A BROMYARD councillor has called for support from the North Herefordshire MP to secure funds for a new link road in his town.

Councillor Roger Page, who also stood as the Labour candidate for the constituency in the recent general election, made the plea to Bill Wiggin following the government's announcement of a £1bn road improvement fund directly funded by vehicle excise duty.

Cllr Page said Bromyard and Winslow Town Council has campaigned for years for a new link road from the A44 to the Porthouse Industrial Estate, taking away HGV traffic from a residential route and the historic town centre.

He said: "This is what the fund has been allocated for and we are asking our MP to support our bid, however only Herefordshire Council can formerly make the bid for this project.

"The town has been blighted with heavy goods vehicles causing delays and getting stuck in the town centre, often causing damage to historic buildings. The Core Strategy recognises the need for a new link road in the future but this new government initiative could make it a reality much sooner."

He added that the fund is specifically for lesser roads and not intended to be used for major city centre projects.

Mr Wiggin said he had passed on the letter to the council as they would coordinate any application for funding.

He said: "It is, of course, a good thing to have money coming from government for roads and this is why I invited Chris Grayling, the Secretary of State for Transport, to visit us here immediately after the general election.

"He visited Ledbury station and Bromyard, seeing the state of our roads for himself. I support the arguments I have seen for bypasses for Pembridge, Eardisley, Leominster, Ledbury, and Bromyard.

"There may be more places that would like a bypass too and they should ensure that they have a good plan in place for their application.

"All too often in Herefordshire we have huge lorries rumbling through our villages and a bypass can make a tremendous difference to the quality of life for residents and air quality too.

"I hope to work with the council to protect my constituents who would be affected by the proposed Hereford bypass so that it can proceed on a far less harmful route as well."