NEARLY 700 people have signed a petition to stop Ross-on-Wye Men’s Shed being kicked out of their council-owned base.

Herefordshire Council has told the charity, which helps retired men’s mental well-being by providing community making and repairing projects, to pay £13,400 per year in future for the use of their unit at Ashburton Industrial Estate.

The unit has been provided free of charge until now, and members say there is no way they can afford such a sum, with the council warning they will have to quit the premises by the end of April.

The group, which this week reinstalled a renovated and rebuilt parish noticeboard and community bench outside St Mary’s Church, has now launched an appeal to try and persuade county bosses to change their mind.

It posted: “We need your help! Many of you have used us for repairs and renovation of furniture and other items.

“Today Herefordshire Council have given us less than six weeks to vacate our industrial unit at Great Western Court or agree to an annual lease of over £12,000 a year.

“We are a charity and have no regular income other than the donations people give us for the work we do for them.

“We are unable to afford this lease and unless Herefordshire Council can be convinced to change their minds we will be closing on 29th April.

“We are in imminent danger of closing - we need your help.”

Residents have been urged to petition their local councillors and south Herefordshire MP Jesse Norman.

Mousey Russell, who has launched the petition, said: “The Shed was created to ease the loneliness and boredom of retired men.

“The men meet at The Shed and work on various projects - their own as well as community ones.

“So many people sit at home after retirement and face a life of loneliness, which can affect their mental well-being and health…

“We must save the Ross-on-Wye Men’s Shed.”

The Shed launched in 2018, and depends on donations of tools, timber, and funds to build, restore and repair items for people in the community.

Committee member Mark Gunn said a chartered surveyor contracted by the council contacted them at the end of last year as part of a review of the council property portfolio.

And they have now been told to sign a five-year tenancy lease costing £13,400 per year or quit the premises by April 29.

“As a charity we have offered to pay a peppercorn rent, but this has apparently been rejected by Herefordshire Council without any negotiation as to what sum would be involved,” said Mr Gunn.

“It seems our fate has already been decided.”

A Herefordshire Council spokesperson said: “The council is regularising commercial terms across its leased buildings, and all occupiers on tenancy at will agreements are being contacted to agree a new formal arrangement.

“The council recognises the good work and local support provided by this and other community groups across the county and has been working with the Men’s Shed since October 2021 via its agent to achieve the right outcome based on a consistent way of working with charitable groups and organisations.

“However, the operational costs of the unit would need to be borne by the Men’s Shed.

“The council has to have a standardised way of working with charitable groups and organisations that is consistent and shows no favour to one over another.”

To sign the petition, go to change.org and search for ’Save Ross-on-Wye Men’s Shed’.

For further information about contacting your councillor and the local MP, go to the group’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/RossonWyeMensShed/