A LEADING south Shropshire district councillor has issued a warning that a 45,000sq ft red warehouse could still be built at Foldgate Lane if a government planning inspector lets it through next year.

Last week the district council's development control committee decided by an 8-2 majority to refuse outline permission for Bennett Developments to put a petrol station, a 20,000sq ft warehouse and other buildings on the 6.6-acre site.

Its decision came five months after it refused an earlier plan, including the much larger red warehouse earmarked for B&Q.

Bennett Developments is considering whether to put all its efforts behind winning an appeal against the earlier decision.

That is due to be heard at a public inquiry on March 22 and 23, 2005, two months before Bennett's option to buy the site expires. After last week's vote, Councillor Claude Bodenham, who does not sit on the development control committee, said: "I'm disappointed because it could mean a lack of extra jobs for Ludlow.

"I knew it wouldn't go through but, when it goes to appeal, we could have a big red box."

Bennett's managing director attended the committee meeting but was abroad when the district council issued its formal reasons for refusal.

The main ones were that the scheme was contrary to three local plans and that there was insufficient justification for the proposal. These are similar to the reasons used in March.

The inspector will have to decide whether there are grounds to overrule that decision.

How they voted

This is how members of the development control committee voted on the application for the retail park at Foldgate Lane.

REFUSAL

Peter Corston, Nigel Hartin, John Lloyd, Susan McCormack, Jo Meredith, Cecilia Motley, Vivienne Parry, John Wheeler (eight votes).

PERMISSION

Betty Davies, Michael Reynolds (two votes).

ABSENT

Martin Cramp, Michael Merrick.