We will be fully consulting with residents and businesses as we progress.”

The minority Conservative administration has already committed to phase one of the project, the southern link road between the A49 and A465 southwest of the city.

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It intends funding this from a £101-million government grant for local transport improvements, part of the windfall from the cancellation of the HS2 rail plan north of Birmingham.

Plans had progressed on the western bypass plan when the Conservatives were last in power in Herefordshire, but the scheme was cancelled by the intervening Independents for Herefordshire-Green coalition in early 2021.

Bringing the plan back was a key election proposal not just of the Tories but also the Liberal Democrats in Herefordshire’s local elections last May.