A LEDBURY town councillor is calling for a suggested donation charge to be introduced at the Ledbury Heritage Centre, to help pay for the building's upkeep and also for cobble repairs at Church Lane.

The idea is that the money will help fund ongoing cobble repairs, to be carried out by specialists.

Cllr Tony Bradford is not happy with the standard of recent cobble repairs in Church Lane, carried out following work by the National Grid, because he thinks the cement used has dried as the wrong colour for a such a sensitive heritage area.

Cllr Bradford said: "I'm not happy with the way the cement has dried out; it's too light. Church Lane is important for Ledbury. Once people see it, they start taking photographs, and it often appears on calendars as well."

He added: "I understand that 25,000 people visit the Heritage Centre in Church Lane every year, and if we ask each one for a 50p donation, that's around £12,000 per year, and that could help to fund the Heritage Centre, and help for ongoing repairs to the cobbles in Church Lane."

The Heritage Centre is run by the Ledbury and District Civic Society, and by volunteers.

At present, entry is free.

Cllr Bradford recently hit the headlines after the Ledbury Places group put in a planning application to convert the upper floor of the Heritage Centre into holiday accommodation.

Concerning this, he said: "I think it would be vandalism."

But Ledbury Places believes that the lettings would help fund vital repairs for the half-timbered building, which was once Ledbury Grammar School.

Former town mayor, Mary Cooper, a member of both Ledbury Places and the Civic Society agrees with Cllr Bradford over the need for better cobble repairs in Church Lane.

She said: "I'm not surprised that Tony is not happy about the cement. Church Lane is immensely important, and quite unique."

"If he is so concerned, he should come along the the AGM of the Civic Society and put his ideas to us."

The AGM will take place on April 29, from 7pm, in the Burgage Hall, Church Lane.

Guest speaker, Tim Hoverd, an archaeology project manager, will give a talk about "The Halls of the Dead."