BATTLE plans are being prepared for a fight if an attempt is made to go ahead with an application for a supermarket and petrol station on the outskirts of Ludlow.

A group of independent traders met this week and Ludlow Chamber of Trade have the proposal on the agenda when they meet next Tuesday (September 16).

A consultation about the scheme proposed in the vicinity of the junction of the A49 and A4117 in Rocks Green was held earlier in the summer and whilst a full planning application has not been made a preliminary application has been lodged to see if an environmental assessment is needed.

Tish Dockerty, secretary of Ludlow Chamber of Trade, has said that businesses in the town would be against the development.

“There is a need for another petrol station but that should be a separate issue and not an excuse for building an out of town supermarket,” she said.

“It is simply not need and the principle of out of town development should be resisted.”

Traders are concerned that a large supermarket in Rocks Green on the edge of town would draw business from Ludlow’ independent shops and draw people out of the town centre.

Ludlow MP Philip Dunne is also backing the objections and believes such a development could harm the businesses that give Ludlow its character.

No supermarket chain has been linked with the site although it is claimed two household names are interested. Blackfriars Development Limited that is behind the proposal say that it would create a large number of new jobs.

They also say that it would keep business in the area and remove the need for people to travel of other towns like Shrewsbury, Kidderminster and Hereford for a large supermarket shop.

The proposal is for a 25,000 square foot supermarket which would be larger than the Tesco in Ludlow and also provide 200 parking spaces.