Dear Editor,

I believe that you had a meeting with Cllr. Hannah Lerego recently and I am sure that she filled you in with the Council’s situation regarding the repeated invasion of Travellers who move onto the Red Meadow Car Park.

It is an expensive procedure to get them moved on and they always leave a lot of mess behind which is expensive to clean up.

I would just like to say that although in principle I agree that, as stated by the Liberal Councillors, it SHOULD be the responsibility of Herefordshire Council (who own the car park affected) to deal with this matter, the fact is that they have stated that they cannot pay for any measure to prevent access to the car park, so if we want it, the local Council must pay.

Ross Councillors are very aware of the problems which these regular “invasions” of Travellers cause to local residents - and also businesses who are seriously affected - and we have been looking at ways to prevent access to the site in future.

So far the best option would appear to be a gate/barrier at the Kyrle Street entrance - which could cost in the region of £4000 to install. The Council majority support such a measure and hope that this can be put in place a.s.a.p.

I have spoken to a number of local people about this and I believe that it would be a very popular measure.

The only concern I have heard is that it may drive the Travellers to repeat their invasion of the Sports Club, but I understand that measures have already been taken to prevent that.

In the longer term, I hope that the real solution comes with the provision of nominated sites around the County where Travellers can stay. I believe that this is in the hands of the Herefordshire Council to find suitable sites which Travellers will be willing to use.

Valerie Coker

Ross-on-Wye Town Councillor, North Ward