Why access plan for city river was rejected

A plan to make a stretch of the river Wye in Hereford more accessible to boats has been knocked back.

A consortium including the city’s Sea Cadets and Rowing Club put forward a proposal nearly a year ago to build a new boat ramp and crane, along with hard standing and a footpath, on the north bank of the river in front of the Sea Cadets building.

With opposition to the plan from several quarters, it was passed to county councillors to rule on, with a recommendation from officials to refuse it on environmental grounds.

Hereford city councillor Jeremy Milln claimed that the submitted plans “differed markedly” from those agreed with the government in the original Stronger Herefordshire plan of which it formed a part, and that the pontoon initially proposed, rather than a stepped ramp, “would be preferable”.

For the applicants, Stephen Taylor said three separate ecologists “have concluded that this application will have no significant impact on the ecology of this area”, while the objector from Natural England “has not even conducted a site visit”.

Meanwhile the proposed crane “will reduce the launch time of emergency services from 30 to five minutes – a life-saving element”, Mr Taylor said.

But ward councillor Diana Toynbee warned that disregarding the judgement of Natural England “is risky – habitat regulations are legal obligations”, adding: “It is a shame that the applicants did not contact them from the beginning.”

Planning committee member Coun Richard Thomas said Natural England were being “complete – well, I won’t use the word”.

“It’s been a navigable river for hundreds of years – we can’t stop anyone going on it,” he said, adding the spot in question “is not a particularly pretty part of the river”.

Colleague Coun Bruce Baker also called Natural England “a thorn in our and other authorities’ sides”, and claimed the environmental impact of the ramp would be “minimal”.

“What is more important – the safety of our children or some non-existent crayfish?” he asked.

But proposing refusal, Coun Stef Simmons said: “We have a failing river, and I very strongly suggest we do not go against Natural England’s clear advice.”

Her proposal was passed by nine votes to three, with one abstention.