John Kyrle High School is celebrating again, this time the award of Artsmark Gold, the highest award for recognition of the provision of Arts in the school. The rigorous application and inspection process looked at evidence of students' participation and success in Art, Music, Drama and Dance.

Headteacher, Nigel Griffiths, said, 'This is a fantastic achievement and acknowledges the hard work and dedication of the staff and students here to excel in the arts. It is worthy recognition of the high standards our students achieve in all areas of the arts and marks another key moment in our aspirations for the school.'

Head of Sixth Form, Rob Wallace, who compiled this year's bid added 'John Kyrle recognizes the way that the arts can transform learning for all students and this is a great way of showing what we do.'

The New Ross Town Council held their first meeting on Monday and many issues were discussed. These included:

• Policing - It is felt that a higher police presence is needed in Ross. Council agreed to look into the possibility of funding another CSO.
• Free parking - All councillors felt that there should be more free parking in Ross. It is hoped that free parking on Sundays and Bank Holidays can be agreed with the County Council. Mayor Derek Bedford felt it unfair that Hereford City can have free parking on those days, yet Ross cannot, at present..
• Twinning with Namutumba, Uganda - After a brief presentation by Mr. Gareth Hughes of JKHS and Mr. James Mugenyi of Uganda, the council agreed that links between the towns would be of benefit to both parties. Namatumba already has a strong link with JKHS and has formed links with the Ross Lions and the Rotary Club.
• Employment - Employment in Ross was another concern in view of the closure of the Somerfield Depot. It is hoped that a new company or companies will take over the building, creating employment opportunities for local people. Councillors will attend a meeting at the depot later this month. Mr. John Passmore of the Market Towns Initiative addressed the council prior to the meeting with ideas on economic regeneration, including development of Model Farm, Hildersley.
• International Festival - It was generally felt that the new Ross Live! festival would probably take the place of the International Festival.

Many more issues of importance to the town were discussed at the meeting and it is good to see that all councillors, regardless of their politics have the future of Ross-on-Wye and its people as their first concern.

All agendas of Ross Town Council meetings open to the public are regularly published on Wyenot News under Public Notices. There may be an issue that is important to you included on them. This gives you the chance to correspond with your local councillors and have your say. It is up to you to use it.

NOTICE is hereby given that a meeting of the
AMENITIES COMMITTEE will be held on
Wednesday, 20th June 2007 at 7.00pm in the Corn Exchange

Discussion items are detailed below and
members of the public are welcome to attend

AGENDA

.

• APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
  To receive and accept any apologies for absence
• DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
  To receive any members' declarations of interests on agenda items
• MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
  To receive and sign the minutes of the previous meeting held on
  Wednesday, 23rd May 2007
• MATTERS ARISING FROM THOSE MINUTES NOT FORMING
  AN AGENDA ITEM
• BUDGET REPORT
• TUDORVILLE CEMETERY
• TUDORVILLE ALLOTMENTS
• DEANHILL PARK
• ST. MARY'S CHURCHYARD
• BANDSTAND
• STREET CLEANSING
• CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
• WEATHER STATION

Signed

Town Clerk

Police are appealing for witnesses to a collision on the A40 Ross-on-Wye to Gloucester road on Friday, 8th June. The collision happened at around 2.15pm, close to the fire station at Ross on the Gloucester side and involved two cars; a silver Peugeot 307 and a grey Peugeot 205.

One of the cars overturned as a result, blocking the road. Police and ambulance crews attended and the male drivers of both vehicles were taken to Hereford County Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Police would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the collision or saw either car travelling along the A40 beforehand. They should contact PC James Alcock at Ross-on-Wye Police Station on 08457 444888.

Rather than putting their old milk float out to graze, The Ryefield Centre and EnviroAbility have donated it to the students of Holme Lacy. Hugh Wisdom, Holme Lacy tutor linked with the Ryefield Centre said "This will provide valuable opportunities for students to work on the electric milk float, renovating and repairing it and giving it a new lease of life. Along with the college canteens admirable provision of spent cooking oil, sent to a local fuel company, it will provide a sustainable alternative to carbon-fuelled transportation".

One of the benefits of organizations working together is that items no longer requires by one may have a continued life - and serve a more sustainable planet - by being useful to another. Such is the case with the long-standing relationship between the Ryefield Centre and EnviroAbility in Ross and Holme Lacy College, Hereford.

Ryefields have been pioneering recycling for many years. They started off small, with one converted milk float providing a local recycling service in the immediate Ross area. They have expanded, now many people who attend the day centre have employment opportunities providing a curb-side collection which extends far out into the Welsh boarders.

Holme Lacy College has for many years offered courses such as Conservation and Recycling to people attending Ryefield Centre. The college's Organic status has motivated it to 'clean up its act' and take recycling even more seriously. They strive to be as sustainable as possible making sure recourses are fully utilized and adapted to maximum effect.

A.J. Lowther and Sons engineering of Whitchurch very kindly transported the milk float from the recycling yard to Holme Lacy College.

A blue Ford New Holland tractor was stolen from a compound on the Alton Road Industrial Estate in Ross-on-Wye overnight on Thursday / Friday, 7th / 8th June.

The tractor, registration L757LVJ, was stolen after intruders cut their way through a perimeter fence to gain access to the compound.

Police would like to hear from anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in the Alton Road area that night or believes they have seen the tractor since. They should contact PC Mike Evans at Ross-on-Wye Police Station on 08457 444888 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

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