Keetch "Absolutely Delighted" With Herefordshire Transport Boost

12.00.00am GMT Thu 14th Dec 2000

Hereford's Liberal Democrat MP Paul Keetch says he is absolutely delighted with Herefordshire Transport settlement announced by the Government this morning. The boost in funds - more that double the current allocation - means that the Council can proceed with the planned Rotherwas Relief Road, and improvements to the Roman Road. Spending on integrated transport schemes will rise from £1.2 million in the current year to £2.5 million next. The Highways maintenance budgets jumps from £1.9 million to £4.3 million.

"This is great news", said Mr Keetch. "After the last Conservative Government downgraded Hereford's By Pass and this current Labour Government removed it from the Roads program, I have been working hard to get approval for these two schemes. This will be the first major Road Building in Hereford City for over 25 years. Even up to last minute I was lobbying hard - I met with Transport Minister Keith Hill last night! This vindicates what I have been saying and doing - that a full By Pass won't happen yet but we can get major schemes approved in the mean time."

The Roman Road improvements are due to be completed within three years and the Rotherwas Relief Road built within five years. This is another triumph for Keetch who has developed close links with the current Government. Herefordshire was one of the first counties to get an Education Action Zone - pumping an additional £5 million into local schools. Hereford is also getting a new acute Hospital - the biggest construction project, in financial terms the County has ever seen. Now today's announcement adds a transport plan to the schemes Paul Keetch has been instrumental in achieving.

Mr Keetch believe that high profile events like the two Herefordshire Days at the House of Commons have put the county on the political map. By attracting Ministers to the events - and by arranging meetings for Business Groups to meet face to face with Ministers, Paul Keetch believes that Herefordshire voice is being heard in a way it never was before. "For the whole eighteen years of the last Conservative Government we had a Conservative MP who failed to achieve any major Road projects in Hereford", said Mr Keetch. "Today we have achieved two.