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The Society's Chair is

Jeremy Milln

Contact details

Tel: 01432 357085; Mob: 07779 034457

E-mail: Jeremy.Milln@gmail.com

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​​The Society’s Chair, at the invitation of the Editor

of the Hereford Times contributes an occasional

“Opinion Piece” for Herefordshire’s principle

weekly newspaper of record.

 

Previous articles see Topics Tab E-K

Hereford Times Opinion Pieces​

 

TALKING POINT HEREFORD TIMES - 8th January 2026 

 Though not native to Hereford I love getting around the City. It is big enough to offer everything one needs and yet small enough to reach places quickly. Its beautiful historic centre is walkable and the whole of it cycle-able in fifteen minutes. Obviously in a car or bus it can take frustratingly longer, so how do we improve the experience for everyone?  Prioritising new motor roads makes congestion worse due to 'induced demand'. Transport planners have long understood that viable alternatives to driving in cities like safe cycling and efficient public transport are the future for growth, well-being and the environment.

 

A senior County highways officer at a meeting recently about Hereford's challenged bus service reminded me about Herefordshire Council's 'Metro Study' commissioned from consultants Halcrow in 2001. 'We really need a tram system' the officer said, quickly adding 'but unfortunately I wont see it in my lifetime'.

 

The Metro Study envisaged a light rail transit loop with the GWW shared with walking and cycling at its heart. This would ultimately connect park & ride, the HEZ and suburban developments with the city centre using prioritised signalling at junctions. Gareth Calan Davies was an enthusiast, later presenting to a polite Civic Society audience about advances in the technology including electric trams not requiring overhead lines, making the idea seem more achievable.

 

Tram systems cost more to set up than buses but are cheaper in operation. Even so Halcrow's 2001 cost benefit analysis suggested they would not produce a strong financial return. However what trams do, being quiet, clean and predictable, is make cities more liveable, affordable and accessible. Visit any with modern trams and it is striking how much more persuasive they are than buses or cars, saving road space, pollution, parking hassle and cost.

 

Bath, a city much the size of Hereford, is planning for trams within our lifetimes. Hereford could demonstrate similar vision and ambition.

 

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