I HAVE been driving to the northern end of Green Lane to access the level track in Dog Hill. Whilst doing so, I have been amazed and appalled, not only by the volume of traffic using Knapp Lane, but also by the speed at which vehicles travel along these narrow roads.

Some years ago, when a friend and I had perforce rode our horses along at least part of this route, we conducted a survey of all residents in those lanes, together with those living in Knapp Ridge, Knapp Close, Bank and Homend Crescents, in order to ascertain if they were concerned by the use of the route as a bypass for commuting traffic.

More than 90 per cent of respondents believed this level of usage to be unacceptable.

The findings were forwarded to Herefordshire Council, who declined to take any remedial action as there was no concensus on the possible alternatives.

More recently, traffic-calming measures were introduced, seemingly with no effect.

Now this vexed question is again under discussion and the council’s suggestion is to impose a one-way system between The Homend and Knapp Ridge.

I sympathise with those in Bank Crescent: already choked with parked vehicles on both sides of the road, the prospect of diverted traffic streaming past their doors is grim indeed.

A far better solution, and one which causes minimum inconvenience to those living in the area, would be to close to westbound traffic either the section of road between the Worcester Road and Lambert’s Cross, or that from Lambert’s Cross to Bradlow Lane.

There will be a need for adjustment to the Top Cross trafficsignals, to give preference to vehicles emerging from the Worcester Road, but apart from that, drivers have unimpeded access to the by-pass with its choice of two fast routes to Hereford – either along the bypass itself or via Preston Cross and the Trumpet.

In my 27 years experience of living in Worcester Road, either of these routes is preferable to fighting one’s way through the town.

MARY WINFIELD
Ledbury