A HEREFORDSHIRE town has set up screens for tourists that show what it has to offer.

Ross-on-Wye Town Council has installed its first digital tourist information sign, which was paid for by the Great Places to Visit fund, in the centre of the town.

It can be found in the Market Place where people can find details of businesses, services and activities available in and around the town.

The project also includes the installation of a digital screen on a wall outside Ross Library, in Cantilupe Road, which is planned to take place in the coming week.

The project was originally discussed in 2020 at the town council's community, markets and tourism sub-committee meeting during the pandemic.

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It has been instigated as part of the Ross-on-Wye economic plan focusing on five emerging themes of employment, civic amenities, tourism, tourism infrastructure and town retail.

It was agreed that the digital tourist information point would act as a source of valuable information due to the tourism information centres being closed at the time.

The cost of installing the two digital screens is £20,694 including the groundworks, power supply and broadband connection and this has all been paid for by the central government grant and services provided by Fibre Heroes, Western Power Distribution and Air Broadband.

The project has been a huge logistical challenge due to co-ordinating the multiple organisations and providers involved, said a spokesperson from Ross-on-Wye Town Council.

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The screen content is ready to launch, and the last element of the installation is in progress which involves finalising the broadband supplier agreement which means the signs will then be active.

The town council is currently looking at relocating the previous static notice board which was in the Market Place, but no decision has yet been made.

Mayor Ed O'Driscoll said: "I am delighted to see Ross-on-Wye's first digital tourist information point finally in place. We're leading the way in Herefordshire developing vitally important tourism infrastructure.

"Maximising tourism is key to the survival of market towns, so the visitor experience is critical.

"We need to make as much information available as we can to ensure our businesses and retailers have the exposure they need.

"They must be successful if our town is going to thrive."

He thanked those that had been behind the project.

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