22. Historic Buildings and Landscape
To ensure that Ross-on-Wye's historic setting and buildings are protected/maintained and not allowed to fall into disrepair.
To ensure that all planning decisions are sensitive to the town’s unique setting and historic built landscape.
To reduce the impact that traffic and congestion is having on the town environment.
The centre of Ross is a designated conservation area and Ross itself sits within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it would, therefore, be negligent of this report not to address the natural and built environment in which Ross exists. The historic buildings and landscape of Ross make it an attractive and appealing place to both the people who live in it and those who visit. They form two of the town’s greatest assets and as such should continue to be protected. Traffic poses one of the greatest problems to the successful future of Ross as it was not built with the car in mind so careful thought needs to be given as to the best way to tackle this problem. The difficulties of achieving a consensus approach to this are outlined in earlier topic issues. Many of the historic buildings in Ross form the main shopping streets so this issue links in with those concerned with shop fronts and empty and unsightly premises.
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Issue |
To ensure that Ross-on-Wye's historic setting and buildings are protected/maintained and not allowed to fall into disrepair. To ensure that all planning decisions are sensitive to the town’s unique setting and historic built landscape. To reduce the impact that traffic and congestion is having on the town environment.
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Action |
A dedicated group should be established to carry out further investigation into the best way forward to protect Ross and the landscape in which it sits. The Townscape Heritage Initiative should be explored as a means of funding enhancement projects in the town centre as well as other sources of funding for listed buildings.
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Responsibility |
Tourist Information Centre (TIC), Association of Ross Traders (ART), Ross Town Council (RTC), Visit Herefordshire, The Civic Society, The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings.
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Priority |
High priority. Medium term
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Progress To Date: |
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01 Sept 2011 |
In the meantime the Ross Town Council Planning and Sustainable Development Committee (P&SDC) continues to comment on and take a keen interest in planning applications that affect the town. It has successfully encouraged Herefordshire Council to adopt its latest Shop Front Guidance, which promotes design sympathetic to an historic built environment, and uses this and the findings of The Town Plan to influence planning decisions. It is encouraging to note that currently a number of properties in the town are undergoing renovation, funded by the private sector, which will result in smarter shop fronts and new living accommodation above. The Civic Society is invited to send representation along to Planning meetings for comment.
The Transport Group of the Town Plan Progress Group continues to look at traffic issues concerning the town. |
| 2010 |
A group, to address this issue, was created in 2010 with an ambitious view to apply for lottery funding to regenerate the town centre. Members included The Civic Society, Town Council, Town Plan Progress Group and interested residents. After a number of meetings it became apparent that there was no clear vision as to what the group was trying to achieve and that to be successful local authority involvement would be paramount but was not forthcoming. The decision was, therefore, taken to disband the group. |
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