WHILE no-one would argue that the artist's impression of the new development on the current Holmer Trading Estate (Hereford Times, May 24) was impressive, and restoration of the old canal may be welcome, there is a less attractive story behind these headlines which needs to be discussed.

Holmer Trading Estate is currently home to a number of small businesses, many of them engineering companies that cannot be accommodated in the new offices which, Christopher O'Connor says, are much needed.

What this county needs is more craft and engineering businesses, more apprenticeships and more employment for the community. The Holmer businesses, the like of which form the bedrock of Herefordshire's economy, will lose their livelihood if this development goes ahead in its current format.

Mr O'Connor says there will be no loss of employment land. The reality is very far from this. I would urge those interested in the support and protection of small businesses in this county, to look more closely at this proposed development.

I would not argue against the fact that affordable housing is much needed, and that development of the Holmer Trading Estate, in some form or other, could be good for the city, but not at any price, and certainly not at the cost of putting so many out of business.

CONCERNED HEREFORDIAN.