A DEVELOPER who proposed a superstore at Lawnside, in the heart of Ledbury, has shelved the idea, at least for the moment.

The unexpected news was met with delight by Ledbury people this week; not least because of local fears that, under the proposal, the Recreation Ground, a designated war memorial site in the Lawnside area, might have been built on.

Philip King, of PLK Properties said of the superstore idea: "In terms of a major food store, it is no longer on the cards. I have things in mind, and it does involve retail and food, but not in terms of a mega food store.

"Clearly, although we stay in touch with food store operators, they are reluctant to come forward, and Halo Leisure is developing its ideas for the pool."

The pool at Lawnside is one public facility that would have had to be demolished to make way for a food store.

But it is to be modernised and refurbished instead, as part of a £9million countywide refurbishment of Halo facilities, which are run on behalf of Herefordshire Council.

Under PLK Properties' initial proposals, presented to the town council in August 21013, a new joint swimming pool, community centre and youth club complex would have been built at the Orchard Lane end of the Recreation Ground, together with an outdoor “multi-use games area".

These developments would have covered areas currently occupied by children’s play equipment, a basketball pitch and a soccer pitch – around one quarter to one third of the Recreation Ground in total.

At the time, Mr King, of Pershore, described this use of the Recreation Ground as “re-modelling”.

But the Recreation Ground is owned by Ledbury Town Council and was created as a War Memorial to the fallen of the First World War.

Lloyd Meredith, president of the Ledbury branch of the Royal British Legion, welcomed news this week that the superstore idea had been shelved.

He said: "We don't need a superstore there, and hopefully the Recreation Ground will be preserved. I think the public clamour over the proposals was half the battle.

"To build on the Recreation Ground, in any way, would have been disgraceful."

Bye Street resident, Yvonne White, who organised protests on the Recreation Ground to help save it said: "This is excellent, brilliant news. It was the wrong place for a superstore and it would have destroyed the town, with the HGVs coming into the town centre and all the extra car journeys. The access to the store would have been unacceptable."

Ledbury town councillor and Homend trader, Annette Crowe said: "I am pleased. As a trader, and looking at the town, I don't think a superstore there would have worked, it was totally wrong; and as for any threat to the Recreation Ground, I would have fought it tooth and nail. As a councillor, I look forward to seeing what new plans Mr King comes up with."

Cllr Crowe added: "The trend is now against superstores. They are closing them down across the country."

Mr King said he was now in talks with "various parties" about the site and declined to reveal more of his plans in public at present.

He said it was "not rocket science" that the national trend was currently against mega stores, but he added: "I would love to have a superstore; but at the moment, all we can do is sit on our hands.

"If the idea comes back, we might reconsider; but we are not including a superstore in our thinking at the moment."