Ross-on-Wye Town Council have agreed in principal to lease an area of the Homs Road car park to the Ross and Monmouth Sea Cadets, who plan to use the area as their new base.

At the full meeting of Ross Town Council on Monday, January 9th, members were very supportive of an application from the Ross and Monmouth Sea Cadets, who hope to move the seven demountable buildings and a shower block, from their previous site to an area of the Homs Road car park.

The Town Clerk, Sarah Robson, told the Gazette that the Council will now enter into negotiations for making arrangements for a long-term lease, and this will be done in conjuction with the Asset Transfer of Homs Road car park from Herefordshire Council.

She added that this Asset Transfer is still in its infancy, and it is still subject to change, so nothing is yet set in stone.

During the meeting on Monday evening, secretary of the Ross and Monmouth Sea Cadets, Haydn Cullen-Jones told Councillors that the group had previously been based at Station Approach, their agreement with Herefordshire Council was a ‘tenancy at will’?agreement, which meant that this property could be terminated at any time by either the tenant or the owner.

The Ross Sea Cadets had been given notice to leave by Herefordshire Council in May last year, and although the County Council were making haste slowly, the group were eager to find a new base quickly.

Mr Cullen-Jones told members of the meeting that the Sea Cadets had not been idle in trying to establish a new base, but sites that had presented themselves had fallen through.

He said that if the Sea Cadets could not establish a new base at the Homs Road car park, they feared they would have to close, as they would not have anywhere else to go.

The Sea Cadets are a national organisation for young people, aged from 11 to 18 years.

Mr Cullen-Jones said that The Sea Cadets help to increase self-esteem and self-respect in their participants, and the organisation can also help the young people get further qualifications.