Ross North voters head to the polls

Ross-on-Wye residents head to the polls on Thursday to elect a county councillor for the town’s North ward.

The vote, which should have taken place along with the rest of the local council elections on May 2, was postponed following the death of UKIP candidate Gareth Williams.

Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat candidates are vying to represent the ward at Herefordshire Council.

Tory Nigel Gibbs said his four top priorities were promoting the town as a destination for tourism, building the local economy and improving education.

He said: “I want to focus on looking to the future and building on the work of the previous administration.”

However, Mr Gibbs, a former Ross town councillor, said he encountered a lot of voter fatigue during the run up to May 2.

“Many people told me they would never be voting again.”

Labour candidate Melvin Hodges says he wants to truly represent the ward and improve the lives of residents.

The former Woodville works convenor said his ward lacks many of its own community facilities and there is a need for truly affordable housing in the town.

“We are not a rich town in terms of wages. We want the youngsters from this town to be able to get on the ladder,” he said.

“As a town, we are expanding. Ross is getting bigger and we need the hospital open more not less.”

Mr Hodges also believes there is a need for a pedestrian crossing on the A449.

He says a crossing similar to the one in Wilton would solve the problem.

We have a popular car boot on a Sunday which farm workers come in for but they have to dice with death every weekend because they have to cross a very busy dual carriageway,” he said.

Liberal Democrat Chris Bartrum says he will fight for a fairer level of council tax and better local roads.

The town councillor said he had a track record of working for residents in Ross.

“If elected, I will continue to work hard, be visible around the town and ready to listen to local concerns,” he said.

“I will demand a fairer level of council tax, better roads maintenance and the retention of all services at Ross Community Hospital.”