As a Bank Holiday approaches, thoughts have turned to planting flower beds. And at Ross Town Council it is no different. Plans are in place for a new regime to ensure that the town is full of flowers for the tourist season.

Ross-on-Wye Town Council agreed last year that they wanted the town to look nice and therefore put a considerable sum into the budget to employ a contractor to plant and maintain various flower beds around the town.

The Council is reinstating the pole toppers, special baskets which are attached to the lamp posts in Gloucester Road and Wilton Road to enhance the appearance of the town for visitors. They will also be placing hanging baskets at the Market House and on the public conveniences in Red Meadow car park and in Wye Street.

The U3A volunteers transformed the appearance of the flower beds, called Welcome Beds, last year. The beds are next to the signs which say Welcome to Ross. The U3A is continuing to take care of the them this year. These beds include the one by John Kyrle High School, Hildersley and Wilton.

Although they are still waiting for the formal agreement it is understood that Ross Garden Store will continue looking after several flowers beds, including the long bed on Wilton Road. Both the U3A and The Garden Store have taken on responsibility for the beds as they wish to do something good for the town.

The Town Council advertised and also wrote to the local garden centres inviting them to tender and the nursery, Roses of Newent was selected. They will be responsible for the beds in Gloucester Road, by the Natwest Bank, the Wishing Well garden on Wye Street, two beds at Crossfields, Edde Cross Street and the large bed at the Prospect.

Town Council staff will be able to water the beds as they own a bowser but the contractors will carry out weeding and maintenence.

There are also some small planters around the town, such as the one sponsored by the Royal British Legion on Broad Street, which are the responsibility of Herefordshire Council.

From this year on there will also be some winter planting carried out to try to keep the town attractive throughout the year.