CAMPAIGNING for the next general election in Ross-on-Wye has begun in earnest with Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate visiting the town.

Joe Emmett began by looking at the appalling state of the pavement in Broad Street post the recent flooding.

Mr Emmett said that local businesses were unsurprisingly not impressed by this, and observed its effect was already having an impact with less footfall in the town.

Mr Emmett added: “The result is a part of central Ross, famous as the birthplace of tourism, which diminishes this beautiful market town.

“I believe the causes might be more complex than first thought, but I fear it reflects a lack of investment and oversight over the years. We were told that discussions over who is responsible and who needs to pay for the work are ongoing.”

Mr Emmett and his supporters took a walk through the Ashfield and Merrivale areas and observed that many people were well informed enough to know Labour had come second at the last two general elections, giving him hope that Labour could win in this Herefordshire constituency.

Mr Emmett added: “We discussed lots of issues on the doorsteps, the roads, the health of our rivers and wider concerns about housing developments being built without services, as well as the health of the NHS and the cost of living.

‘In short, constituents felt let down by this government and welcomed the change that Labour and I could bring.

“We also went to St Mary’s Garden Village where residents echoed the sentiments heard earlier. Whilst they were all were delighted to live in Ross, they brought up wider issues about transport and bus links, a policy I could reassure them was high on my agenda and Labour’s too.”

Mr Emmett concluded that he believes that Ross has been overlooked in many aspects.

“At the end of the day in the King’s Head, I had a message, ‘We just feel that Ross is overlooked’ it said, a view echoed by the people I was with,” Mr Emmett said.

“A feeling like this needs to be countered with action and a clarity about how Ross must sit alongside Hereford as our constituency’s major centre for tourism and business and must be celebrated.”