Dear Editor

The refusal of council officers to accept the Lidl plan for the Wolf site is at once predictable but also strangely baffling. Yet again the status quo has been rigidly adhered to, despite there being compelling reasons to just expand horizons - a little.

I say this because this scheme would help to relieve the crush and bustle of the main supermarket offering in Ross-on-Wye - without, I remain convinced, affecting the health of the town centre in any way. Shoppers are actually far more sophisticated than the council seem to think.  Lidl in Monmouth - much more ‘out of town’ than the Ross store would be - has quite clearly been an asset to our neighbouring town, without any hint of its undermining that town centre.

In addition to retail space and therefore employment opportunities, this scheme proposes a significant fabric upgrade to the commercial workplaces offered by the Wolf site and therefore it`s attractiveness, which as we know is currently under-occupied. For the council to argue that the scheme would represent a reduction in employment is frankly laughable when quite clearly, the site would no doubt see a net increase in people working there, whilst greatly improving the look of that corner of town.

At the same time, the council seemed to criticise Lidl for not making use of land and buildings in Ross town centre. It is hard to see where they may be referring to. That would ironically produce fewer jobs than assisting the Wolf site to grow their employment space.

Along with other correspondents, I wish the Wolf family well and hope that Lidl will counter this decision with a full appeal and reapplication. Let’s also not forget that there was significantly more public support ( than against ) for the proposal first time round. The council may have another chance to get it right.

Roger Hanson

Ross-on-Wye