WHEN broadcaster and musician Jools Holland dropped in on Ross-on-Wye recently and saw the state of the memorial wall dedicated to playwright Dennis Potter, members of the town council were embarrassed by its condition.

The Dennis Potter Memorial Wall, which opened in 1997, is a public artwork located outside the town's swimming pool area and was designed and built by staff and students from the John Kyrle High School to honour the acclaimed British television screenwriter and playwright.

At the recent meeting of Ross Town Council, Cllr Daniel Lister said that when the well-known celebrity visited the wall, he was personally embarrassed by the photograph that accompanied the story.

He added: “I was annoyed myself that I hadn’t done anything sooner. The wall was one of the locations I had earmarked as part of a five-year strategy about maintaining and looking after our town’s historical assets, regardless of whoever owns them.

“So, the immediate question is, who does own the memorial wall?”

Cllr Ed O’Driscoll interjected: “The wall is contained within the area owned by the swimming pool company on which the land is owned by Herefordshire Council.”

Cllr Lister responded: “As I understand it, the memorial wall was gifted to the town, but we as a town council are unable to technically do anything to it as it’s not ours.

“The fact of the matter, the area, and the wall in particular, is in very poor maintenance, trees are covering it and there is extensive damage to the left-hand side of the wall, which has since fallen down and disappeared.

“The wall generally needs a lot of restoration and maintenance work carried out on it and it would be a crying shame to lose it.

“I appreciate we need to establish the circumstances in which the memorial wall was gifted to the town before we can do anything with it financially.”

Cllr Milly Boylan said: “I was there when the wall was being built and I was able to put a couple of thumb marks in it. I can confirm that it was gifted to the town.”

Cllr O’Driscoll said he believes that the land the memorial wall sits on is ultimately owned by Herefordshire Council as the authority is responsible for Halo’s grounds and the wall is located within these grounds.”

Deputy mayor Julian Utting pointed out that Memorial Wall was not included on the record of the town’s assets and added: “It’s obvious by the current condition of the memorial wall that something needs to be done.

Cllr O’Driscoll said: “I feel that as a town council we should write to Halo and point out that there are a number of significant assets outside the sports centre that are falling into a state of disrepair.

“It would be a lovely gesture that these could be maintained. It would give the leisure centre the chance to do something about it.”

A spokesperson for Herefordshire Council said: "We are aware of the concerns that have been raised about the Dennis Potter Memorial Wall and are looking into the matter, including establishing responsibility for its ongoing maintenance.

“We will consider any appropriate next steps once that review has been completed."