NOW that proposals for the Asda store and flood relief scheme south of the river have cleared the first hurdle at Herefordshire Council - although far from being cut and dried and with a possible inquiry looming down the line - Hereford Times readers once again air their views on this unresolved issue.
I attended the council planning meeting where the Asda scheme for Belmont was considered. Frankly I was appalled at the hidebound and short sighted views of most councillors when reacting to excellent case made by planning officers for refusal of this application. Almost all the members who spoke seemed flattered and blinded by the gambles offered by Asda/Eign Enterprises, to the extent that they were unable to see the wider picture and the effects on the whole of Herefordshire. A paltry flood defence scheme designed only to protect the interests of the applicants, probably to the detriment of other areas of Hereford, and road improvements which would have to be built anyway, if this supermarket goes ahead, are hardly the generous gifts they seem. Our elected members regard the site at Causeway Farm as an eyesore, yet have little imagination as they cannot see that with a little effort this could become an attractive area of parks and meadows (as well as a natural sponge to absorb some of the flood water).
THANE MELDRUM,
Hereford
Although I broadly welcome Asda as an attempt to build a store in the city, in my experience such a proposal will require extensive road improvements beyond that suggested or offered. The road improvements must go beyond the Belmont roundabout problem. Thought may have to be given to a wider road improvement programme measured in terms of miles instead of feet. I fear this will be too expensive for the developers and the burden will fall on the hard pressed council tax payers of the city for years to come. Perhaps the investment in a new road bridge at the former Hunderton railbridge still appears the best option so far.
Richard Watts,
Hampton Park Road,
Hereford
The announcement that Herefordshire councillors have approved the Asda scheme for Hereford against the advice of their planning officers and despite numerous objections from organisations in the county and that they are promoting the idea of having a supermarket - presumable Tesco - within the Edgar Street Grid fills me with despair. Councillors are looking at Hereford as though it has no connection with the rest of the county. Herefordshire is largely still rural - fortunately - and its main industry is farming. The city was built by the wealth of the landowners. Today Hereford City has no links with its roots. I see nothing in any of the Herefordshire plans that indicate the council recognise that the economic future of this county lies in prosperous sustainable farming - not in landscape-wrecking roads, huge supermarkets or factories.
STELLA WOODMAN,
Gladestry,
The idea of a massive Asda store blighting the banks of the Wye appals many residents of Herefordshire. That this prime site should be given over to yet another superstore is another victory to Mamon and the American dollar. What a fantastically unimaginative use of a stunning bit of real estate. Everywhere you look in Hereford these multinationals wave their appalling flags in our faces. You enter from the south and McDonald's greets you, from the north and it is KFC and soon we shall be able to gaze up the river at the Asda logo. Tourists to the city must be well impressed.
KARLIN RUSHBROOKE,
Lower Wormhill Cottage, Madley
In order to be viable, a supermarket requires a car park at least equal in area to, if not larger than, the floor area of the store itself. Hereford has already six supermarkets north of the river, including Aldi, Lidl, Safeway, Sainsbury and Tesco, as well as several mini-markets. I can see no justification for allocating the space required for a supermarket and car park in the central development area when there is need to accommodate Hereford United's ground, a new library and many buildings shown in the original plan. I doubt if future Herefordians will consider another supermarket as being (a) necessary or (b) enhancing the area to be developed.
J LAWES,
Park Street, Hereford
Your report of the debate about the proposed Asda development which took place at the meeting of the central planning committee on Monday, December 1, showed me as being absent. True, I was not present but my absence was due to the fact that, as I had been involved in previous discussions that had taken place some time ago at a meeting of the city council's planning committee, I was legally barred from taking part in the debate last Monday. Had I been able to take part and vote there would have been 18 councillors voting in favour of the proposals, not 17.
COUNCILLOR W J WALLING,
Tupsley Ward,
Residents of Belmont, Hunderton and Newton Farm who regularly travel by road into Hereford to work, will doubtless be thrilled to learn that I witnessed Herefordshire Council almost unanimously voting on Monday, December 1, for a further 300 cars per hour to join the already congested mayhem which constitutes Belmont Road and Belmont Roundabout every working day. The overwhelming majority of our councillors with the notable exception of Councillors Matthews and Guthrie, voted against the recommendations of their professional officers, other professional bodies and government guidelines concerning retail trading in approving the Asda application. The two above-mentioned councillors expressed concern about the effect on small local businesses.
HAROLD G MORGAN,
Westfaling Street, Hereford
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