The latest consultation on the Ross Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) had to be delayed due to the postponement of the Ross North Ward (Herefordshire Council Member) election.

The Steering Group for the NDP decided to use this time to prepare for a public consultation about the future of The Chase Hotel site. This will run from June 7th via notices placed on neighbouring properties, on the town council’s website and elsewhere.

However, residents have also raised objections regarding the inclusion of the Stoney Stile site in the plan.

An anonymous letter has been shown to the Ross Gazette asking residents to write to Ross Town Council with their objections to the inclusion of this site in the NDP.

They claim that building between 15 and 20 dwellings in this area will mean increased traffic, particularly on Middleton Avenue and Archenfield Road, especially at school times. They have also raised concerns regarding the loss of a greenspace and wildlife habitat as well as parking issues.

The Chair of the NDP, Melvyn Reynolds, told the Ross Gazette that about 20 letters of objection to the allocation of the Stoney Stile site for housing, have been received.

Mr Reynolds said: “It is not unusual for site owners and developers to race ahead, with their planning applications before the completion of an NDP; for this reason each delay to the NDP provides opportunity to have its provisions pre-empted by, often less welcome, developments.  So, at this stage it is important to avoid delays if at all possible.”

After the consultation the examiner will consider the comments made (together with the Plan and the huge quantity of documented evidence) and if they are deemed persuasive, require that the Steering Group address them before the NDP can be approved for local referendum.See the full story in this week’s edition of the Ross Gazette, or subscribe to our online edition here