An appeal for help to replace the window ledge at a local café may seem an unlikely scheme for an online crowdfunding campaign, but Amanda Price who runs Mandy Moo’s situated on Cantilupe Road, Ross-on-Wye, says that the damage to the window ledge has been casued by the dozens of people who regularly use it as a seat while waiting for a bus.

Mandy Moo’s Café is situated on the main Number 33 bus stop in Ross-on-Wye. Amanda told the Ross Gazette:?“When I purchased the property, which was just over five years ago, I was not aware of the impact the bus stop would have on my property. There is no seating for the 50 or so passengers who wait for the bus everyday and this means that a number of people waiting sit or lean on my shop frontage.

“When I first bought the property I spent a considerable sum of money making the window ledge good, as it appeared that no upkeep had been done for a number of years. Every year since, I have rebuilt it with wood filler and I have also repainted it three times.”

Amanda told the Ross Gazette that she has put signs on the window requesting that people do not to lean on it, she has even ‘wet paint’ signs on the window and ‘caution danger loose window’ signs but she said people just ignore them.

She added that she has contacted her insurance company who have said that her policy does not cover damage caused in this type of way.

Amanda decided to begin a crowdfunding campaign to see if the local community would step in and help her with the cost of a replacement ledge which will erradicate the number of repairs. She told the Ross Gazette:?“I am aware I have a responsibility for the upkeep of my property, and health and safety to the public, but feel this damage has been caused by the lack of an adequate waiting and seating area on such a busy bus stop. A large number of elderly people use this service, many of which we allow to wait in Mandy Moo’s or have at times, provided seats for.

She added that Mandy Moo’s is a very small café which is very involved with the local surrounding community.

Amanda said that she has obtained a quote for a complete repair which “should last her lifetime” to replace the ledge with hard wood, which means removing all six window panes. Amanda has found it difficult to even get a company to quote for the job but now has a quote of £1,000.

She is hoping that the bus company, Stagecoach, or Herefordshire Council may help with a donation, or customers who appreciate the cafe’s friendly service and value the fact that it is a community asset giving time to promote tourism in the area will also help. There is a collecting pot for donations in Mandy Moo’s or visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/new-community-window-ledge

Amanda, told the Gazette that she was publicising the problem through setting up the crowdfunding page as she hopes that this will help to raise awareness of the need for public seating for bus passengers outside Mandy Moo’s. She said that the waiting passengers are unaware of the damage they are causing but she hopes that it will get the message across to Stagecoach and the county Council that something needs to be done.See this week’s paper for more stories like this, available in shops and as a Digital Edition now.