Madam, I write in response to Mr Lockley's letter about the Market House. I am speaking in my own capacity and not on behalf of Ross Town Council. As a Town Councillor, my main concern is what services the building can host and therefore the main question is not the amount of money which the Courtyard will invest. There are no plans to carry out capital works to this listed historic building and the heritage aspects of the building are secure. The Town Council wants the Market House to continue to be an open and lively venue, serving the needs of local people and of visitors. The Courtyard is a well-established community organisation with a good record of providing arts events in the county. I know they plan to re-open as part of the Christmas lights event on November 30th. The intention is by next spring the Market House will be open to the public seven days a week. One huge advantage they bring is their mailing list, Facebook and Twitter accounts. This gives the ability to publicise Ross events in which they are involved to thousands of people, many of whom live within a 60 mile radius and may not have visited Ross for a while. These are exactly the sort of people we need to attract to the town.

Cllr Jane Roberts, Ross