Hopes of Longtown shop's bid to expand backed by villagers

Hopes of Longtown, a shop in the Golden Valley village, opened in 2001 and is currently made up of a single-storey village shop, post office, farm shop and a number of external outbuildings.

But as part of a new plan, it has applied to Herefordshire Council for planning permission to extend the business using 11 shipping container units.

Locals have backed the plans and said Herefordshire Council shouldn't block the bid.

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The containers will house a kitchen, café, office and storage spaces related to the existing shop and post office, with a timber-framed outdoor seating café area, a design and access statement submitted with plans to the council said.

Owen Hicks Architecture, working for Hopes of Longtown, said that the business was already feeling the pressure from a growing local population.

The consultation period has now closed, but nine customers voiced their support for the project – with no one objecting.

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Gary Crocker, of Craswall, said the shop is currently a great asset to the local community and the development would enhance that and benefit people and visitors to the wider local area.

Christopher England, of Eardisley near Kington, said he has been a frequent visitor to the Longtown area for 20 years and it was "blindingly obvious" that the shop must expand to meet the needs of the growing local population, increasing tourism and to support the local and county development plans.

"This proposal is proportionate, makes good use of resources ad will enhance the overall amenity of the area," he said.

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Patrick Matthews, of Longtown, said the shop was the hub of the isolated community and it would be lovely to have a cafe as a central social point.

"I strongly hope that this application is approved," he said, with Glynis Haig, of Longtown, also throwing her support behind the plan for the shop which has community at its heart.

Longtown Group Parish Council also said it supports the plan, but wanted cladding or fencing to hide the containers from view.