PLANS for a track and car park to a proposed allotments site, off Ross Road in Ledbury, look set to be refused by Herefordshire Council.

Planning officer Roland Close is recommending refusal of the plan from the Ledbury Allotments Association, which hopes to buy over four acres of land to the south-west of Ross Road.

The land itself is designated for agricultural usage, but planning permission is required for the 3m wide hardcore track, which would also incorporate passing bays.

It would run 520 metres over green land, and the car parking area would be for sixteen cars.Mr Close says that although there is a clear need for allotments in Ledbury, "This does not mean it should be accepted by the council at any environmental cost."

In Mr Close's view, "the proposed access track, by virtue of its siting and extent, would represent a visual intrusion into the riverside meadow landscape, harmful to both its character and appearance".

He continued: "The absence of any landscaping scheme means the track would not be satisfactorily assimilated into the landscape".

He also questioned whether it was a suitable site for allotments, because the area, over the bypass and beyond the natural borders of the town, could only be readily reached by car or bicycle.

The final decision will be made by the council's northern area planning sub-committee, on Tuesday, April 24.

The CPRE has not objected to the access track and Herefordshire Council has received 15 letters in support of the application.

MP Bill Wiggin has asked Herefordshire Council to take into account "the strong support for the proposal".

But two residents of nearby Orlham Lane have objected, because of their fears concerning the track's visual impact.