Last week's Hereford Times exemplified the demise of Hereford which most fair-minded observers have come to expect.

Asda is seeking planning permission for a development that should have never been under consideration.

The "City of Living Crafts" project was another visionary dream lacking real substance and we are now informed that it is to be scaled down or abandoned due to likely grant withdrawal from Advantage West Midlands.

Over the years similar plans have been trotted out only to be later dashed with the result of a lack of any real development in the city.

Sadly, until there is a radical rethink, vested interests of the petty minded few will continue to prevail.

Councils, councillors and the various partnerships need to come to appreciate what we already have in Herefordshire.

We need to respect and be proud of Hereford by keeping it clean, accessible and by attracting new innovative ventures.

We need to work tirelessly to keep our historic buildings and environment clean. Users of the city, whether as workers or tourists, need efficient access and exits.

Those just passing through should be allowed that choice with equal efficiency. Real new business needs to be attracted - at the moment, most new shops opening are more often than not established businesses simply relocating.

Perhaps if these fundamental needs could be addressed we might attract real innovative development to the banks of the Wye and deserve to call ourselves "The City of Living People" without recourse for funding from a government quango.

David Greaves,

Old Dinmore Hill