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Month: May 2025
B4224 Bromsash Resurfacing
As a result of a £11 million investment by Herefordshire Council (HCC), a number of roads across the county will benefit from being resurfaced this year.
As part of this investment, resurfacing works will be carried out on the B4224, in the Bromsash area in June and July. Please see the links below for details.
These lengths of road have been identified for such works following detailed and comprehensive surface and structural condition surveys that help HCC objectively prioritise where they need to invest across Herefordshire’s highway network.
The works will be taking place under a road closure and will involve the removal of the existing surface course before a new layer is laid. Where relevant, works will be undertaken to correct other highway defects including drainage. In order to protect the surface of the road once the work is complete, HCC have made utility companies aware of the work schedule and will use their statutory powers to refuse all but emergency works and new connections in this area for the next 12 months.
The programme of work may change in certain circumstances, such as bad weather. This may happen at short notice and without further written notification. All changes will be highlighted on the advance warning signs, which you’ll find onsite at the roadworks. For the most up to date information on roadworks across the county, please visit https://one.network.
Ward Councillor Report for Penyard: May 2025
At the Cabinet meeting on 1st May we agreed the setting up of a waste food service and a garden waste service. The food waste is a mandatory project and will be funded from central government; the garden waste is commercial and if interested, residents can pay an annual fee for it. Details are on the Cabinet agenda online. This should increase recycling rates to well over 50%. We also agreed to commission a professional services provider to support Highways and Infrastructure. The scope is quite wide, and details can be found in the Cabinet agenda pack on the website. The reason is to draw upon experienced people when help is required for the many projects that the Council works on. The Council does not have internal experience to deliver on the more complex design and delivery schemes.
Public Rights of Way
The Council looks after many miles of Public Rights of Ways (PROW) and is investing significant sums into the network with the help of parish councils and lengthsmen. There are some issues across the network relating to certain types of rights, particularly around green lanes, and other byways that have been problematic for some time.
Herefordshire Road improvements
I am pleased to see that this year’s highways resurfacing programme has started early. Last year we spent £8 million on road resurfacing. That was £5 million on A and B roads and £3 million on C and U roads. We also spent another £3.66 million on surfacing dressing, which is a process of adding a top layer to a road that is still effectively sound. This year we will be spending £10 million on resurfacing A and B roads, £1 million on C and U roads and a further £2.5 million on surface dressing C and U roads. This is a significant investment in the highway network. It demonstrates our clear commitment to improving Herefordshire’s roads. The rest of the highway network is prioritised for repair and is process and data driven, contrary to the many expert views expressed. Drainage and new ways to repair potholes is an urgent consideration in the procurement of the new Public Realm contract that is out for tender currently and how that challenge will be dealt with under new ways of working.
The Local Transport plan is out for consultation and can be found on this link: Herefordshire Local Transport Plan 2025-2041 consultation – Herefordshire Consultations
Other Travel news
If you regularly travel to or through Hereford, please be aware that there are major gas main works planned for the A49 from Asda towards Ross, from 24 May until the end of August. As significant travel disruption is expected, please find an alternative route for your journey during this period. Full details will soon be available on the Cadent website at Major Projects – Cadent Gas Ltd. Please share these details through your networks. It would of course have helped if we were further ahead with the river crossing and bypass to try and alleviate the congestion this will cause. The recent accident on Greyfriars Bridge that caused nine hours of delay was a significant issue and I have asked the Chief Executive to run an enquiry in conjunction with the police, as to the cost to the local economy on that day as the enforced delays had major impacts on the city and wider county and beyond. This is becoming a bigger problem as time goes by with yet another accident on the A49 city centre again today.
As ever I can be contacted on 07900 918384 and of course I should be happy to attend any parish council meetings should the Clerk request my participation for any reason.
Regards
Cllr Harry Bramer
Penyard Ward member
Cabinet member Community Services and Assets