CONSULTANTS carrying out the £25,000 feasibility study to pedestrianise Ross-on-Wye centre have been in town and have engaged with local traders and other associations.

The team from PER Consulting walked around the town on Monday and engaged with representatives from Ross Tourism Association and Ross Business Association and undertook a survey.

This consultation, which is being paid for by Herefordshire Council, has to be completed by the end of the financial year in March.

At Monday’s meeting of Ross Town Council, Councillor Julian Utting pointed out this was effectively a pre-feasibility study and when the various options have been put forward they will then go out for public consultation.

“It will take many years before any scheme is incorporated,” Cllr Utting warned. “No funding has been allocated. At this stage we don’t know if any proposal will help with any regeneration of Ross or not.”

The consultants however did comment on the nine per cent vacancy shop rate in the town, compared with national figures of 14 per cent

Cllr Milly Boylan said: “There has been a lot of talk about the number of empty shop premises in town. However, we have an abundance of charity shops leading to ‘tat tourism’.

“It appears we have the most charity/ second hand shops in the area. But this situation screws the statistics, and it doesn’t mean that out market town is thriving. It is in fact the opposite as I feel it is dying. This is a real issue.”

Cllr Louis Stark pointed out that while the consultants are looking at the possibly of pedestrianisation he added: “They are also looking at alternative uses for the community spaces especially the area in front of the Market House.”

Cllr John Winder said that in other towns business owners were initially against pedestrianisation and added: “But after six months of any scheme being introduced the businesses were finding that it was working well for them.”