MADAM, It is that time of the year for roasting our chestnuts and, while I think of the tasty edible ones, I see that previously popular variety, 'The Chestnuts', has been sold – subject to contract of course.

Will it be a new residential home for the elderly folk of Ross? I think not. I recall that when the old home was about to close, we were told that some of the reasons, excuses even, were that there was insufficient demand for bed spaces in the Ross area and that funding was being diverted towards Care in The Home.

It is of interest, then, that the local and successful company Freemans has identified enough demand to plan a large residential/nursing home off Alton Road. I also assume that they are confident that sufficient public funding will also be available to make the scheme viable.

Will the old Chestnuts site become an estate of new homes as I predicted many months ago? More likely I think. I would like to be proven wrong, but with the additional financial demands being made for the re-development of the old Hereford market site and amid the rumours that our swimming pool is to be sold off, I do wonder.

Of course, being the cynic that I am, I am reminded that at Christmas not only do chestnuts get roasted but the goose gets fattened up. I hope it is only the goose!

Michael Field, Ross

Contact us via [email protected]">[email protected]">email