Keetch Listens To Concerns Of Local Residents

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 21st Oct 2002

On Friday last Paul Keetch, Liberal Demcrat MP for Hereford, met with concerned residents in the Southbank Road vicinity of Hereford to discuss the proposed change of use of Stratford House, a former residential home situated off Bodenham Road. The application, currently before Herefordshire Council is to convert the building to a hostel for housing 60 workers undertaking an agricultural scheme within the fruit picking industry in Herefordshire.

Mr Keetch listened to the views of more than sixty residents who attended the site meeting and sought to put into perspective the issues that they were concerned about. He informed the gathering that the Council has to work under strict planning policy and that any objections or support for the application would have to comply with the stringent categories laid down in planning law.

Mr Keetch said, "I was indeed pleased to meet the group by Stratford House and listen to their concerns. I, together with the local ward councillors, will take on board the comments made both verbally and written and ensure that these points are taken into account when a decision is made within the parameters required under planning law."