THE residents of St Mary’s Garden Village are opposed to the proposed Lidl development for Ross-on-Wye stating that it is the wrong location for a supermarket.

The residents have suggested that recent reports in the press regarding the proposed store next to the A40 Overross roundabout, are incorrect as it gives the erroneous impression that most people are in support.

“They are not,” they state. The views against the scheme are echoed by Ross Town Council.

The residents said: “Whilst many would welcome a new supermarket in Ross this is not the right location.

“With up to 2,500 extra cars per day potentially accessing the proposed store, many residents are concerned about the impact on the village and the safety and well-being of their families.”

The residents cite that the proposed left-turn exiting the store could encourage people, particularly during busy times, to drive through the narrow roads of the estate and exit at the bottom end of Starling Road, because they will not want to queue to turn right to re-join the already over-congested Overross roundabout.

The residents believe this would create a rat-run and point out that the roads in the village are unadopted and are privately maintained and paid for by the residents and not the local authority.

The residents point out that the Lidl proposal does not include any ongoing contribution towards maintenance, meaning that residents will unfairly have to shoulder the costs. Other key concerns for residents are safety, noise and air pollution.

In a letter to the Gazette, residents in St Mary's Garden Village conclude that they are not anti-Lidl, but are against this large commercial enterprise accessed via a residential estate in an already congested area asit is not appropriate.

Herefordshire Council’s planning portal closed its facility of posting comments about the application on June 18.