"ABSOLUTELY DIABOLICAL", "clandestine", "discourteous": Ross residents are incensed by the way the county council has handled changes to key services in the town, the common accusation being that Herefordshire Council officials have acted without proper consultation with locals – or indeed with staff who will have to work with the new arrangements.

The charges come in the aftermath of a heated meeting in Ross Library on Tuesday, October 19th, at which council officials unveiled detailed plans to modify library services and bring in the Info Centre, which is currently in rented space at Swan House.

Arguing Herefordshire Council's case in front of some 30 local residents and town councillors, Andy Tector, Head of Special Projects, highlighted the need to save money at a time of widespread cuts to public services. But more than the details of the plans themselves, which were reported in last week's Ross Gazette, it was the manner with which they were presented that provoked anger.

Read the rest of this report in the Ross Gazette