Horsepower of a different sort will be using Hereford’s Racecourse if council plans to put up to 700 cars there in the city’s first park-and-ride facility get the green light.
Seen by Herefordshire Council as an important link in its strategy to solve the city’s traffic problems in an investment package to improve public transport, cycling and walking, park-and-ride is intended to provide an alternative to the car for journeys into the city centre and help reduce congestion and pollution, says a leaflet distributed to residents in the Racecourse area.
The council aims to build on the successful Christmas facility provided in recent years at the former Denco car-park in Holmer Road for motorists entering Hereford on the A49 from the north, with a Racecourse site helping to cut road accidents as well as encouraging shoppers and visitors to spend money with city traders.
They say the site would also be readily accessible for traffic entering the city from the east along the A4103 Worcester road, and from the west along the A438 via Roman Road”, says the leaflet.
Initially accommodating up to 250 vehicles, the site could be extended to hold up to 700, and would include disabled and family parking bays, a terminus with waiting areas, toilets and refreshment vending machines.
There would also be a new junction and traffic lights at the Roman Road entrance.
The site would operate from 7.30am to 7.30pm Monday to Saturday, with a frequent bus service.
The council will apply for planning permission later this year, with an opening timed for 2010.
Meanwhile the council has organised a public exhibition of the proposals at Holmer Park spa and health club, Cleeve Orchard, off Roman Road from 10am to 8pm this Monday, September 8.
Comments are invited to reach the council by Monday, September 15 at email ltpf@herefordshire. gov. uk, or write to Freepost RLSE-HHZC-TUG, Plough Lane, Hereford HR4 OLE.