A NEW river crossing road for Hereford could be just four years away, with the council preparing itself for a major debate.

The Hereford Times can reveal that the city faces a re-run of the east-west bypass debate of the 1980s as Herefordshire Council prepares plans for the crossing as its next big transport project.

Unlike the bypass, the crossing won’t be relying on government money to get built. The council is looking to go it alone by borrowing most of the millions needed and raising the rest through developers coveting the county.

Ideally, Plan A sees the crossing link up with the Rotherwas access road, which is opening next month. But, like the bypass plan of old, the new route has to get around the Lugg Meadows to meet the Worcester road.

Plan B pushes the crossing over the Wye at Breinton and onto the Brecon road – not acknowledged as the best solution, but seen as good enough.

Council leader Councillor Roger Phillips staked his second term at the top on getting the river crossing, telling last Friday’s full council meeting that he expected the new route to run into trouble whichever way it went – but he was ready for the fight.

“This will create opposition, let the lines be drawn. Rotherwas was the first major road project in Hereford for 40 years, I don’t intend the next project to be another 40,” said Coun Phillips.

Members heard Coun Phillips pledge that the timescale for the new route would be closer to four years than 40 .

After the meeting, the Hereford Times learned that the favoured route for the crossing skirted the edge of the Lugg Meadows rather than running right across them. Given the environmental status awarded to the meadows since the bypass battles, the straight-over option would almost certainly attract a lengthy legal action, as well as outright protest.

There will be bids for government grants, but these aren’t expected. Instead, the council will borrow much of the money needed and boost that with developer contributions and planning gains.