LEDBURY residents are being asked to have their say on the future of the town. The Ledbury Neighbourhood Development Plan is open to public consultation, with residents invited to discuss issues relating to future development in the town. This is a partial revision and not a comprehensive review and the aim is to address specific important matters not covered in the current adopted plan. For greater background, more detail on each of the issues can be found on the neighbourhood development plan page of the town council’s website at www.ledburytowncouncil.gov.uk on the Supporting Documents page. The key issues for the review are: defining a settlement boundary for the town, addressing the lack of sufficient football playing fields, provision of new sites for employment, improving access to Ledbury Railway Station, particularly the eastbound platform, supporting the town centre, safeguarding and enhancing green space and promoting good design in the built environment
NATURAL England has received applications or expressions of interest for licences to cull badgers in Herefordshire. A public notice published in the Hereford Times gives people opportunity to comment on the potential impacts to their business or livelihoods if a licence application were successful. There is no evidence to date, Defra says, that any of the previous culls in existing areas have had a negative impact on local tourism and business. Natural England will not release maps or other information revealing the positions of the boundaries for each cull area. “We are unable to release exact details of any control areas, individual land holdings or participants because of concerns for public safety and data protection legislation. “The culling of badgers,” they continue, “is a sensitive issue therefore we withhold the personal information of those participating, due to the risk of distress or damage caused by groups opposed to the policy disrupting control activity.�