By William Turtle-Clark

The Hereford Transport Hub is a project currently under construction outside Hereford's Railway Station which includes landscaping, bus stands, a bus shelter, café and toilets. 

Speaking to HHR's William Turtle-Clark, Herefordshire Council's Cabinet Member for Transport and Infrastructure, Councillor Philip Price, described the project as making "an attractive entrance to Hereford as you arrive by train". 

Cllr Price said the project has "been quite a few years in the making", which will allow rail passengers from Hereford Railway Station to connect with other modes including buses, taxis and Beryl Bikes.

When asked about the existing Country Bus Station, situated just off Commercial Road in Hereford, and whether there would be any alterations as a result of the hub's opening, he suggested that the Transport Hub would function as the main point for starting and ending bus journeys in the area. 

Price suggested that the site of the Country Bus Station, which is currently occupied by 10 bus stands, "could become a car park in future", but noted that it would have access for buses.

Price was directly asked how much the transport hub project has cost in total, replying that "we won't know until when it's completed but it's just north of £10 million".

Further questions were then put to him, asking for justification for the high cost and asking why it had cost so much. 

He noted that the majority of the funding for the project has come from central government, but that Herefordshire Council has needed to chip in as well. 

"If you try to build anything in the public sector today, you will soon find that to get to a delivery point everything costs more than you might have anticipated when you started", adding that such a phenomenon applies to "just about every construction project that's ever been built" over the past years. 

William asked Cllr Price to respond to online comments about the project, with one comment describing the hub as "a waste of public money", and another saying "whilst I agree it’s generally a good idea why does it cost £10 million. We got a brand-new primary school for slightly less".

In response to those concerns, Cllr Philip Price argued that Herefordshire is a "tourist county" and therefore tourists must have a welcoming feel upon their arrival in the city, later adding that the project has been delivered within the budget set out. 

He also noted that the design for the hub was initiated in the previous Green-Independent administration on Herefordshire Council, stating "the designs landed on my desk" when he became Cabinet Member for Transport and Infrastructure in the current administration.

When asked about concerns raised by bus operators earlier this year over the Drive In, Reverse Out (DIRO) system, and whether it may be unsafe if pedestrians were in the bus manoeuvring area, Price said that this style of bus station is "quite common in several transport hubs in the locality". 

He went on to say "we are going to appoint a bus banksman for the initial period of time to ensure there aren't those problems", adding that there are a great number of footways leading up to the station and therefore there "is no reason for any member of the public to be anywhere near where the buses are going in and out".

He suggested that if problems were identified with pedestrians accessing the bus area they would need to be addressed but there should be no need "because there is so much space for people to walk in and around this area".

Cllr Price described a "hiccup" with land issues immediately in front of the railway station which have now been resolved, but suggested that the hub will be fully operational in January. 

He rounded off the interview by adding that he looks forward "to seeing what the comments will be from the general public once it's fully operational".

William Turtle-Clark is live every Wednesday afternoon on Hereford Hospital Radio with interviews, discussion and local news from 1400.

Published 21/10/2026