A COUNCIL vote on plans for a larger Tesco in Ledbury has been called a “shambles” by one its members.

Ledbury Town Council may have cheated itself out of a proper debate into the retailer’s plans to build on Leadon Way.

Councillors voted to oppose the application without giving a reason at a Market House meeting in September.

They returned last Thursday (Oct 6) to complete the job, but again the process was farcical with half the council abstaining.

Members opted for a list of reasons for refusal compiled by Ledbury Opposes out of Town Superstores (LOTS).

LOTS said Tesco’s plan went against planning guidelines, would harm town centre trade and hadn’t considered alternatives.

Members warned the council at a previous meeting to make their decision individually and not side with traders.

Eight voted for the LOTS reasons while nine, including three Herefordshire Councillors who could not vote, abstained.

Councillor Keith Francis, who missed the previous meeting through holiday, said the vote was a disservice to the town.

He said: “I was amazed nobody asked for a reason why we should be refusing this application at the last meeting.

“I think we should be setting out our own objections and not taking them off the back of another group.”

Councillor Martin Eager said both meetings were a “complete shambles” and refused to enter a vote like a fortnight before.

He said: “How can this council now debate reasons for refusal when none of the application was discussed in detail?

“I feel cheated because I wasn’t about to talk about this planning application and it wasn’t debated one iota.”

LOTS also presented an anti-Tesco petition containing 3,587 signatures to mayor Allen Conway at the meeting.