The Ross-on-Wye Liberal Democrats recently published a leaflet titled ‘Let down Again’, which criticised Herefordshire Council for their lack of spending on Ross-on-Wye roads between 2017 and 2018.

However, the figures they used, provided by Herefordshire Council following a Freedom of Information request, were incorrect. A spokesperson for Herefordshire Council told the Ross Gazette that this misinformation was due to a ‘technical error’.

The Liberal Democrat leaflet stated that: “Research by Ross Lib Dems has shown that the Tory County Council spent precisely nothing on re-surfacing Ross roads in 2017/1018.”

The figures for spending were listed in other areas of Herefordshire near Ross-on-Wye, including Bromyard, which recieved £166,024 and Leominster, which received £195,745.

A spokesperson for Herefordshire Council told the Ross Gazette: “Herefordshire Council made an investment of £36,700 into road resurfacing in Ross in 2017/18, which relates to the resurfacing of the B4234 Walford Road on March 21st to March 22nd, 2018. This work was part of our countywide programme of highways works.”

Councillor Chris Bartrum told the Ross Gazette that a spend of £36,700 was ‘terrible’ compared with the spending in other areas. He said: “It’s hardly any different. Instead of spending nothing, it turns out they have spent next to nothing.

“We asked for information, they provided it, but Ross was not included. It was presented in an amateur way. We went back to them to check, and again they did not include Ross. Herefordshire Council gave false information".

A spokesperson for Herefordshire Council said: “Herefordshire Council and Balfour Beatty Living Places apologise for the error in the information supplied, and have identified the cause of this to ensure it does not occur in future.”