Ross flood scheme progressing well
Work on the Ross Flood Alleviation scheme is well on target for its intended completion date of July 2008.
People living in Ross will have seen visible signs of the progress being made on the £7 million scheme such as construction of the rising shaft and digging work at the Homs Street car park. Culvert units have also been put in at the Kings Acre car park.
An access road is now in place on the A40 into the Marsh Farm area and soil for the bund is being stockpiled.
The river at Rope Walks has also been widened ready to take increased flows of water once the scheme is completed.
Martin Jackson, project manager, said: "The DEFRA-funded scheme is progressing perfectly and the contractors are going full steam ahead ready to start work on the major construction of the tunnel which should start in early December."
As a way of putting something back into the Ross community, the scheme's contractors Edmund Nuttall are staging a special event in aid of BBC Children In Need.
The event will be held at the Riverside Inn on Monday, November 5, starting at 6.30pm and will include fancy dress, two live bands, fire eating and a small fireworks display. There will also be refreshments including a pig roast, mulled wine, hotdogs and burgers.
As part of the evening there will be a raffle where prizes include a pair of tickets to Hereford United's first round FA Cup match against Leeds United on Friday, November 9, a signed football and signed shirt.
Other highlights will be indoor pig racing but, be assured, no real pigs will be involved!
Children attending will also have the chance to have their photograph taken on one of the large machines which are being used during the construction.
Wayne Musa, site manager for Edmund Nuttall, said: "We are very keen to forge community relations and help to raise our company's profile in the town and thought this would be a great way to do this. We would like as many people as possible to come along, have some fun and raise money in the process for a well-deserving cause."
School pupils in Ross are also being invited to create their own artwork based on their interpretations on the work taking place. Schools are co-ordinating the project and it is planned to use the finished designs on hoardings at the site office.
