Also on Friday 13th…
73 people braved the pouring rain on Friday, 13th November to come to Weobley Village Hall to hear the first ever public debate on the Edgar Street Grid Development. Speaking in favour were Herefordshire Council Leader Roger Phillips and ESG Herefordshire Ltd Chief Executive, Jonathon Bretherton. Opposing the ESG – at least in its current form – were Cllr Mark Hubbard, Chair of It’s Our City and Bob Clay, Secretary of It’s Our City. Both teams were given a half an hour to present their cases.
Cllr Roger Phillips told the meeting that Advantage West Midlands has made Hereford a (funding) priority and that we must act soon to ensure that the money isn’t lost.
Cllr Phillips went on to say that diverting the Yazor Brook will release land (Merton Meadows car park) to allow 800 homes to be built; and that the link road between the A49 and the bottom of Aylestone Hill will take much of the inner ring road traffic. He also pointed out that the old city centre will not miss out as Widemarsh Street will be upgraded next year, a project set to last 44 weeks!
Jonathan Bretherton promised that Hereford will gain more car parking spaces than will be lost at Merton Meadows (current provision 800). He said the ESG development will take place over the next 10 to 15 years, with the relief road being completed in stages.
Mark Hubbard and Bob Clay gave an impassioned plea for the retail development to be sited closer to the city centre, also for adequate car parking adjacent to the centre. Mark said that the retail bubble had burst, and that because of the internet and government pressure on consumer credit, retail would never be the same again. If ever there was a time to re-think Hereford’s retail development it was now. Mark suggested that traders in the Buttermarket could be re-sited and the market redeveloped for a large retail outlet. He said he had consulted Buttermarket traders who appear to be willing to move elsewhere in the city centre if that will ensure a more vibrant and successful retail sector.
After about three-quarters of an hour of questions and answers, Roger Phillips and Mark had five minutes to summarise their cases. The chairman of the meeting then invited the audience to vote on two issues: whether they were in favour of a retail park on the cattle market; and which team of speakers had had the better of the debate. Both votes were won by the It’s Our City team by substantial majorities.