Rowers secure £90,000 for better Wye access

Money has been secured from a housing developer to fund improvements to steps by the river Wye.

Half of the nearly £180,000 cost of the steps at Ross Rowing Club, Ross-on-Wye, will be provided via a so-called section 106 agreement with David Wilson Homes, part of the Barratt housebuilding group.

This was as a condition of planning approval for the 210-home Hildersley Farm to the east of the town, marketed as The Orchards.

The rowing club itself responsible for the remaining £88,500 cost of the project.

Its planning application for the work in June 2021 pointed out that the current steps suffer from crumbling surfaces and sections breaking away and being undercut by the river.

This also proposed extending the steps downstream, and putting in handrails, tactile paving for the visually impaired, and ramp access for those in wheelchairs.

A new report from Herefordshire Council confirms the developer’s contribution and also recommends appointing contractors JN Piling, SDG Groundworks and Attridge Scaffolding for the work, following a tendering exercise.

The report says the project will “support all members and particularly those less able to participate in the sport”, and will also “support the club to grow and diversify [its] membership”.

Ross Rowing Club was approached for comment.