HEREFORDSHIRE Council appears to be trying to close one of Ross-on-Wye’s newest and liveliest venues, the Riverside Inn Cafe.

The local authority states that the cafe is too near an old landfill site and wants the owner to demolish the building, a business that currently employs 18 people and supports dozens of local suppliers and producers.

Since the facility opened last year, the venue has been popular with dog walkers and visitors and during the summer months supported the Proms in the Park series of events.

Charlie Baker, co-owner of the Riverside Inn and Café said: “Our wider business provides work for around 50 staff in total.

“If this plan goes ahead, and the café will have to be demolished, it will destroy a thriving local business and have a serious impact on the local economy.

“The major issue at the heart of this, is pollution because our site is around 250 metres from an old landfill site.

“I have been informed that our café would need to cease trading and that the building would have to be demolished.

“I have no intention of letting this happen without a fair fight — our café is well supported by the local community and has brought new life to an area that was once neglected.

“Every attempt I’ve made to get a straight answer from the local authority has been ignored. The law is clear: under the ‘polluter pays’ principle, those responsible for pollution must bear the costs of managing and remediating it.

This rule exists to hold polluters accountable and to protect local people and businesses from being punished for something they did not cause.

“I have also submitted a full environmental report, including soil tests, at the Council’s request. These showed slightly elevated pH levels in the soil near our café.

“This situation has become incredibly frustrating and unfair.”