Madam, As a regular visitor to Ross over a number of years I have followed the fortunes of its tourism industry with interest, particularly in recent months when the future of the information centre has been under discussion.
One of the Centre's outstanding attributes has always been its location, prominently visible to everyone visiting the Town for the first time. It does therefore seem a retrograde step to consider moving it to any other location if a solution could be found to retain it on its present site.
What has been disappointing and surprising, particularly in light of the entrepreneurial activities of the new Ross Traders Association, is the absence of any suggestion that the Centre might be taken into some form of community ownership and therefore relieving the Council of what it clearly sees as a costly burden on their finances.
Models of similar ownership particularly around village shops and public houses exist throughout the country. Never before has there been so much assistance available to develop Social and Community Enterprises, not least through organisations supported by the Regional Development Agency, Advantage West Midlands.
As the presence of so many charity shops show there is no absence of talented and knowledgeable volunteers. There is also a large number of local businesses who I'm sure would benefit from having their own 'Market Place' for goods they produce or wish to advertise.
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