Ross-on-Wye Town Plan Group, RoWToP recently applied to the lottery fund to help finance their consultation work with Ross-on-Wye's residents. On Monday, 14th July, the town's community planning association heard that their bid had been successful and that they had been awarded £9,600.

councillor Jo Lane, the group's publicity officer said, @This is great news for the town, a brilliant confidence booster for the group and more importantly, all Ross residents. We never expected to get this much funding. We can now crack on with our community consuoltations, inculding a 'Planning for Real' event. It's time for everybody who cares about Ross to get involved.'

You can contact Jo on 01989 563849. Alternatively, visit RoWToP's website at www.ross-on-wye.org.

A couple of weeks ago Wyenot News featured the Furze Pig Hedgehog Rescue which is run by Maureen Webb and her husband, Derek. The rescue centre, situated in Peterstow has now taken three more babies on board, all in need of the care and attention that is given to all of their charges.

Looking after the hedgehogs not only takes up a lot of time, there is also the cost of their food to be taken into considerate, as well as very expensive medication. Almost all of these costs are met by Mo and Derek themselves, with occasional food being donated, for which the couple are grateful.

MO told us that the hedgehog population is on a rapid decline. This makes the work at Furze Pig especially important. If the current rate of decline continues, Hedgehogs could well be extinct by the year 2015. That is actually not very far away.

You could help Maureen and Derek to continue in their work by perhaps donating a few tins of dog food or cat food, (non fish varieties) biscuits, (MO tells me that hedgehogs are very partial to digestives) or perhaps you could spare a few pounds every now and then to help with the cost of necessary medication.

If you would like to help, then please contact Maureen on 01989 567288. You can meet the new Furze Pig babies in this week's WNTV News programme.

NICK KISS & SON
PLASTERERS AND GENERAL BUILDERS

All types of plastering work undertaken
Clean and Tidy - Free Quotes

Telephone: 01989 763441
Mobile: 07810 174670

PAUL AND STEVE RANDELL
GENERAL BUILDERS

Extensions - Renovations - Brickwork
Stonework - Floor Laying - Roofing

Telephone Paul on 01989 564112
Mobile 07812 564112
Steve on 07971 535064

Police in South Herefordshire executed two drugs warrants at addresses in Ross last week, arrested two men and seized a quantity of illegal drugs. The raids come hot on the heels of the pledge by Inspector Jim McLaughlin, new top cop in Ross, to come down hard on illegal drug dealing in the town.

Officers visited two houses in River View and Old Market Close on 15th and 18th July 2008 respectively. At the first premises, they discovered a cannabis cultivation operation. They seized cannabis plants and equipment. One man was arrested and has since been charged with cultivation and possession of cannabis. He will appear at Herefordshire Magistrates Court at a later date. At the second address, police found a similar cultivation enterprise and seized cannabis plants, cannabis resin, amphetamines and LSD. A man was arrested at this premises and is currently on police bail whilst forensic tests are undertaken on the property seized.

Alex Warner, Local Policing Sergeant for the Ross sector, who lead the raids, said, 'This is just the start of a fresh thrust at tackling drug dealing in the area. We have executed two warrants and have several more in the pipeline. My message to any local drug dealer is "Beware - we could be coming to you next!" And for people growing or dealing drugs in rented properties, it could mean worse is yet to come'.

Many housing associations will take steps to evict those convicted of dealing drugs. A spokesperson for Herefordshire Housing commented, 'As a Housing Association we are committed to creating neighbourhoods that are safe and popular places to live. We take all breaches of tenancy agreements very seriously and work proactively with the Police to address crime and to help gather evidence. Any tenant who is proven to be engaging in criminal activity can be taken to Court and evicted from their property'.

Sgt Warner added, 'We need the people of Ross, and Herefordshire for that matter, to help us to remove the threat that drug dealing can pose to communities. We need information. Many people will know who is dealing and where. Tell us. Use Crimestoppers, which means you can phone anonymously. I can assure everyone that the police will act appropriately and robustly on every bit of information we receive, no matter how we get that information. We aim to keep Herefordshire safe - you can help us achieve that!'

Anyone with information on drug dealing or drug related issues can pass information to the police via Crimestoppers by phoning free on 0800 555111. All calls will be treated in the strictest confidence.

The Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS) has been operating for 70 years now and marked the occasion with a special tea party at the Ryefield Centre last Wednesday. The WRVS provide a range of services, including meals on wheels and a regular lunch club and try to ensure that the elderly enjoy a good quality of life.

The party was very well attended by the tireless volunteers, Mrs. Joyce Thomas, MBE-DL, co-ordinators from Herefordshire and Worcestershire and many of the regular, local guests and all enjoyed some tea and delicious cakes and a raffle draw was held later in the afternoon. Long may the valuable work of the WRVS continue.

Sunday's 'Bands in the Park' entertainment was provided by Ross Town Band and lots of people enjoyed their performance at the bandstand.

Ross Town Mayor, Councillor John Davies was there with his Mayoress wife Hannah to collect money for John's chosen charity, Ross MS Support Group.

It was nice to see you in relaxed mode John. I think it was a little too warm for chains of office. I hope you managed to raise a lot of money for the charity.

This coming Sunday, the Pillowell Silver Band will be performing, so if you are not too worn out after Jamstand, why not go along and enjoy it?.

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