Ledbury is a town in Herefordshire and the meeting point of several A roads. Rising levels of car ownership during the middle of the 20th century resulted in increased levels of traffic and congestion in the town. An inner relief road was proposed in 1970 which was met with fierce resistance. By 1973 the plans had changed to an outer bypass. Several options were put forward in a consultation with possible routes covering all sides of the town. In 1974 the results showed the south and west bypasses received the greatest support and this become the favoured option. The town had to wait another 12 years for its bypass until work started in 1986. By this time the route had been modified and deviates in several places from the earlier proposal.
Both the 1973 and 1986 schemes made provision for the bypass to extend northwards under the railway to meet the B4214. A stub exists at the northern roundabout and the route has been safeguarded since 1997. A new housing development is currently taking place along the route and accesses from both the A438 and B4214 will be provided. It is unclear at this stage if the route will be for through traffic or simply as a means of accessing the development.
1973 options shown in blue. Green is the bypass as built in 1986
