Hereford MP Paul Keetch has given businesses a wake-up call over their need to speak out on issues affecting the future shape of the city.

Speaking at a breakfast meeting of Hereford and Worcester Chamber of Commerce at Hereford Racecourse last Friday, Mr Keetch called on the business community to make their voices heard on important issues such as the Rotherwas Relief Road and the ASDA development.

"Far too often we hear sometimes ill-informed comment from individuals seeking to oppose various developments, but rarely hear from local business who often support such developments," he said.

"I know that there was overwhelming support from business for a Rotherwas Relief Road - but although business, often via the Chamber of Commerce, supported the plans to the local council, the views of individual business was often not heard.

"The same can be said for the ASDA Development."

Mr Keetch criticised the time that local schemes can take to come to fruition.

"Locally we have two major projects that are in some danger unless as a community we get our act together," said Mr Keetch.

Arguments

"Hereford has been offered millions of pounds of investment from central government and from private investors in recent years, so why haven't we bitten their hands off?

"Central government offered us the money to build a relief road to Rotherwas, but the old arguments about this being part of a wider ring road have now clouded the issue.

"Opposition from a few residents has also given the impression of widespread unease about the scheme.

"If we don't start the project soon, we could lose the funding.

Mr Keetch claimed the same was the case for the proposed ASDA development in the south of the city.

"The private investment behind the scheme also brings with it huge advantages for jobs, services and flood protection.

"But still the scheme is not agreed. I recently met the Environment Agency to urge them to support the plans and I hope the scheme will materialise. But why has it taken so long?"

Mr Keetch also repeated his calls for a university campus in Herefordshire and for an increase in second home council tax to help provide more affordable housing.