THE Forest is a wonderful place to live but, sadly, is losing many of its attractions.

Last Thursday evening I suffered a medical emergency and was taken to the A and E at Lydney hospital. The sister in charge quickly decided I needed to see a doctor. The only problem, there was not a single doctor on duty in the whole of the Forest and I had to be taken to Gloucester. When I related this incident to a doctor in the Lydney practice next day they were appalled.

Although I have no personal experience, I understand that when an ambulance is called on 999 it is a matter of luck how long it takes to arrive as there are too few of them covering too big an area.

All our police stations are being closed. I can't remember when I last saw a bobby on the beat – merely a couple of plastic policemen or Blunkett's Bobbies ambling along chatting, entirely unaware of what is going on round them.

We pay the same taxes as those living in the larger town and cities. We should get the same level of care and protection. All we have is a district council who do what they think and not what the electors want.

They call themselves Tory but go directly against their own party's policy on weekly waste collection and spurn the offer of a substantial grant to maintain this. They completely ignore loud demands to retain free car parking. As a disabled driver this does not affect me directly but it will when shops shut and I have to travel to Gloucester to get what I want.

– B. C. Baker, Allastone Road, Lydney.