Councillor Hannah Lerego appealed to members of Ross-on-Wye Town Council to move forward. She said: “It is not for us to keep looking backwards. We need to make informed decisions using the correct information, otherwise we would not be taking our positions as councillor responsibly.”

Councillor Lerego was speaking during a debate regarding the Old Chapel at the Ross Town Council’s Full Meeting on Monday, October 10th.

At the Policy and Management Committee meeting on Monday, October 3rd a proposal was made that the Clerk should be given the authority to “prepare a Business Case to seek disposal of the Old Chapel through a commercial sale whilst continuing marketing to find a suitable tenant on a commercial lease basis.”

The proposal was recommend to Full Council on October 10th, however, the Clerk told the Council that she is not a valuer or a surveyor and therefore did not feel qualified to be able to undertake this.

She said that the local land agent, who was already engaged by the Council, has suggested that it would be possible to put together a Business Case for a cost of £300 - £500.

Councillor Julian Gren said that this would provide the Council with the financial information they need.

Councillor Valerie Coker said: “There is no point moving from this building (the Corn Exchange) we should sell the Old Chapel and we would have a windfall even if we have to share it.

Councillor David Ravenscroft reminded the Councillors that they were not discussing whether to sell it or not, the land agent would continue to find a tenant.

Councillor Chris Bartrum stated that he is completely and utterly opposed to the idea. He said it was taking the Council along the road to selling. He reminded the Councillors that when the Asset Transfers were first discussed at a public meeting, and in a document, it stated that “We cannot allow important assets like the Old Chapel to end up in private hands.”

He added that the previous council had agreed to move to the Old Chapel, as there was plenty of space. This suite of rooms could not be rented. He questioned why they were going down the route of getting rid of the Old Chapel. He said: “People who own empty shops don’t just get rid of them after a couple of months, we may get a windfall of £50,000 but then it would be gone.”

Councillor Bartrum also asked why the Town Councillors, who are also County Councillors, had not declared an interest, because if they sell the Old Chapel they would be voting to enrich their own County Council. He said: “This is a Conflict of Interest.”

Councillor Nigel Gibbs reminded the Councillors that the Asset Transfer Document contained many inaccuracies, including the cost of providing public conveniences. He said: “We are having to pay £700 a month in rates and we have failed to find a tenant for what has been described as a relatively unattractive building in relatively poor condition.”

The Council voted in favour of asking their land agent to prepare the Business Case.