Sue Williams , reported in last week’s lead story about the state of Ross, brings to the fore the need for urgent action by Ross Town Council and others.

Ross promotes itself as a centre for tourism for The Wye and the Forest of Dean and attracts a great many visitors on that basis. Yet they, and we who live in the area, will encounter a town that doesn’t appear to be much interested in providing a welcoming appearance.

The gutters are littered with debris for weeks on end, weeds grow from nearly every pavement crevice in front of shops or residential properties, the bus shelter in Cantilupe road is always scruffy, vegetation overhangs walls narrowing the pavements, barriers near to Morrisons have years worth of accumulated debris; the list goes on.

The roads are also in an abysmal state, which only increases the vision of neglect. But as this is currently in the hands of Balfour Beatty who, under the ludicrous contracting out of services do as little as they can get away with, there’s not much that can be done by the Town Council.

But the Council can, indeed must, do something to turn around the current situation. Yes, look to employ proper street cleaners. It will cost money, but a reputation as a shabby and dirty little place is going to cost the town a lot more.

And shopkeepers and residents could do their bit. Alright, so it’s not your responsibility to clean the streets, but would it really be an onerous task for you to spend a little time weeding and sweeping the small stretch of pavement that borders your house or shop ?

Come on Ross residents, on the Town Council or not; start to show a bit of pride in your town.

Peter Huyton, Hoarwithy