Plans for more frequent and faster buses

Bus services in Herefordshire could be made more frequent and faster under new proposals.

Among a raft of measures in Herefordshire Council's draft Local Transport Plan 2025-2041, it says there should be "bus priority or bus-only access on certain streets to make bus services faster and more reliable".

It singles out Cantilupe Road, Gloucester Road and the High Street in Ross-on-Wye as spots where it will "tackle delays" caused by on-street parking.

While the council would like to see half-hourly services between Hereford and all five market towns, it will prioritise Ross-on-Wye and Leominster, as they have "the largest population and anticipated new development".

It also wants bus times to match up better with the opening hours of leisure centres and social facilities, as well as events.

The council also plans to make bus stops safer and more accessible, so has proposed putting in extra road crossings, cycle parking, lighting and CCTV around them, as well as providing real-time bus information and wi-fi at stops.

A more integrated transport policy for the county could also mean more use of shared cars, which along with shared bikes could be provided at railway and bus stations, the council said.

Local residents can give their views on the proposals online until 8 June.

Philip Price, the council's cabinet member for Transport, said the plans paved "the way for a bright, sustainable future".

The council does not operate bus services in the county, but partly funds about 10 companies to run them.

Bus travel in the county is currently capped at £3 per journey, up from £2 last year.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.