MADAM, Further to the letter from Andrew Meek last week, the Town Council is very aware of concerns about parking in the Town. Parking is a key issue in the Ross Town Plan. Although responsibility for car parks lies with Herefordshire Council, the newly elected Town Council recently changed the remit of the Planning & Sustainable Development Committee to give it responsibility for parking issues. Over the coming months we hope to consult widely and develop a set of proposals for Herefordshire Council which have the backing of the community as a whole.

Ross is fortunate to have many more car park spaces than other local market towns. However, both on-street and off-street, spaces are not used efficiently. The reasons for this are complex and include pricing, signage and public perception. An imaginative and wide ranging response is therefore needed. One idea is free car-parking one afternoon a week in the car parks. This could help to ease peak demand at other times, as well as encouraging shoppers who currently park on-street to try out the car parks.

There will be many more good ideas which could make a real difference and help to promote Ross as town where parking is not a problem. I look forward to working with all those interested, including Mr Meek, over the coming months on this issue.

Cllr. Jane Roberts

Chair, Ross Town Council Planning & Sustainable Development Committee