The transport chief of Herefordshire Council called the number of people commuting by car in Hereford “appalling”, the comment coming as rival politicians criticised the area’s cycling infrastructure and urged the local authority to give residents safe and accessible options that do not involve driving.

Conservative-run Herefordshire Council last week adopted a Local Cycling, Walking and Wheeling Infrastructure Plan (LCWWIP) for the county, the local newspaper the Hereford Times hearing opinions on the proposals from across the political spectrum.

Councillor Philip Price, the Conservative council’s cabinet member for transport, admitted figures suggest “16,000 people who live in Hereford, drive to work in Hereford”, something he called “appalling”.

“We’ve got to encourage more alternatives,” he added. The transport boss also expressed his belief that conflict on the roads could be addressed by improving active travel routes.

“If you’re a motorist, you don’t like the cyclists and if you’re a cyclist, you don’t like the motorist – mostly because of the infrastructure isn’t adequate,” he told the local paper.

The commitment to boost cycling options has been welcomed by Liberal Democrat and Green Party councillors too.

Ben Procter, a Lib Dem councillor pulled no punches when describing Herefordshire’s current provision as “some of the weirdest and worst cycle infrastructure I have ever cycled on around the United Kingdom”.

“A lot of that could have been addressed if there was better engagement in the detailed design,” he told local reporter Gavin McEwan.

“I hope that that will be a practice that we can encourage. If you can create an environment where more people in my ward feel safe to walk or cycle, then fewer of you will be sitting on Aylestone Hill because we will be cycling past you, not sitting in cars.”

The cross-party support continued when Green representative Toni Fagan urged a move away from infrastructure that is “completely disconnected”.

“We understand that Hereford is the focus of effort and resources, we feel the market towns are missing out a bit, especially on cycling investment,” she said.

Reporting on infrastructure projects across the UK in recent years tells us, while this cross-party theoretical support is significant, there will be tougher practical challenges when more specific plans are communicated to the public and implemented in local communities.

While active travel projects are often popular, sections of communities frequently share vocal opposition on social media and at consultation stages.

For example, as recently as November when Herefordshire Council posted a video about construction to make a road “safer and more accessible for everyone”, the post was bombarded with sceptical comments along the lines of what we’ve reported on elsewhere around the country.

The council is confident the scheme will “improve traffic flow along a key route into Hereford”, as well as bringing new pedestrian crossings, a cycle lane and resurfaced carriageways. How other cycling projects and plans are received will likely become a recurring story from Herefordshire as the council’s Local Cycling, Walking and Wheeling Infrastructure Plan proceeds.