A FEASIBILITY study costing up to £25,000 is being spent on ways to improve Ross-on-Wye.

The Ross Town Investment Plan is one of five market town Investment Plans commissioned by Herefordshire Council.

David Wright, Hereford Council’s head of economy and regeneration told members of Ross Town Council that £25,000 had been set aside for the feasibility study.

Mr Wright said that Herefordshire’s market towns, including Ross, play a critical role in the county’s economy, as focal points for: employment; retail; tourism, leisure and culture; business investment and growth; housing; and access to services.

He explained that this money was to pay the services of consultants and the initial stages of the plan had been conducted post the covid pandemic.

Mr Wright asked the council what projects from the investment plan did members want to take forward and added: “This money has to be spent of feasibility studies rather than completing any works at this stage. Its more preparation work than doing any actual work at the present time.

“We are looking to the town council to identify what priorities are needed before the procurement process can begin. The town council would then have a watching brief.

“The plan’s top priority had been the development of the model farm site to create an enterprise park, a scheme which has already been taken forward.

“I notice that other projects are progressing to a lesser extent.

Cllr Louis Stark said: “I personally would like all the obstacles removed so Broadmeadow housing scheme could become a reality.”

Cllr Ed O’Driscoll said: “One of the other priorities we were investigating is having a riverside bunkhouse with facilities for walkers and rowers as well as monetising the canoe launch.

“We are looking at how this council could have a long-term source of income.

However, this is dependent on finding a system that will work and we would need to look at how other bodies collect their revenue.

Meeting chairman Cllr Julian Utting observed: “I didn’t think the Broadmeadow scheme is still viable. The bunkhouse and canoe launch is dependant on monetising it.

“My suggestion would be terracing the area outside the Market House and or turning Broad Street into a pedestrianised area. This should increase the footfall into town.”

Cllr Chris Bartrum said: “We’ve previously been told that prior to the flooding in Ross, that proposals to pedestrianise part of the town centre had been rejected by Herefordshire Council.”

The council was told that the housing scheme had been rejected because the land is contaminated which would make it more expensive to build on.

“I also believe Broadmeadow is a project that is eminently feasible,” said Cllr Bartrum.

“This town council has already indicated it wants the feasibility study carried out. It is a very large area that could produce a lot of housing and other facilities very close to the town centre. It would deal with the problem of everybody having to drive everywhere as the town would be walkable.”

Cllr Milly Boylan added: I’d love to see Ross pedestrianised, but I understand the traders don’t want this and are dead set against it.”

Cllr O’Driscoll said that a number of good ideas had been discussed with a lot of enthusiasm and added: “There is a long list of ideas which needs to be reduced to around four projects that can be taken forward now that plan has investment plan has evolved.”

Cllr Utting suggested that by a show of hands the priority order the members wanted the feasibility study to consider at this early stage. This resulted in Broadmeadow coming out tops, with the riverside facilities, second and thirdly, the pedestrianisation of the town centre.

Mr Wright concluded: “The local authority wants to do the best it can with the feasibility study. What we need from the town council is as much detail as possible so it would it be financially viable and the expectations of what can be achieved from it.”