Getting Creative In Ross-On-Wye

Youngsters in Ross-on-Wye will soon be able to get creative once a major refurbishment of a town centre youth centre is complete.

The Y-Zone building, in Hill Street, will temporarily close its doors in a couple of weeks time (Friday, May 20) to allow workmen to begin transforming the venue into a new and exciting creative arts centre.

New facilities at the popular centre will include an Internet café, studio theatre, filmmaking facilities and a music production suite.

“We’ve consulted widely with current and potential users of the centre and, based on their feedback, we’re hoping to include the facilities they’ve asked for,” said Elaine Clarke, Centre Manager.

“The potential of a facility like this in Ross-on-Wye is enormous. There’s nothing currently like it and we’re sure it’s going to meet the needs of many of the town’s young people who want to explore creative channels to express themselves.”

The building is expected to remain closed until the end of September while work is carried out.

The cost of the scheme stands at more than £100,000 – funding has been secured from Advantage West Midlands, Europe and local charities to help pay for the refurbishment.

“It’s taken us quite a time to get to this point but we’re here at last,” said Elaine Clarke.

“We’ve already informed groups which currently use the venue that the building will not be available for several months and have been working with many of them to find suitable alternative temporary accommodation.

“We apologise in advance for the inconvenience this will cause, but I’m sure they realise that the short-term disruption will be worth it.”

Elaine Clarke added that because new facilities are being included in the Y-Zone building, a much wider selection of activities would be on offer to the town’s youngsters once the work is complete.

“However, we accept that major changes to the internal layout of the building may mean that not all the current activities will be able to take place there once the refurbishment is complete.

“We are actively working with one or two groups to find them a suitable long-term venue which they can use so they can continue their activities.”

Herefordshire Council’s Youth service is committed to keeping all current user groups informed and will maintain a dialogue with them to keep them on the progress of the refurbishment.

Once the refurbishment has been completed, it is likely that the Youth Service will hand over the management of centre to the newly created Ross Creative Learning Centre, a charitable trust.

“The whole project is significant for the young people of Ross-on-Wye and will offer a breadth of opportunities  – this is a great time to be a young person in Ross-on-Wye,” added Elaine Clarke.