I WAS interested to read the letter by Mr King in the Review this week and find it hard to understand where "Tutshill Boy" has been for the past 50 years.

He mentioned the shops in the village and the butchers his grandmother visited — this was my father's business which he sold 44 years ago.

I have lived in the village for almost 60 years and I know of many young people who have set up home locally in affordable housing, and currently there is an affordable cottage for sale only five doors from the butcher in Coleford Road besides many more within the parish.

The councillors who are representing the village have all lived here many years and continue to work tirelessly for the benefit of the local people not like Mr King who "jumped ship" many years ago.

Unbeknown to Mr King Tutshill has evolved considerably over the past 30 years with responsible development to cater for all requirements including "affordable housing" and it will continue in this vein in the future and follow the path set down by Forest of Dean District Council's Core Strategy for an acceptable level of houses to be built in the next 10-12 years.

Gladman Developments have only one aim: to achieve the most financial gain for themselves and the owners to the detriment of the village.

This proposed development of 126 houses is outside of the village boundary and on agricultural land which has not been included in the core strategy plan put forward by the Forest of Dean District Council.

"Tutshill Boy", from his letter, is not a young person starting out in life but if he would like to return and look around I am sure he will find many affordable properties at more attractive prices than Bristol.

– T P Blandford, Tutshill.