Cycle Hereford

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Herefordshire Council has commissioned national public spaces charity Living Streets to carry out a Community Street Audit of the walking environment in the St. Owen Street area of Hereford. This project is part of the Council’s ongoing work to improve walking and cycling routes to and from the city centre.

The aim of this audit is to provide the Council with an overview of the issues facing people using the St. Owen Street area on foot, and to draw up a list of possible ideas that would improve conditions for pedestrians and cyclists in the area. The audit may identify opportunities to improve the street scene and change the way road space is used, or indicate a need for better street lighting, removal of obstructions, improvements to footway surfaces, or better crossing points, for example.

We need to know what you think about walking and cycling in the St. Owen Street area. Please come along to one of our informal Community Consultation Meetings being held discuss the audits and to brainstorm the key issues affecting walking and cycling in St. Owen Street – these meetings will take place in St. Peter’s Hall, St. Peter’s Square, Hereford at 2pm and again at 7pm on Thursday 27th November 2008.

The meetings will let us explain the processes Living Streets adopts, and will give you an opportunity to raise your issues and ideas for the streets in your area. We also hope to recruit volunteers (of all ages and abilities) at these meetings to come on the audits.

The essential part of the audit process is a live assessment of the streets and public spaces through your eyes, to harness your local knowledge and experience. To achieve this, Living Streets will be conducting a series of short community walking audits with volunteers in the St. Owen Street area on Friday 28th November at 2pm and again at 7pm, and on Saturday 29th November at 10am and 1pm. We will walk the streets in small groups and listen to what you think of the routes, so please do put the dates in your diaries now!

We are keen to hear from as many different people as possible, so we are inviting representatives from residents groups, local councilors, community groups, businesses and other interest groups to take part. The final times and meeting points for the audits will be agreed on the 27th November, depending on the likely numbers of volunteers we have.

If you know of someone who would like to join in, please pass on this invitation. We need as many people (of all ages) taking part as possible, so please mention this to your friends, colleagues, neighbours and family. If you cannot make the meetings but would like to make comments about walking and cycling in the St. Owen Street area, please contact myself, Mairead or Stuart by phone or e-mail as listed below.

I hope you will take part in these audits – it really is your chance to let us know what you think about walking and cycling in your local area, and how St. Owen Street could possibly be improved. It would be helpful if you could let us know if you can come to the meetings and/or the audits. Please contact us:

• Sue Webber on 01483 476612 or 07958 533260 or by e-mail on csa.leader@livingstreets.org.uk.
• Mairead Lane, of Herefordshire Council, on 01432 260944 or e-mail mlane@herefordshire.gov.uk
• Stuart Nowell, of Amey, on 01432 377179 or e-mail Stuart.Nowell@amey.co.uk

I look forward to meeting you at the Community Consultation Meetings on the 27th November. Please do contact me, Sue Webber, if you need any further information, or if there is anything that you would like me to clarify. SUE WEBBER, LIVING STREETS COMMUNITY STREET AUDIT LEADER
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