In this week's edition of WNTV News we watch the huge tunnelling machine going underground before beginning to tunnel under the town. Along with my daughter, Sarah and her boyfriend James, I get really close up to a bat in King Arthur's cave. We cover musical events at the Red Lion, Peterstow and the Prince of Wales, get a preview of a fascinating exhibition and visit the Corn Exchange for a St. Mary's fund raising supper. . .

WNTV is now available to watch in DVD quality at Ross Heritage Centre

Please tell your friends - especially those without www access. If you go to view, would you please inform the Heritage staff whether or not you like WNTV NEWS being available in the Centre - preferably in the guest book as availability depends on whether you enjoy watching there, or not. Thank you.

Back issues are also available there to be viewed and current issues will be available from Friday lunchtimes (possibly earlier - this depends on time available as I can only produce the DVD quality versions once the main news is prepped and on-line.

Get any WNTV News programme on DVD

If you would like a DVD quality version of any of the WNTV News programmes produced so far, a DVD can be purchased at a cost of £5.00 per issue plus postage and packing if necessary. Email or call for info.

A 53-tonne tunnel boring machine has been safely lowered into place ready to start burrowing out a 400 metre long tunnel as part of the £7.1million Ross Flood Alleviation Scheme. Tunnel engineers Morgan Est, led by project manager Ken Henderson, carefully steered the machine as it was lowered into place over the underground shaft by a 50 tonne crane on Thursday.

Now that the machine is underground, another nine gantries will need to be lowered into the shaft and this will be done as work on the tunnel progresses. The gantries will be attached to the tunnelling machine, creating a kind of underground 'train', which will have a conveyer belt to remove the earth which is being tunnelled out. The earth will then be used to build a bund on the A40.

Ken Henderson said, 'This is probably one of the smallest tunnel boring machines that are used and it will only be able to progress at 10m to 12m a day because the mixture of sandstone and mudstone in this area is very hard to break through. The tunnel will have three curves in it which is why we need to use this machine. We will be lining with segments of concrete as we go along and hope to have completed the tunnel by the end of May'.

Councillor Brian Wilcox said, 'The tunnel is one of the most exciting engineering aspects of this project and it is amazing to think this machine will be tunnelling underground for four months before resurfacing again. 'Work is going well on the scheme and we are on target to finish by July this year'.

The Ross Flood Alleviation Scheme, funded by DEFRA, came out of discussions in December 2000 when the town centre was hit by serious flooding and has been developed in close consultation with local businesses and interests. It has been designed to national standards and will protect areas around Greytree Road, Brook End Street, Millpond Street and the Broadmeadows Industrial Estate from flooding from the Rudhall and Chatterley Brooks. (Although, it will not stop Brookend Street flash flooding during heavy rain. This problem is being dealt with under a separate scheme.)

WNTV News went along to watch the boring machine being lowered into position on Thursday. Far from being boring, we actually found it quite interesting and coverage can be seen in this week's WNTV News programme. Video coverage of the 2000 flood can be seen here.

The Ross Lions Club is making every effort to change itself and move into the 21st century. They have just launched a new website to keep residents of Ross informed on how they spend the money raised on good local causes, details of future fund raising activities plus details of how to join for those interested in becoming a Lion. Lions IT Officer, Lion Nick Dale, said the new site is a vast improvement on the previous one and it can be updated online by members with a secure login area.

The Lions are very grateful for the support of Geoff Jones of Logiplex for donating the programme. The site can be viewed at www.rossonwyelions.org.

On Tuesday, 26th February the Club is holding a social evening at the Conservative Club in Ross, starting at 7.00pm for 7.30pm. Please note the Lions are a non political organization and use the Conservative Club for its convenience and availability.

The Lions' Club needs new members to bring fresh ideas and greater energy into helping the needy, the elderly and young. Why not come along with your partner or friend and enjoy yourselves whilst finding more out about what the Lions do. You can take participate in a game of skittles or just have a drink and something to eat. The food will be provided free.

For further information contact Lions' Public Relations Officer, Bernard Fowkes on 01989 563337.

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The Patterdale/Jack Russell pictured below was seen to be stolen from Bailey Enclosure (on the main road between Ross-on-Wye and Drybrook) on Friday, 18th January.

The dog was seen by its owner being taken by the occupant of a dark green 7 1/2 tonne Lorry with yellow/gold lettering at a time between 10:30 and 11:30.

The owner is offering a reward for the dog's return. For further info, please call 01594 543378.

The absolute deadline for Wyenot News stories and other items is 12:00, midday on Tuesday, for inclusion in the following day's edition.

PLEASE NOTE HOWEVER: This is an absolute deadline and not the time I am asking for articles to be sent in. Mondays and Tuesdays here at 'Wyenot News' are Hell with by far, the most events I cover occurring at the weekend. The photography that the public sees happening is only one tiny part of the whole picture (please excuse the pun) of running this weekly news publication and the bits of prep that people do not see, are actually the most time consuming part of getting the story out.

If at all possible, please send your story in as early as you can, rather than wait until the very last minute, so that I can have at least a fighting chance of getting to bed before 3:00 am every Tuesday and Wednesday morning after what has lately become two 18 hour working days on the trot.

Thank you very much for your understanding and help.

Alan

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Wyenot News, 1, Hillview Road, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire. HR9 7EY

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