A plan to build a roundabout on the A 40 Ross by- pass, midway between Hildersley and Overross, was kicked into touch by councillors last week. Herefordshire Councillors who represent Ross and the surrounding area insisted that the roundabout scheme should only be discussed in conjunction with the controversial plans to construct 150 houses at Tanyard Lane. Councillor Joyce Davis voiced their fears: "I dislike this application, it seems to me we are running blind on certain matters. I do not consider we have been fully informed. I propose we defer the matter." The Council's Southern Area Planning sub- committee heard the Deputy-Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire, Joyce Thomas MBE, say that she was concerned about the lack of information provided in the agenda for the councillors to come to a decision. Representing affected residents, she queried whether the transport assessment for the Highways Agency had been carried out, and whether it was independent. She said: "Officers state that the applicants have undertaken traffic and noise studies to assess the impact on the roundabout. Where is this information? Why is there not a report from the West Mercia Police Constabulary? This month, four people have been airlifted from Wilton and Overross roundabouts because of serious road traffic accidents. "It is a fact that this application is to enable the developers to build on Tanyard Lane. It's about profit, not people. If councillors support this recommendation does it mean they are making a commitment to the new development? " I hope this application is deferred today to enable councillors to receive all the relevant information." Kay Lamb, a representative for Persimmon Homes, said the application was an interim arrangement until outline planning permission for the houses was agreed. Councillor Anne Gray said: "There are too many issues on the road itself. Ross Rural Parish Council has concerns about the impact on Hildersley Roundabout and the Fire Station." Councillor Mark Cunningham observed that none of the issues of the housing development seemed to have been resolved, he was concerned about the road. "Overross roundabout is seriously over- loaded," he said. "It is not acceptable to give permission for a roundabout with such sketchy information. "Why are the plans showing a four arm roundabout? Is the developer going to spend a lot of money very generously providing a farm access? This roundabout application is just a pre-emptive strike, because of the sewage and drainage problems the houses won't be built for four or five years. "If we agree to this plan, the roundabout will sit there accusingly saying 'why don't we let the poor little developers get on with it?' The housing will generate extra traffic on to Overross and Hildersley - and we will need extra money on the table to improve them. The applications should be discussed together as a whole." Councillor Godfrey Davis said: "What Councillor Cunningham says makes a lot of sense. I can't see why we need a roundabout four years before the house building can go ahead." " There should be no housing built before the sewage is sorted out in the town, or we will shoot ourselves in the foot." said Councillor Gordon Lucas. Councillor Harry Bramer said he would like to hear why the Highways Agency changed its mind after saying some years ago: "there will never be a roundabout on this stretch of road." He asked about Persimmon Homes' powers of persuasion, saying: "If they have such influence on plans for the A40, perhaps they can get a pedestrian crossing by the sheltered housing in Weston-under-Penyard which our MP wasn't able to achieve." Peter Yates, Development Control Manager for the Herefordshire Council said that the Unitary Development Plan had allocated the Tanyard Lane site for 150 new houses. He said they had put the roundabout application before the councillors after receiving pages and pages of information from the Highways Agency. The officers did not think councillors would want to spend time going through it. He said: "Tanyard Lane for housing has been thoroughly aired and modifications agreed before full council. You have to accept that there will eventually be houses on the Tanyard Lane site. There is a need for houses as a whole, not just for Ross, but through the whole Unitary Plan on a much broader canvas." He said the access was the only way through to the housing project. "If we had put the planning application for the housing scheme before you, you would have said before you build houses, build the access. "Because of the complications of a large housing site and issues to be resolved it stands on its own as an access issue. The application is just focused on the highways issue and the technical consensus is that this is the best way to go." Councillor Godfrey Davis said: "I propose we refuse this application until there is a bona fide planning application for the housing before us." Mr Yates said the outline application was already with the officers. "We haven't considered it," replied Councillor Davis. Councillors agreed that the application for a roundabout should be deferred until the planning application for the housing was put before them.
