A group of volunteers from Ross-on-Wye will be tidying the Railway Garden, at the bottom of Ledbury Road.

The area had caused some concern among local residents. At the Full Meeting of Ross Town Council on Monday, July 11th, Cllr Richard Mayo told members that he was going to ask Balfour Beatty to trim the hedges of the Railway Garden to a much lower level, as PC Richard Barradale-Smith had pointed out that the high hedges made it difficult to see what was going on in the garden; the area is a no-alcohol zone, and some residents have expressed concern that members of the public were using the area to consume alcohol.

On the Ross-on-Wye Notice Board on Facebook, local residents also discussed the “unkempt” Railway Garden. Tracey Reading wrote:?“Could we not even gather up a small group of individuals to spend one day a month keeping it tidy?”

Her suggestion was met by many others, eager to join in to make the garden took tidy. Several of the Ross Town Councillors provided some helpful suggestions, and before long, a group of volunteers had arranged to spruce up the Railway Garden on Sunday, July 31st.

Several local businesses have donated several items to the group, to assist them. Tracey said:?“We have items from Safety Shack and Ermin plant, and I’m waiting to hear back from Sainsbury’s.”

Cllr Daniel Lister, who has been concerned with the state of the Railway Garden for several months now, was delighted that a community-spirited group has come together, determined to improve the town. He told the Gazette:?“I think it’s wonderful that so many residents are willing to help here in the community, of which some don’t even live near the area of the gardens.

“Working together as a community is so important, so it’s great that so many are willing to take part.

“What’s a shame is that the area has been and is being neglected by Herefordshire Council due to budgets.”

As Herefordshire Council have the responsibility to maintain the Railway Garden, he said that although the Town Council have been concerned about the area, as several residents have filed complaints, they were limited in what they were able to do.

“A few times I have been down myself and noticed people drinking and taking drugs,” he said.

However, now that other local people have stepped forward to maintain the area, Cllr Lister is optimistic. He said:?“With residents willing to help, it will be so great. This will benefit Ross massively, to which I’m sure the all other Councilors will be very thankful.”