The current Government claim that the way to financial salvation for the country is through the creation of millions of new jobs within the private sector. However there does not appear to be any encouragement for ordinary people to take the risk and start a new business in the Forest of Dean

 In my opinion the main requirements for someone to have the confidence to start a new business are:

•A stable and supportive banking environment

•Government support through grants

•Ease of entry into the small business environment. 

Unfortunately none of these criteria appear to be in place: Banks appear loath to lend and in any case require at least match funding from other sources for any project.

Since the abolition of the regional development agencies there are few obvious sources of Government grants to any new business and the Forest of Dean is unlikely to be a designated Enterprise Zone.

There are so many rules and regulations, mostly EU imposed, that anyone starting a new business either has to spend months studying the rules or pay substantial sums to consultants. Generally people starting a new business want to concentrate on their own expertise not learn somebody else's.

 May I wish any new business the best of luck trying to succeed against the current conditions.

– Colin Guyton, UKIP secretary, Forest of Dean Branch, The Great Barn, Park Farm, High Street, Ruardean.