TRADERS’ leaders in Ludlow have been landed a blow to their hopes of stopping a new supermarket development on the outskirts of the town.

Planning experts are recommending approval of a scheme to build a new supermarket and petrol station on a site at Rocks Green.

Although not a complete surprise the move will be a blow to the ‘Love Ludlow’ campaign and the Chamber of Commerce who are against the proposal.

They fear that the supermarket will hit the existing shops in the town centre and lead to closures and redundancies.

The report from planning officers at Shropshire Council says that the development would create jobs and bring about much needed investment whilst not having any significant impact upon the town centre.

But traders believe that even a small loss of business could result in closures and job losses as many shops operate on very small margins and are struggling to make ends meet.

The scheme will be considered at a planning committee meeting on Tuesday (October 11) at 2pm in Shire Hall in Shrewsbury.

A delegation of traders and residents from Ludlow intends to attend the meeting to show the strength of feeling.

Members of the planning committee do not have to go along with the recommendation for approval but would have to find reasons to go against the advice of their own experts.

A refusal of an application where the recommendation is to approve is also likely to be more vulnerable if there were a subsequent appeal.