Public Meeting – On a wet January night, over 200 people attended a Public Information Meeting, sponsored by the Civic Society, about the Leominster Urban Extension plans. We had speakers who had expertise in a number of disciplines. Cllr Mark Woodall chaired the meeting.

A Senior Traffic and Transport officer who lives in Leominster but works for another authority, spoke on his area of concern. He had closely studied the vast amount of traffic data provided by the applicants. He found that they had not used the models adopted by Herefordshire Council. He also found anomalies within the data. In discussion prompted by the speaker the following points were made: the “Spine Road” was not of the required standard to take heavy goods traffic, the new junction proposed on Barons Cross Road was too narrow to allow large agricultural machinery to pass, the proposed traffic lights would not only increase delays but also result in pulses of traffic heading down Bargates causing further congestion there and the proposal from the developers that the “Spine Road” would only be completed once 800 houses had been sold would means increased traffic and pollution for many years.

A local farmer on whose land a lot of the proposed development would be built told of how he would lose nearly half of his arable land – Grade 1 land on which he grows organic produce. The proposals would increase flooding; a large proportion of his livestock fields are flooded for periods during the winter which is taken into account now, but there would be an increase in flooding meaning his cattle would have much less access to fresh grass. The developers propose to buy credits to offset the additional phosphate pollution but credits would not help the damage to the Rivers Arrow and Lugg, the latter being a SSSI. There would be a considerable loss of wildlife environments. The so-called “net gain” in eco-diversity in the plans would be in the form of land accessible to dog walkers and other users. Many of the birds, mammals, reptiles and invertebrates now present will not tolerate that level of disturbance and will be lost.

A town centre shopkeeper had a different message. He considered the town centre was dying. Footfall was in decline, many shopkeepers were seeing a 10% fall in business each year and this was unsustainable. He did not believe that the relocation of Aldi would make much difference, as in his view little of town centre trade came from people visiting that supermarket, (others in the audience disagreed, arguing that a lot of people parked in Aldi and came into the centre). During subsequent discussion the point was made that there was a lack of available jobs in Leominster, so any people moving in would probably travel to other business centres and it was likely they would do their shopping there.

Contributions from the floor were against the proposals. People believed the infrastructure – doctors, dentists, social services etc. were simply inadequate now and large scale new housing would simply exacerbate that situation. There was acknowledgement there was a need for housing particularly for young people who found the housing costs, both ownership and rental, beyond their means locally.

Mark Woodall closed the meeting calling on people to keep objecting. The current proposals if rejected would be re-presented in an altered form; if approved there would be a large number of “reserved matters” application which detail what will be built, where and how.

To comment, go here and search for P252819/O and P252820/O. Although there is a deadline, objections submitted after that date are counted.

Leominster Urban Expansion – Objections to the new 1600 house development on green fields to the south-west of Leominster without a proper relief road need to be in by 7^th February. The plan also includes relocating Aldi from the town centre to the other side of Morrisons’ access road. We are told objections can be submitted after that date but it is better to keep to the official deadline. A list of concerns is in our latest Newsletter which can be accessed on this site under the Newsletter button.

New Housing Estate The outline Planning Applications have been published for the proposed new housing estate on the south-west side of the town. It is for 1650 houses, new replacement Aldi supermarket, community centre, school, waste water plant and associated works and highway system.

The applications are P252819/O and P252820/O

People will obviously have to think carefully about their response. Does the area have the infrastructure for such a large development, taking into account the 400+ extra families who will presumably be moving into the new houses in Barons Cross. Transport infrastructure. It has been suggested that a road through the estate will act as the southern bypass, which seems rather ludicrous. The social dynamics, who is going to buy these houses? Is the balance of houses – social housing, affordable housing, house size etc. correct? If people of working age then where are the jobs? If older people, then will the health services be anywhere near adequate? There are also the environmental issues – flooding in the Arrow valley, loss of green fields for example.

Will the influx of people help revitalise the town? Will it force improvements in our transport system?

Citizens Advice Bureau Next at Leominster Community Centre: February 4^th and 18^th Drop in for free, confidential advice on Benefits, Work rights, Debt and money, Consumer issues, Family issues, Housing rights, Immigration or Health rights. Or contact us on by text on 0786 00 77 311 for a call-back, call 0344 826 9685 (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Fridays between 10am and 3pm) or email at advice@citaherefordshire.org.uk with your full name and message. We aim to respond to requests for call-backs or email advice within 4 – 5 working days. Our calls will be shown as “private”.