Residents in competing towns have their say

2 days ago

Millie Trenholm,Ledbury and Ross-On-Wyeand

Elliot Ball,West Midlands

News image — Susan Gray said Ledbury "does feel like culture"

BBC An couple stand smiling on a narrow cobblestone street lined with historic black-and-white half-timbered buildings. He is in a flat cap, sunglasses and and brown leather jacket. She is wearing a gold-green coat and tartan scarf. — Susan Gray said Ledbury "does feel like culture"

"There's a very relaxed feel and everyone's very friendly [in Ledbury], and it does feel like culture - it does feel posh."

Residents in Ledbury and Ross-on-Wye have had their say after the two Herefordshire towns announced plans to be chosen as Britain's first Town of Culture.

The winning applicants are set to receive £3.5m to fund a cultural programme in their town during the summer of 2028.

It builds on the four-yearly UK City of Culture award, but targets places with a population of 75,000 or less.

Speaking in Ledbury, Annie Gray, who lives in a village just outside the town, said: "It's very quirky, it's like going back in time coming into Ledbury.

"It's really nice and calming. All the shops are open, there aren't any empty shops and there's lots of lovely buildings, and the shops are quirky, it's not like a normal town.

"It's very, very nice and you can always get what you want here. There's a butchers and bakers - the only thing I think it missing is a fish monger.

"But everything else is lovely, it's really nice."

Her husband Paul added: "It's nice and there's lots of little places to have a cup of coffee and a spot of lunch.

"The architecture.. is quite nice and as Annie says, there's shops for every need."

A wide street scene in a historic town, centred on a large black-and-white timber-framed market hall raised on wooden pillars. — Paul Gray said Ledbury had plenty of places to get coffee and some lunch

In Ledbury's rival, Ross-on-Wye, Made in Ross workers Susan White and Ellen Morris said the town had an "element of tradition" about it.

White said: "I think Ross is really eligible for that sort of award.

"It has got a good variety in the high street, there's an ethos in the whole town, I think, and that's to keep an element of tradition - although it does embrace modern, of course.

"But that tradition draws people in and that holds a whole centre of diverse parts of culture."

Two women stand side by side, smiling at the camera. Behind them is a steep hill lined with shops and houses. — Susan White (right) said Ross-On-Wye was "really eligible" to become Town of Culture

She added: "I've lived here for nearly 30 years and it just has that comfortable feel about it."

Morris described Ross-on-Wye as having a "beautiful feel to it".

She said: "I feel like everyone's friendly, everyone says hello, everyone's always there to help if you need anything.

"There's always things going on, the music scene is quite good, there are small, local bands."

The government announced the award in October, with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy saying it was aimed at "shining a light on the places that have shaped our cultural life, but haven't always had the recognition they deserve".

The formal application process is expected to open shortly.

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