A?concerned local resident contacted the Ross Gazette, after seeing that the access to Tank Meadows (which is owned by the Ministry of Defence) is now denied. The entrance at the top of the long existing steps of the cycle path has been boarded off with a sign warning, ‘Military Firing Range - Keep Out’.

The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said:?“I haven’t been down this walk for a while and was dismayed to see this area is now ‘no go’. No notice of explanation, just a red military ‘keep out’ on the boarded entrance.”

“I met another dog walker who seemed to think it has been closed off due to irresponsible dog owners leaving their dog mess on the range. Yet another case of the minority spoiling it for the majority.”

“I’m sure that there are a lot of responsible dog walkers like myself who miss the open space that the MoD kindly gave us access to when not in use as a firing range.”

A Herefordshire Council spokesperson said: “We are aware that the Ministry of Defence has placed signage at a boundary to their site at Tank Meadows in Ross-on-Wye.

“This concerns use of property under Ministry of Defence ownership, and we can confirm there is no recorded right of way covering the route in question.”

The Ross Gazette contacted the Ministry of Defence but had not received a statement at the time of going to press.