ELLIE Chowns, the new MP for north Herefordshire, has spoken to the Hereford Times for the first time since the general election.

She discussed proposals for a bypass in Hereford, her favourite burger from the Beefy Boys, and her plans for tackling river Wye pollution.

Dr Chowns, north Herefordshire's new Green MP who replaced the Conservatives' Bill Wiggin. said the main local issue she's hoping to tackle is water pollution. 

"I got into politics because I'm concerned about the climate," she said. "I really want the rivers to be in better nick. Our rivers should be beautifully clean, but I know that's going to take a long time.

"The attention this election has brought has been really positive for the county. I think we've got such a beautiful, green county. I would like that the fact that we've now got a Green MP to help the natural world to thrive here."

When asked about her thoughts on a potential bypass in Hereford, either on the east or west of the city, Dr Chowns said she thought this would not be good value for money.

"For me, the bypass is a bit of a red herring, because actually, the vast majority of the traffic in Hereford city centre is traffic that's trying to get into the city or get around within the city, so a bypass really won't resolve the problem. The papers show that it would give a maximum two to four minutes' congestion reduction. 

"The reality is there's definitely going to be no government money for bypass. Let's work with the money the government has told us we can have for transport and do something quick and relatively cheap, like buses to get to school rather than parents having to drive through the city."

Dr Chowns also spoke about her experience as a "newbie" in Parliament, and her maiden speech which she made last month.

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In her speech, she mentioned local business the Beefy Boys, an award-winning burger restaurant.

She said it was her sons' favourite place to eat, and that while her kids go for "the most massive, multi-layered burgers possible and bacon fries", as a vegetarian she usually orders the beany boy. 

"But the day after I got elected, I had the leafy boy," she said. "It was particularly delicious".

Dr Chowns says her aim in her tenure is to be a "really accessible MP" to local constituents, and that she will focus on her goals of renewing the economy, repairing the NHS, and restoring the rivers.