Council pledge cash to boost tourism

Ross-on-Wye town council has provisionally set aside £50,000 for initiatives to attract visitors to the town as the coronavirus lockdown is eased.

Councillors will reassess each of their committee’s budgets to find funds that could be allocated to help boost local trade.

Mayor Daniel Lister told this week’s meeting that it was unlikely any public events would take place in Ross during the remainder of 2020.

And councillor Julian Utting proposed the council should recognise the impact Covid-19 is having on local businesses.

“Therefore it is requested that all committees re-evaluate their budgets and priorities by the September full council meeting to identify funds that could be allocated to attract visitors and residents alike to our high street.

“The events committee is specifically requested to propose ideas for consideration.

“In the meantime a budget of £50k from general reserves is provisionally allocated for this initiative’.”

This proposal was seconded by councillor Ed O’Driscoll and was unanimously approved.

“I feel that we need to give an indication of the budget so we can give the community, markets and tourism Committee the appropriate that this council is willing to back,” councillor Utting added.

“And also to give an indication to our businesses, high street and residents that this council is actually supporting them and not standing by.

“I don’t know if we would even be able to have a Christmas fair but that shouldn’t stop us from actually planning for events before or after Christmas.

“At the moment, I think a lot of people for the last three or four months have been used to online shopping and home delivery and now it’s time to encourage people to visit our high street before all the shops close down.”