A RELIEF road aimed at easing traffic congestion in the centre of Bromyard now looks unlikely to go ahead.

The road to the Porthouse Industrial Estate was planned to run from the bottom of the Bromyard bypass on the A44, through the Station Industrial Estate.

But it is not be included in Herefordshire Council's unitary development plan brief - a planning blueprint outlining land use in the county up to 2011 - after councillors discussed changes at a meeting on Wednesday.

This is because the blueprint earmarks 3.7 hectares of land at the Porthouse estate for around 87 new houses. No further industrial development would be allowed there.

Bromyard councillor Bernard Hunt, who attended Wednes-day's meeting in Hereford, said it was felt the existing highways network could handle traffic created by the new housing development.

He said the Linton Trading Estate could be accessed from the main A44 and under the revisions would be set for a 5.2 hectare expansion.

The expansion might also mean changes to access would probably be made to a designated travellers' site at the rear of the estate.

"It's time Bromyard moved forward. This could be the biggest leap forward in its identity and employment development for decades," said Coun Hunt.

The suggested changes have resulted from comments by ward members, local residents and organisations when the plan was published for public consultation in autumn 2002.

But John Wilkins, a former town and district councillor, said: "Bromyard could well do with further expansion of industry irrespective of what happens on the Linton estate."

Other proposed changes also include housing at Lower Hardwick Lane being abandoned in favour of the Porthouse development and the addition of smaller housing projects.

Herefordshire Council's ruling cabinet will discuss the revisions at a meeting on Thursday, February 12.

If approved by both the cabinet and council the revisions will be put to public consultation, with a public inquiry to follow.