So this is what is being encouraged into the Forest of Dean – a Boomtown music festival.

The organisers were surprised that it would be so big. Naive or a pretence at innocence because when I drove by I could only think of Glastonbury and what a lot of money they will make. I didn't believe that businesses in towns would benefit – they never do.

I also thought how the wildlife would suffer and here we are trying to get people to look at the environment, which I do believe is suffering quite badly. The rubbish alone will kill of some of the wildlife we, here in the Dean are very lucky to have. The noise must have been unbearable for all.

It was mentioned that bins should be put in place by the Forest of Dean Council. At what cost to the taxpayer who had to suffer? Perhaps the ones that did go and enjoy the weekend will be happy to pay. Here is an idea. Take your rubbish home. Call me old fashioned but that is what I do and so do my children.

I am not against music festivals but I think that they can be organised better, with very little damage and rubbish thrown or left to be picked up by others.

On the other side of the coin, 'is the carnival over for the Coleford show'? The show does bring money into at least one town. Why is this over? Surprise, surprise: no car parking space left for the vehicles or parking for the visitors. It is a long way to walk from Speech House where there is car parking. What a sad state of affairs.

The TIC closing, Linkline gone elsewhere. As a councillor along with some others, I have tried to fight this keep it in the Dean. There are always those who know better.

The council offices are being renovated at a cost of £400,000 so this is fine. Mind you, it is only 20 years old and to some that is ancient. Yes perhaps it will be a saving and environmentally friendly. However, it defeats the object when some councillors and staff have to travel quite a few miles to get to work at the offices. – Cllr Maria Edey (an Independent with and for the people of the Forest).