Dear Editor

As a past Clerk to the Ross Charity Trustees, I was delighted to read in last week’s Ross Gazette that at last planning permission was about to be granted in respect of the land at Cawdor Gardens.  This application was first presented over 30 years’ ago, with the approval of the Charity Commission, and permission has been delayed for one reason or another on numerous occasions since then.

The sad thing about these delays is that the Trustees only had philanthropic reasons for wishing to sell the land at Cawdor, unlike recent applications which have been focused totally on securing the maximum amount of profit for the owners regardless of public opinion - I wonder if these applications will take over 30 years to secure planning permission?

The Ross Charity Trustees have always been very aware of the lack of housing to let in the town at affordable rents.   Their sole reason for wanting to sell this land was to secure capital funds to enable them to purchase suitable properties in Ross to let at affordable rents to people in need.   Now, at last, after over 30 years they will be able to do this.   This is excellent news but - food for thought - just how many needy families have lost out over the years because the Planning Committee at Herefordshire Council have taken so long to grant permission for the development of this particular piece of land?

Margaret Bickerton

Ross-on-Wye