KEETCH LISTENS TO ENRAGED TRADERS

11.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 31st Jul 2008

Paul Keetch MP, Cllr Heather Davies, PPC Lucy Hurds and business people from Holmer Trading Estate

Business people on the Holmer Trading Estate, Hereford, turned out in force on Wednesday to meet MP for Hereford, Paul Keetch, in whose constituency their businesses are located, to put to him their anxieties over a planning proposal on the Trading Estate land.

Councillor Heather Davies, had been approached by some of the business people who live in the Belmont ward she represents when they were unable to obtain any help from the Aylestone Ward councillors where the trading estate is based. Having fought successfully in July for the planning application to be deferred pending investigation, Councillor Davies and the traders were astonished to learn that the application is included on the Central Area Planning Committee's agenda for next Wednesday, 6 August, without any mention of the further enquiries being established as promised.

"When I saw the agenda for next week's meeting I couldn't believe my eyes," said Cllr Davies.

"I felt totally let down by the council," Cllr Davies continued, "and the traders, who had put their faith in me, must wonder what on earth is going on! So I contacted Paul to see if he could help and he promptly met the traders to hear their worries. These are people's lives and futures we are dealing with - all they are asking for is fair play."

Paul Keetch met with representatives from almost all of the businesses trading on the estate and was sufficiently concerned by the comments made to take up the matter on their behalves.

"These small businesses are part of the city's economy and should never have been treated in what I can only describe as a dismissive manner by the Council. They have never had the courtesy of a meeting with the Aylestone ward councillors who should be fighting for them and now find themselves back to square one with the planning committee," the MP said.

"I am pleased that Heather Davies got in touch with me so that I was able to listen to the traders' views. I will be asking the Council's Chief Executive to investigate why this has again been placed on the planning agenda despite assurances in July that the matter be deferred for two months pending investigation.

"Some of the businesses will need to relocate if the application proceeds and there has been little or no contact to try and help them plan for this which I think is outrageous. They are asking for help - why isn't the Council listening?"

The following businesses were represented at the meeting:

Sands Auto Repairs; Robin Lewis Auto Repairs; MJS Commercials; Bike Bits R Us; Prince Joinery; Hereford Patio Centre; Hereford Conservatory Centre; Holmer Caravans; A1 Autogas; Hereford Hydraulic Services; J&R Recovery and scrap merchants; Premier Car Sales; The Suite Centre; Lord Kitcheners; Holmer Cars; Blue Line Taxis