Congratulations, at long last the plight of Ledbury town centre is being taken seriously (Ledbury Reporter, May 17).

As a frequent visitor to Ledbury over the last 25 years for both business and pleasure the changing priorities in planning hearten me.

I am pleased to see the old abattoir site is going to be used for homes. The use of brown field sites for redevelopment is always far preferable to green field expansion.

But what really pleases me is the realisation that there is no point in building more homes to attract newcomers, if there are no jobs to bring them here.

The development of light industry and the transport infrastructure to support it is certainly the thinking of visionaries such as Coun Barry Ashton who have the long term future of Ledbury at heart.

The most striking benefit for Ledbury would be the completion of the long overdue northern section of the bypass, which will alleviate the town centre traffic congestion and the Knapp Lane rat run.

Pedestrians can then reclaim the streets and the shops, mums with push chairs or toddlers won't have to worry about huge lorries and their pollution, pensioners can cross the roads without fear and shop keepers will see an upturn in trade.

The sooner all this happens the better it will be for all of us.

Mike Dixon, Warbler Place, Kidderminster.