Around 200 people – locals and visitors – called in to the recent ‘Drop-in’ sessions about the Ross-on-Wye Neighbourhood Plan. These took place under the Market Hall on Saturday, April 30th and at the River Festival on Sunday, May 1st, led by members of the local Steering Group and the consultants helping them.

Most people added to a remarkable list of issues the Plan might address and offered ideas to improve the town, especially the town centre. Some suggested their valued ‘Local Green Spaces’ (the Plan could protect these), others highlighted potential new housing sites (the Plan can determine these). Some even offered to help progress the Plan.

There is a Summary Report from the event, and the full report and a report of a smaller workshop and lots of other information, on the Ross Neighbourhood Plan website: www.rossplan.org.uk.

The Plan can’t tackle some of the issues, such as shop rents or dog mess, but it can do a considerable amount to tackle others to help revitalise the town centre – the key area that people wanted the Plan to focus on.

The next events will take place between June 2nd to June 10th in Ross Library and at the summer Carnival.

Melvin Reynolds, Chair of the Steering Group, told the Ross Gazette: “People may have listed lots of ‘issues’ but they clearly really like our town, so please let’s get yet more people involved, yet more comments and yet more positive ideas.”

Katie Lea, of consultants Place Studio, said: “People weren’t sure what the drop-in was all about but, once they took a look, there was real enthusiasm about contributing to making Ross even better.”