Holmer Trading Estate and fears for business

4:44pm Thursday 10th July 2008

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IWOULD like to offer my support to Robin Lewis who wrote (Readers Times, July 3) about the problems currently being experienced by the businesses situated on the Holmer Trading Estate. I have, on and off for the past 20 years, had my cars repaired on the estate. The businesses have always offered an excellent service, taking time to ascertain exactly what I needed and giving me invaluable advice on a number of occasions. Like many small business, no job seemed too small and they would often carry out work which no mainstream garage would touch. As someone who, before retirement, worked in a large organisation with a (reasonably) secure monthly wage, I would often marvel at how these small businesses operated and admired the commitment and work that was put into them by their owners.

All of this makes what is happening at Holmer Trading Estate even more tragic. Around 30 small businesses trade from that estate, businesses that have offered an excellent service for many years, run by people who have put their heart and soul into building them up and keeping them afloat. Now the land is wanted (please note I said wanted, not needed) for housing and, while no-one would argue that this is a very worthy cause, this should not be at the expense of the businesses on the estate. We hear that a number of the businesses are to be offered units on the new development, but the only accommodation is office space and this does not match the profile of the businesses on the estate. Those which are classed as ‘dirty’ businesses - which to you and me means the garage and engineering businesses - are being told they cannot be accommodated and will have to leave. Only the ‘clean’ businesses - which fit in with the housing development - will be offered accommodation on the new estate. As Robin Lewis says, closing down will probably be the only option for many of the businesses which will not only affect them but also their supply chains. Loss of jobs and all that means will definitely be the result. Surely this is not the outcome we want for people who have worked so hard to build up and maintain their businesses?

We are being told that, in the current credit crisis, there are around 15 homes for every buyer that can get a mortgage. The Holmer businesses are here and now, they are the lifeblood of our rural economy and should be supported. Please Herefordshire Council, when considering the planning application, give them a future and allow them to continue to trade, if not on the Holmer Estate then somewhere else which will meet their needs. Herefordshire needs to maintain the bedrock of its unique economy – small businesses such as those on the Holmer Trading Estate – we should not be giving up valuable employment land, we should be developing it and helping these businesses to grow and prosper.