Residents of Weston under Penyard attended a meeting with representatives of the Leadership Trust, on Monday night, to discuss an outline planning application submitted to Herefordshire Council.

The meeting, which was called by Weston Parish Council, saw the Leadership Trust outline their plans to build up to 25 dwellings and business units on land at Penyard House.

Gaynor Lewis, Deputy Chief Executive of the Leadership Trust, admitted that they were likely to sell off the land if they were granted planning permisson. She also told residents that formal expressions of interest in Penyard House, which has been for sale since April, were likely to be announced by the end of this week but that the interest is not reliant on planning permission.

Gaynor explained some of the reasons for the Leadership Trust selling Penyard House. She said: "Running the venue takes us away from the charity's objectives. We are not hoteliers or professional conference managers. We would like to find a buyer who is, and who would allow the Leadership Trust to remain on site to continue to deliver leadership development."

In a lengthy meeting, residents probed the Leadership Trust on their motives, the logistics of any approved building project and the benefits for the village.

In a closed session which followed the meeting, Weston Parish Council decided to submit an objection to Herefordshire Council.

Their reasons included wanting the land to remain as a natural environment, in line with the parish plan, concern for the habitat, that there may be more suitable land for development within the village, and concerns about access to the A40.

For more stories in full please see this week's Ross Gazette.