A local community forum has submitted a petition with 1,000 signatures against plans for a new Lidl superstore in Hereford.
The petition, submitted by Colin James, on behalf of Hereford Voice, states:
“On behalf of Hereford Voice (local community forum) please find attached
petition of over 1002 signatures from people who OBJECT to this planning application.
“LidI have submitted a planning application (LidI Great Britain Ltd application number P221090/0) to turn the Three Counties Hotel in Hereford into a supermarket.
“The location of the hotel is on the main A465 Belmont Road in Hereford and is a notorious ‘hot spot’ for traffic congestion on a daily basis.
“Another traffic issue is that the McDonald’s drive-thru is immediately adjacent to the hotel with motorists queuing here and vehicles will often spill out onto the main A465 adding to the congestion.
“This section of the road is an urban clearway and we have already had several accidents on this particular junction with motorists entering and exiting McDonald’s and the Three Counties Hotel from both directions.
“Adding a little filter lane will do nothing except make the problems worse once those filter lanes overflow onto the A465 Belmont Road which is inevitable.
“There is also another problem with delivery drivers such as Deliveroo and Uber Eats etc all parking on the pavements on both sides and on the main urban clearway of the A465, which is another accident in the making.
“The Newton Brook runs along the back of properties at the rear of this hotel and has never flooded even though it is classed as being on a low-level flood plain, this is because there are flood protecting valves located within the pond on the hotel grounds, which could be disturbed causing future problems for the immediate residents if these ridiculous plans were to be approved.
“There are other supermarkets all within half a mile of each other on this road including Tesco, Asda and the recently extended Farm Foods all on a stretch of road of less than a mile.
“Opening another supermarket will also impact on the smaller businesses and local shops at the Oval and surrounding area.
“The application is to demolish this hotel and gardens and replace it with yet another supermarket creating additional noise and air pollution from the additional traffic congestion, which would be guaranteed!
“The proposed LidI supermarket design is not in keeping with the surrounding area.
“In city centres and alongside busy roads such as this one, motor vehicles are responsible for the majority of local air pollution and most environmental noise.
“We urge the Herefordshire Council Planning Department to refuse this application and any appeals that may follow.”
However, not everyone is against the idea of a Lidl superstore on Belmont Road.
Ms Morris said:
“An alternative supermarket choice for those that live south of the river wye and do not want to cross the bridge in all the traffic is a brilliant idea. This will reduce journeys across town for people who not only live south side but also all of the villages in the golden valley (including numerous new housing estates) to get groceries. Also will be a cheaper alternative to Tesco.
“The current bottle neck and accident black spot caused by McDonald’s traffic can also hopefully be alleviated by having LidI improve the traffic flow via their entrance. I really look forward to having LidI there who will also hopefully recruit local people.”
