A devastating report has exposed inadequacies in Herefordʼs ESG Regeneration Project.

Probing questions are asked of the Local Authority, ESG Herefordshire Ltd and Government bodies in a report commissioned by Hereford Civic Society (HCS) entitled "Edgar Street Grid - transforming places...changing lives... for better, or for worse?"

The report takes into account, community engagement, sustainable development principles, evidence based planning, and legislative requirements. HCS has researched and examined the evidence and finds that "The ESG project is fatally flawed and totally unsuited to the task of regenerating the City of Hereford”

• The project has spent over £8 million of tax payers money
• Was misconceived from the outset, the wrong remit being given to outside consultants
• It avoids public scrutiny - of measuring its stated Objectives against income and expenditure, including monies to ESG Directors
• Has an inappropriate delivery company leading to confused and blurred public sector involvement
• Has a ʻVisionʼ and a Masterplan based on seriously flawed consultation methods and feedback procedures
• Has already blighted some 197 local businesses and 3,500 local jobs, ignoring ʻbest practiceʼ planning guidance and policies
• Is unable to demonstrate need for new retail, nor that new development would support Herefordʼs retail area
• Has developed a plan that increases the volume of traffic considerably and increases air pollution in an area of Hereford with already high levels of air pollution
• Against national policy plans to situate Herefordʼs emergency services – police headquarters and acute healthcare facilities in a high risk flood area
• It exposes Councillors whilst they continue to allow the progression of a ʻtop downʼ and ill conceived masterplan

The report makes the following recommendations:-

• The process should be stopped now and the ESG Herefordshire company wound up
• There should be a public enquiry into the expenditure of many millions of pounds on this ill - conceived venture
• A fresh start should be made in order to masterplan the SUSTAINABLE regeneration of the City of Hereford
• Hereford Civic Society has lost confidence in the Unitary Authority and ESG Herefordshire Ltd to deliver regeneration of the City of Hereford

Further information

• The report can be downloaded here in pdf format
• If you'd like more information or a hard copy of this report, or to schedule an interview with the Working Party, please call Garry Thomas T: 01432 278707 M: 07747 478079 or e-mail chair@herefordcivicsociety.org.uk