Ledbury is one of two areas in the running to be a Herefordshire Council "quiet lanes" pilot study zone, to assess the feasibility of extending the network throughout the county.

The purpose of a quiet lanes scheme is to effectively turn some rural lanes into recreational routes to encourage walking, cycling and horse riding.

Cars would not be banned, but their speeds and frequency could be limited by measures including narrowed entrances to lanes, cattle grids and some discreet signage.

Stephen Oates, the authority's head of engineering and transportation, said that the council's engineering consultants, Halcrow, had now submitted its report.

One of two areas were likely to be considered by councillors to launch the scheme.

One is Ledbury. The other is Breinton, part of Hereford.

The Halcrow study does contain costings and, as it is yet to go before councillors for consideration, no details are being released.

Mr Oates said: "The Ledbury area is the largest being looked at for the scheme and with the highest costs."

A possible quiet lanes routes, suggested at a meeting of the Ledbury District Liaison Group in March, would link Ledbury to Colwall, via Coddington.

Mr Oates said that councillors would first be asked to consider whether the promotion of any quiet lanes project in Herefordshire was justifiable.

If they decide to press ahead, they will be asked to choose a pilot scheme area that will best allow them to assess the success of the project, with a view to eventually extending the Hereford-shire network. The date of the meeting, when these two points will be debated, is still to be fixed.

Whatever the outcome, Mr Oates said there was not money for a pilot scheme in the budget for this financial year.