New Lidl store in Hereford approved

A plan to knock down a Hereford hotel and replace it with a Lidl discount supermarket has been narrowly approved.

Following a debate lasting over two hours this morning, a majority of Herefordshire Council’s planning committee backed the controversial plan, for the Three Counties Hotel site off the city’s A465 Belmont Road.

Several speakers spoke of the widespread local opposition to the supermarket, focussed largely on its likely impact on traffic on the main road.

But case officer Heather Carlisle told the committee: “There are no technical objections to this proposal, and there are no preferable sites.”

And agent for Lidl Peter Waldren said the new store would not add to congestion as many would be diverted from existing trips to other supermarkets.

Coun Richard Thomas had proposed refusing Lidl’s scheme on several grounds, but this was rejected by fellow committee members after officers highlighted the difficulty in supporting these objections with evidence.

The hotel has for the last year served as accommodation for asylum seekers overseen by the Home Office. But the last such resident has now left, leaving it empty and now it seems, awaiting demolition.