Dear Editor

In his excellent letter last week, Roger Hanson outlined reasons for concern about the impact on the town and wider community of the proposed plans for the Chase Hotel site. You would have hoped that the current owners would have appreciated that the Chase Hotel has been an iconic feature of the town for generations and has become synonymous with Ross itself.

It is hard to believe that if offered for sale it would not attract the interests of enterprising hoteliers nationwide. The owners have opted for a more lucrative collaboration with property developers. Unfortunately it appears that the spirits of John Kyrle and Thomas Blake are not influencing actions and that financial gain is taking precedence over any philanthropy that might have dictated a more community-minded strategy.

(A petition opposing the proposed plans is available to sign at Miles Morgan Travel Agents).

James J Williams

Ross-on-Wye