Gazette readers strongly disagree with sentiments made by the interim director for transport strategy when he suggested Hereford might have too many car parks.

In April the county council’s interim director for transport strategy David Ubaka said at a meeting he had “never seen so many car parks” as in Hereford.

Alternative uses for Hereford’s car parks are among the topics which people are being asked to give their views on.

The city has begun to draw up a master-plan which will guide its future strategy and development, with transport a key theme.

Pat Hughes said: “What a farce! Their last long term plan was the ring road and look what happened to that.”

She added: “You only have to see traffic extending from one side of town to the other at all any time of the day: lorries, vans, buses intermingled with people on business trying to get through this heavy traffic. Car parking is becoming very expensive and unfortunately not enough reasonably priced public transport is available. It would be very interesting to see what wonderful plans they come up with, I’m holding my breath.”

Andi Jones said: “Be good to have disabled parking closer to home.” He added: “ I can’t ride a bike due to a stroke, no buses, and I can’t carry much as walk using a stick—Hereford is a place I like but can’t go due to parking so far away from town and limited disabled bays.

Among the eight questions in its initial engagement with the public, Herefordshire Council asks which of 19 car parks in the city respondents would like to see turned into green spaces, built on, or kept as they are.

In April the council’s interim director for transport strategy David Ubaka told a meeting he had “never seen so many car parks” as in Hereford. The exercise also seeks views on the council’s “park and choose” sites, intended to reduce city centre congestion by encouraging drivers to parks at its edge and continue their journey by bike or bus.

Hereford has a disproportionately high number of short trips made by car compared with wider England.

Some 38 per cent of car journeys in the city are of less than 2km, twice the rate for the rest England outside London, yet this distance can be walked in 25 minutes. And nearly three-quarters of car journeys are of 5km or less, a distance which can be cycled in 20 minutes.

Alternative uses for Hereford’s car parks are among the topics people are being asked to give their views on, in an online questionnaire.

The city has begun to draw up a master-plan which will guide its future strategy and development, with transport a key theme.

The online questionnaire can be submitted until February 3. Public engagement boards and paper questionnaires can also be found at Maylord Orchards centre in Hereford today and at other locations in the coming weeks.

Head of transport Cllr John Harrington said: “Some people will always need to use their car, for long or short journeys. But many journeys such as the school run could be made by other means.”