Temporary traffic lights have been installed at the top of Wilton Road at the junction with Wye Street and High Street. They will be in place for some time as the wall there is unstable and needs urgent repairs.

The road was closed on Sunday, January 24th as the wall was being cleaned and pigeon proofed by Balfour Beatty Living Places. The state of the wall, which is at one of the main entrance points to Ross town has been a source of complaints for some time.

As well as clearing off the pigeon mess the ivy was cleared away and Councillor Richard Mayo told the Ross Gazette: “It became obvious that the ivy was what was holding the wall together. It was very unstable and moving.”

He said that emergency three way traffic lights were installed and a surveying tower will be brought in so that the wall can be examined more closely by a structural engineer.

Christopher Kirkham-Sandy of the Old Court House B & B, whose garden is the other side of the wall had been pleased that the clean up work was taking place. He told the Gazette: “This is the main route into Ross, it should be nice.”

He said that he is very sorry for the disruption to the town but this work is essential. He hopes to save the stone as the wall is dismantled and then have the wall rebuilt within the next few weeks.

Since taking over the Old Court House Mr Kirkham-Sandy has been restoring the property, he said it is a ‘labour of love’. The B & B will stay open while the work to the wall is completed.

Councillor Mayo has been trying to get the cleaning and pigeon-proofing completed for some time and although the issue of safety has meant it will delay the finish he is pleased that the work will improve the appearance of the wall.