Fears for the future of tenants at Holmer Trading Estate, hereford

11:00am Monday 30th June 2008

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AS a tenant of Holmer Trading Estate for more than 20 years I must put pen to paper, as you have probably read in the Hereford Times, June 19, of homes planned for Holmer Trading Estate.

I have my garage business on this estate and, the way things are going, I will be out of work and have no premises to trade from.

There are in excess of 30 thriving businesses working on this estate and most of them will not be re-housed here if the plan for houses and office space materialises.

R Lewis, hereford

I am not alone. At this point in time there are in excess of 30 thriving businesses working on this estate and most of them will not be re-housed here if the plan for houses and office space materialises.

There are quite a few businesses that are mortgaged against their houses, so not only will they lose their place of work, they will also lose their homes.

Ninety percent of us would willingly stay and be housed in new units, which would accommodate our trades, a few have been offered placements, but not the bulk of us, and nothing solid in contracts, but the developers are pressing ahead.

Hereford can no longer rely on tourism, it needs some industry. There are in excess of 30+ offices in Hereford either for sale or rent, so why do we require more?

The housing market is already in sharp decline with people both young and old unable to obtain mortgages, hence many new developments are left unoccupied. The canal is just a sweetener, as this will not be fully functional for many a year.

If these plans go ahead there will be many small businesses ceasing and many people joining the dole queue.

Hereford is not a large city and always prided itself on small businesses like myself to keep the local economy buoyant.

Beware, it is not only us that will feel the impact, but all our suppliers as well. Look out dole office here we come.

R LEWIS, Hereford.