Madam, I was astonished to read the letter from Richard Mayo, Chairman of Ross Traders Association, and that his 'traders group are doing all it can......to make Ross a better place to live and shop'. Shop, perhaps, but not to live.
I would refer Mr Mayo and your readers to the article from Herefordshire Council in the Hereford Journal, January 27th, and headed "Market towns are key to the economy" - "Ross-on-'Wye", and saying 'The new model farm business park is set to attract high quality knowledge-based industries and high-tech businesses'. I understand this development to be mostly large private houses with additional space for home working, (or perhaps for granny flats). No details of interested businesses have been released, so is this just PR and wishful thinking?
The article continues 'Ross retailers are promoting strongly the attractive historic town centre but a growing community would encourage businesses to revive empty shops. Around 1000 new homes (additional to the 150 at Tanyard Lane) could be provided in Ross by 2026 - in the north east and/or south (east) of the town, next to the A40.'
So, welcome to the real world. Has the secret agenda of the Council paid off - ignoring the advice of its planning officers about the precedent of a farm's tiny diversification; rejecting the firm findings of two Inquiry Inspectors; turning down many other sites for incomprehensible reasons; and, at the request of one councillor, for unrecorded reasons changing from Over Ross to Model Farm at the last minute, against the recommendation of planning officers? And all this to be the precedent for huge town development on Greenfield land for stated commercial reasons?
Now the commercial agenda is in the open - lots more people, lots more traffic and fumes, a town for commerce but certainly unfit to live in, and a loss of the beautiful Rudhall Valley to unlimited town enlargement.
BJ Edwards, Ross