A REVIEW of Ledbury train station, followed by a mayor upgrade programme, could be one outcome of Herefordshire Council's Local Transport Plan, which was adopted by the county council last Friday (May 20).

Improvements could include better parking, better integration with local bus services, improved cycle access and improved disabled access, to take place during the next fifteen years, the time-period covered by the plan.

There will also be a transport study for Ledbury, to look into the market town's future needs.

And Herefordshire Council will also "lobby for rail service capacity and infrastructure improvements".

Ledbury Town Council was consulted for the plan, and one idea put forward by the town council, relating to improve rail links, is the idea of re-opening old stations and halts along the line from Ledbury to Hereford, at rural locations including Trumpet or Ashperton, Tarrington and Bartestree.

Both the town council and Herefordshire Council also want to see better co-ordination and integration between local bus and rail services.

The town council has also pushed for the so-called "Ledbury Link", which would be a river crossing to the east of Hereford, allowing better links to employment areas, such as the Hereford Enterprise Zone.

The town council submission said this "would benefit the town economically and would also benefit the residents, forty per cent of whom already commute to work elsewhere in the county and beyond".

Concerning the transport study, the town council wants the traffic problems at the junction of the Hereford and Bromyard roads looked into.

With a major new housing estate of over 600 new houses planned for beyond the viaduct, and with the single favoured point of access at present being off the already busy Bromyard Road, Ledbury Town Council recognises that "these traffic movement issues also affect our neighbours at Wellington Heath and at Staplow".

Herefordshire’s Local Transport Plan for the county sets out "to enable economic growth; provide a good quality transport network for all users; promote healthy lifestyles; make journeys safer, easier and healthier, and to ensure access to services for those living in rural areas".

Councillor Philip Price, cabinet member infrastructure said: “The adoption of the plan is a significant move forward as it sets out the council’s strategy for supporting economic growth, improving health and protecting the environment.

"The council is taking forward a strategy based on sustainable growth – more homes including affordable housing and jobs in the right locations. The adopted Core Strategy sets out our plans for sustainable growth – 16,500 new homes, more jobs at the Hereford Enterprise Zone and other employment sites around the county and enabling infrastructure which will support this new development.”

Councillor Graham Powell, cabinet member economy added:“This plan is a fundamental milestone in delivering the improved infrastructure to support Hereford’s growth. This important piece of infrastructure will support the development of much needed homes and thousands of new jobs.

We are moving into an exciting time for Hereford, and the local transport plan sets out the direction of travel up until 2031, delivering economic growth and improved opportunities for everyone."

Councillor Paul Rone, cabinet member roads and transport said: “We now have a strong strategy in place setting out our highway maintenance and investment priorities for the county. Safety, as always is paramount and we are targeting investment into maintaining a safe network.

"I welcome the plans to work more closely with schools to encourage more walking, cycling and bus journeys to school and reduce the numbers of short distance car journeys.”