Council seeks views on ways forward for Hereford economy

A public meeting is to be held to look at ways of breathing new life into the County’s economy.

Hereford’s economy has recently been dealt two harsh blows. The first was the outbreak of Legionnaire’s Disease which had a significant impact on City retailers and the second was the loss of funding to City and County projects such as the City of Living Crafts.

The Council’s Social and Economic Development Scrutiny Committee is calling a special meeting to get views from local business people and residents on the way forward for Hereford’s Economy.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, 14 January, 2004, 6pm at Maylord Orchard Shopping Centre’s Meeting Room.

Cllr George Hyde, Cabinet Member (Economic Development, Markets and Property) and Cllr Charles Mayson, Cabinet Member (Rural Regeneration and Small Holdings) will be at the meeting to listen to views and answer questions.

“Although Legionnaire’s Disease is now safely behind us many of the City’s traders are still recovering from its effects. Trade is now back to normal but they were hit at a time when many of them take a large percentage of their annual turnover,” said Cllr Chris Chappell Chairman of Social and Economic Development Scrutiny.

“The damage to the County’s economy was made worse by the news that AWM was withdrawing some of its funding which will have a significant impact on projects such as the City of Living Crafts.

“This meeting will take a positive step to look at these recent challenges and consider measures we can take to move on and rejuvenate the County’s Economy.”

All views raised at this meeting will be fed into the Council’s action plans for taking the economy forward.

Local business people have been invited but it is a public meeting and open to everyone, all views and opinions will be welcome. If you have any questions please contact Paul James, Committee Clerk on 01432 260460.