Council apology after four month delay for answers

Herefordshire Council has apologised for taking more than four months in getting back to residents who asked questions about major road schemes.

Nine residents submitted a range of questions about the proposed Hereford bypass and southern link road at the general scrutiny meeting on March 29.

The meeting was convened after councillors called in a decision by the then infrastructure cabinet member Philip Price.

He authorised officers to take all necessary steps to progress detailed design for the Hereford Transport Package to the tune of £3.65m.

Members of the public turned their backs on the committee when they voted and said representatives of Balfour Beatty Living Places and WSP should have declared an interest because their companies stood to benefit from the decision.

The submitted questions focused on funding issues relating to both road schemes and the council should have got back to them within 10 working days but they had to wait 123 to get the answers.

A Herefordshire Council spokesperson said: “Written answers were provided to the questions accepted for the committee’s meeting on 29 March.
“Nine questioners were informed that they would receive a written response.

“The council accepts that the responses have not met the council’s timeframes of providing responses to those questions within ten working days following the 29 March meeting.

“The responses to those questions were sent to the questioners on Tuesday 30 July and published on the council’s website.

“The council apologises for the delays in its response.”

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