Ross Town Councillor Surgeries have a new venue and a new approach.

Instead of residents having to visit Ross Library to speak to one of the Town Councillor on a Saturday morning, the Councillors will now come to the market.

They hope that this will make it much more approachable and open for people to talk to them about any issues.

Cllr Caroline Bennett, who proposed the change at a recent Town Council meeting, told the Ross Gazette that many people don’t really understand what the Councillors do or what Surgeries are, this way, she said, they can talk to people as they go about the town. She added: “I would prefer it if it was called community engagement.”

The first surgery in the Market Place happened on Saturday, February 2nd, between 11am and 1.30pm, and despite the cold weather, Councillor Caroline Bennett, Councillor Phil Cutter and Councillor Anne Taylor agreed it was more successful than they could have hoped.

Cllr Bennett told the Ross Gazette: “We were really busy. We had lots of leaflets and information to give out and people were really pleased to see us there.”

She said that they had the Town Council newsletter and a copy of the contact details for Councillors, as is printed on this page of the Ross Gazette.

There was also information about the market, the Mayor’s charity, Papyrus, and grant applications for the grants available from the Town Council.

Cllr Bennet added that people seemed to really appreciate a more informal approach, but it is possible to make an appointment to speak privately to a Councillor at a later date if anyone is concerned about discussing personal information.

People raised several different issues including the proposed development at the Chase Hotel, gritting and potholes but, on the whole, Cllr Bennett said: “The event was very positive.”