Ross-on-Wye is in talks with “a name act” to headline a free concert in the town to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June.

Head of the town council's tourism committee Coun Ed O’Driscoll proposed setting aside £2,500 from the town’s tourism budget to fund the planned event, at the bandstand in Caroline Symonds Gardens on the evening of Saturday June 4.

“We intend this will bring a further £5,000 in match-funding,” he said. “We will have up to 500 people down there to see a name act, so we have a civil celebration of the Jubilee along with what’s happening at St Mary’s Church.”

Five hundred would be the maximum under a temporary event licence for the site, he explained. “Tickets will be on a first-come-first-served basis, but we will set some aside for community groups. It won’t fall to the town council to organise entirely.”

Jane Roberts, chair of the Ross-on-Wye Community Development Trust (CDT), which has put on previous events at the bandstand, urged caution, saying: “We are putting in a funding bid, but if that doesn’t come through, it’s unlikely to happen.”

The outcome of bid is expected within six weeks, she said, adding that although she couldn’t reveal the hoped-for headline act, “it’s one I’d heard of”.

Coun Phil Cutter told fellow councillors: “A lot of people will be doing other things that weekend.” But Coun Dan Coilte retorted: “Imagine if we did nothing?”

The proposal to back the CDT’s bid and allocate the funding passed with no votes against.

But Coun Daniel Lister abstained, saying: “We have just put the precept up, and this is spending a big chunk of that for the 500 people who can go.”

Coun O’Driscoll added that the town council will also make small grants available “for jelly and bunting” for street parties in the town during the weekend of Jubilee celebrations.