Ludlow businesses fear loss of small firms to new store
Butchers and bakers on a town's high street may have to close if a new supermarket goes ahead, a business boss has claimed.
Muff Murfin, chairman of Ludlow Chamber of Commerce, has joined calls for those opposed to plans for an edge-of-town supermarket to come along to a key meeting on October 11.
A final decision is expected to be made by Shropshire Council's south planning committee at the meeting at Shirehall in Shrewsbury on whether the development should be allowed.
Mr Murfin said: "We keep getting told how lovely Ludlow is and this is because we still have a proper high street.
"Basically we could see a number of butchers and bakers close down as a result of this, which would be a loss of valuable jobs, damage Ludlow's vibrant high street as well as our great reputation as a food destination."
Love Ludlow campaigners, representing the town's chamber of commerce, town council, civic society, conservation committee, town centre residents' association and campaign groups Ludlow 21 and CPRE, and Conservative, Labour and Green Party groups in the area, have issued a 12-point letter opposing the proposal to be considered at the meeting, which will start at 2pm.
Tish Dockerty, chairman of the Love Ludlow group, said: "We will fight this on the day, we have a number of people that will be standing up and speaking on behalf of the town and we will make sure that all councillors that sit on the planning committee understand our plight."
"The Love Ludlow campaign understands that there will be new houses built on the outskirts of Ludlow in time.
"But this does not require such a large store that will dominate our landscape, create congestion around the entrance to Rocks Green and compete with our in-town supermarkets and independent shops."
"We have a very good range of places to go and shop, ranging from Aldi to local shops, to Ludlow Food Centre, there's already something for everyone."
Shropshire Council planning officers have concluded there is no reason why the store and petrol station at Rocks Green, off the A49 as it bypasses Ludlow, should not be built.
The move comes after nearly two years of opinion-seeking from official bodies while the plans, by Blackfriars Developments, have been in limbo.
But the final decision will be up to the committee of councillors next week.
