Councillor apologises over bypass comments

A leading county councillor has apologised for announcing on national TV that the Hereford bypass had been cancelled before a vote on the issue took place.

Cabinet member and former MEP Ellie Chowns featured in a Green Party political broadcast last week in which she said her party is part of a three-way coalition that had cancelled a proposed bypass.

However, while Herefordshire Council leaders agreed in December to drop the proposed western bypass and southern link road projects, the final decision was made this Tuesday at a meeting of all county councillors.

“I’d like to apologise sincerely to colleagues and residents for any confusion or concerns caused by the poor choice of words I used on TV last week.

“I should have said explicitly and specifically that our coalition cabinet had voted in December to recommend stopping the proposed bypass.

“But I do absolutely recognise that this meeting of full council now needs to consider that cabinet recommendation.

“And I’d like to assure colleagues that I’ll consider the debate with an open mind today and come to a view based on the evidence before us in all of the papers and also all the contributions in the debate today.”