COUNCILLORS at last week’s extra ordinary meeting of Ross Town Council’s management committee were stunned to learn that Herefordshire Council were donating £10,000 to rejuvenate the town. 

Councillors were also told that Welsh Water had also donated £10,000 to help promote the town.

The donations totalling £20,000 were made in response to Ross-on-Wye suffering from severe flooding in May and the need to publicise that the town was still open for business.

Ross Cook, corporate director of Herefordshire Council told the town council that the authority was prepared to work together and identify and agree a four week programme of street entertainments, family activities.

He added that the authority was prepared to sponsor this to a sum of £10,000, which matches the contribution the town council has had from Welsh Water. 

“We are looking to set up an engagement drop in session at which officers from a number of services will be present to listen to business, offer advice, guidance and support. Economic development, skills, trading standards and food hygiene,” Mr Cook said.

“It is an opportunity for businesses to come to talk to us about anything and everything.

“There will be a campaign shouting out that Ross is back open for business. I am not suggesting that it’s not open for business now, but it will be a time when all the works in the town have been completed. 

“It might be a case of having free parking for that weekend, or something similar, to help the numbers return to the town and coincided with whatever Ross Town Council is putting forward.

“We are looking to provide free parking on the Red Meadows car park. All car parks are currently being analysed as to it usage and at what times. We don’t want to open up a car park that is used by the leisure centre, for example. The easiest way it to offer the first four hours for free. If most people visit the town in the morning then we would seek to boost the visitor numbers in the afternoon with free parking.

“We want visitors to feel that they are not rushed and stay in the town for longer. Additionally the phone app would also need to be changed for this to happen.”

Chairman Julian Utting said: “This is great news and it’s really positive for the town centre.”

Sue Williams of Ross Business Association said that 40 to 50 independent traders are asking for more planters in the town, hanging flower baskets, especially in Brookend Street, because this was the area that was particularly hard hit. 

“Even if the town is in a mess, the flowers will brighten things up and make it look good. It has also been suggested that more bunting should be put up especially at the bottom of town as this is very dull at present,” she said.

“There is a large hole in the area of Aldi, which is big enough to plant a semi-mature tree in it. We are already putting the word out that Ross is still open for business, however the pavements are a disgrace, especially as this is a tourist town, and its shabby looking.”

Local potter Adrian Campbell emphasised to the meeting: “Let’s not just talk about it. Let’s get it done.” 

Cllr Utting explained that the very reason the meeting had been called is because the council needs to act quickly and suspend financial regulations so it can go straight to contract in getting a marketing company in place.

County Councillor Ed O’Driscoll said: “The donation from Herefordshire Council is unexpected, but gratefully received and it will go towards activities and interventions that will improve the look of the town. 

“It could be anything like the suggestions earlier of hanging baskets, street entertainment, flags and bunting. 

“The urgency is to decide the future plans in the coming weeks in conversation with Ross Business Association and other interested parties. 

“Some of us already knew that Welsh Water had agreed to donate £10,000 into this campaign. We now have the cash, we just need to agree how we are going to spend it for the benefit of the town.”

Cllr O’Driscoll clarified: “Because of the tight timing on all this we’ve appointed an agency to do the marketing for us.”

The council suspended the normal financial regulations to appoint Orphans Press, a Herefordshire based digital marketing company without the need to get quotes. 

Cllr Milly Boyland commented: “All this action is as a direct result of what’s happened due to the flooding. But effectively Ross has been dying for years with under investment.

“It’s as if Ross has been forgotten for over a decade and it would have been a lot more helpful if Herefordshire Council had put its hand in its pocket a long time ago and handed some funding to the town. 

“But the additional donation from Herefordshire Council will help the town to have the kick start it needs.”