FINAL preparations are being made to transfer Ross' Market House into the care of the town council.

It is part of an asset transfer package where the running of public spaces and buildings will be passed to Ross Town Council from Herefordshire Council.

The Market House in Ross town centre is one of the first to be transferred and it is hoped everything will be signed and sealed within the next few weeks.

The Courtyard Theatre in Hereford will have a base at the house with artists working and displaying their work.

All being well, they hope to be in place by the time of the Christmas lights switch-on, on November 30.

Two new members of staff have also been employed on the council including project development officer Rebecca Tamplin and site manager, Charlie Sayce.

Mayor Colin Gray said: "Before I became a councillor I can remember reading in the papers residents saying we should be responsible for our own things and we should be able to look after ourselves more.

"Now the time is here. That is the way things are going."

Following a consultation, residents agreed to the transfer, which will increase the precept from £197k to £265k for 2014/15.

The other assets are The Old Chapel; public toilets in Red Meadow and Wye Street; car parks in Wilton, Crossfield and Homs Road and open spaces in Rope Walk, Long Acre, Caroline Symonds gardens, Thomas Blake Memorial gardens and Crossfields.