BOSSES at budget supermarket Lidl have contested Herefordshire Council’s decision to reject plans for a new store in Ross-on-Wye.

County planners turned down the scheme last July which would have involved demolishing part of the Wolf Business Park on Gloucester Road and building a store on the 2.2-acre site.

The developers said it would have created around 100 jobs at the store and by refurbishing the wider business park.

But planning officers said the scheme would be detrimental to the long term protection of the historic town centre.

They also said Lidl failed to demonstrate why they could not use land or buildings within the defined central shopping and commercial area in Ross.

Other grounds for refusal included the unnecessary loss of trees, road safety concerns and it would result in the loss of employment land.

Despite the setback, Lidl representatives said they are still interested in setting up shop in the town and have appealed the decision.

The issue will now be settled by a planning inspector at a hearing yet to be scheduled.