PHILIP Dunne, Conservative group leader on South Shropshire District Council, has hit out at the Liberal Democrats over the Eco-business Park decision.

"We witnessed the Liberal Democrat administration leaning on its Ludlow members to vote against their consciences and the views of the majority of their constituents, he said

"The unanimous opposition of Ludlow Town Council has been ignored, as have the views of the vast majority of those who responded to the consultation processes over this scheme.

"Nor did the council listen to the views of Ludford Parish Council, Ludlow Chamber of Commerce, Ludlow Civic Society, the Highways Agency, English Nature or the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, who all raised serious objections.

"This was a very difficult decision with momentous implications for the future of Ludlow. It has been taken mainly by councillors representing other wards in the district, on the casting vote of the chairman overturning the clear decision of the development control committee.

"Only three out of eight Ludlow councillors supported this development, each Liberal Democrat. Members of the Conservative Group were able to vote with their consciences and did so. Having heard all the arguments, I felt the council should have encouraged the development of land within the existing boundary of Ludlow.

"Opening up the development boundary of the town is a historic decision and one which will affect the town's development thrust for generations to come. The precedent is set for further development beyond the A49.

"There will now be no pressure to clean up the brownfield sites within the current development boundary, there will be more pressure for housing to be built on these employment land sites rather than keeping employment activity within the town.

"This huge scheme will place a blight for years to come on other employment land sites in the district, which will not be able to compete with the attractions of this subsidised site. It will affect not just Ludlow but other towns in the district will suffer.

"If companies are attracted to this scheme they will have to import labour as there is a shortage of skilled labour in the district. This will add to the housing pressures we face and cannot meet under this council's housing policies."