THE developers behind the proposed £55 million plan for a 'city village' scheme on Causeway Farm at Belmont have expressed disappointment over the recent criticisms by Hereford Civic Trust.

Members of the Trust have been writing articles opposing the project put forward by ASDA/Eign Enterprises and objecting to a supermarket and community facilities being built on the site.

The Trust's executive committee decided last week to tell Herefordshire Council that building should be restricted to high-class residential houses. It claimed the proposed ASDA store would be a 'disastrous blot' and the plans ill-considered with dismal architecture.

Simon Hoare, spokesman for ASDA/Eign Enterprises said they were disappointed at the criticisms and questioned if they were the views of the whole membership.

The Trust was commenting on plans that were now dead. The original plans had been changed considerably and new ones lodged with the council.

Mr Hoare said he met around 80 members of the Trust early this year and while most of them did not like the architecture a straw poll revealed a large majority were not against the proposals in principle.

The scheme had been reviewed and many of the points made had been taken on board in the new plans.

Mr Hoare accused the Trust of not keeping in touch. Other interested groups had done so and he found the attitude of the Civic Trust to be 'disheartening'.

Referring to the Trust's plea for high-class houses only Mr Hoare said this was not viable.

The high cost of flood prevention and improvements at Belmont roundabout to relieve traffic meant that a commercial aspect had to be included in any scheme.

These were the two major problems to be overcome and he believed most local people supported the scheme if this could be achieved.

And he pointed out the all this work would have to be completed before the development could start. He claimed the commercial/ community project would create up to 400 jobs and be of big strategic benefit to Hereford.

Mr Hoare is writing to the Trust's secretary, David Whitehead saying if they would like to remain involved in consultations ASDA/Eign Enterprises were happy to keep up discussions.