THANK you for highlighting our concerns over the current discussions on plans by the Dean Forest Railway to extend their railway lines right by my house and into the lorry park area at Parkend.

At least we can rely on the Review to allow freedom of speech as well as an open forum for discussion on matters that affect myself and my neighbours' properties, the whole village of Parkend as well as the future of the Forest of Dean in general.

However, that cannot be said of some supporters of the Dean Forest Railway. On Saturday a smart 4x4 car pulled up outside my home. An elderly gent jumped out and proceeded to pull down our protest signs (pictures in last week's issue). When I remonstrated with him he replied by saying that if he didn't do it someone else would. He also stated that we were telling a "pack of lies" and that the article in the Review was also "all lies."

Have we touched a raw nerve here by drawing public attention to this issue again? It is nearly two years since a public meeting of residents of Parkend overwhelmingly voted against the railway expansion in Parkend.

Parish councillors, district and county council representatives at that meeting agreed not to support further rail development across the lorry park site. It was agreed that the Local Plan would be amended to show the lorry park be designated for light industrial usage, to provide workspace for small businesses.

Here we go again. Councillors have not kept their word and another secret plan has been hatched for the lorry park. When we object and protest we are the ones accused of being liars.

Do not try and hoodwink us. This is not about sustainable transport or tourism – if it were, then it would give Parkend two railway stations, that is one more than the cities of both Gloucester and Oxford.

No, this is a backdoor plan for freight trains to transport stone and coal, ripped out of the heart of the Forest of Dean. So come clean Mr Angry, tell us the truth about the plans because this issue is beginning to stink. – Carl Gwynne, Fancy Road, Parkend.