Mrs Thomas has written a public letter to the Mayor of Ross, Councillor Colin Gray, appealing to him for support for an advice service for Ross.

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Dear Colin,

I am writing to you in relation to seeking your help and support and that of the Ross-on-Wye Town Council, concerning retaining the provision of a most valuable service which offers help, support and advice to local people.

Having been involved in the 1980s in the setting up of the original Ross Advisory Service with Barbara Jordan, a local solicitor, I am well aware of the importance of the importance of the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) and the excellent work it does in supporting local people, particularly in time of personal difficulties and involving a range of issues including that of debt, benefits and legal matters and advice.

Ross-on-Wye Town Council and its Councillors have an excellent record in relation to financially supporting, and being involved in the local governance of the CAB, in the town. Both County and Town Councillor, Phil Cutter and former Town Councillor Paul Deneen being actively involved as Chairs of the former Ross-on-Wye and district CAB.

The Bureau was officially opened in 1993 by the former ‘Troubleshooter’ Sir John Harvey-Jones MBE. It later became a part of the Herefordshire CAB.

As a former Hereford and Worcester and Herefordshire County Councillor, and a former Mayor of the town, I felt so passionate about the service and its importance, that I?championed the funding and the support for the CAB at both County Hall and at District Council levels.

At that time, I knew the importance of the CAB service to local people. It was made available to people when they really needed free advice, help and assistance in order to overcome personal problems or difficulties.

I am therefore writing to seek your help and support in relation to ensuring that Ross-on-Wye will continue to have a much needed CAB service for this local community.

Thank you for your time and assistance which is much appreciated. I?do hope that you will feel able to support the continuing of a CAB service here in the town.

Joyce Thomas MBE DL,

Fownhope