AS a founder member of the heritage protection group Dean Forest Voice (DFV) I, along with my fellow members, am alarmed at the proposals being put forward by the Forest of Dean District Council to consider closing the tourist information centres in the Forest of Dean.
The Forest of Dean District Council states that it wants to help the area through and out of the recession yet consider proposals that can only have a detrimental effect on the local economy. Tourism is one of the biggest contributors to the local economy supporting 2,000-plus jobs and creating over £90 million of income to the area.
It does not make sense to do this, and at a time when the Forest of Dean District Council is considering spending £400,000 on the refurbishment of its headquarters.
Such a move can only have a detrimental effect upon the area and must lead to the demise of the many attractions in the Forest of Dean, plus its hotel trade, the Forestry Commission picnic and campsites and the many local festivals and shows that go on throughout the Forest over the year.
The impact on the shops and businesses a reduction in the number of visitors will have must be considered too.
Alongside this we must also consider the effect that the proposal to consider car parking charges in the Forest towns will have on local business.
DFV will be discussing these issues at their next meeting on Monday, February 2 at the Rising Sun, Moseley Green at 7.30pm. Anyone interested in discussing these proposals is welcome to come along. – Gerald Morgan.