THE newly-elected District Councillor for Berry Hill, Tim Gwilliam, may also arguably be the Forest council's youngest member at 44.

He is also a big supporter of the FANS (Five Acres Not For Sale) group, and is convinced this is the reason he had 60 per cent of the vote.

He told the Review on Tuesday: "The people around here just do not want to lose facilities like the Forest Theatre.

"I'm glad to say that the outlook is extremely positive. The people of Berry Hill are to be congratulated on that. It's a real opportunity for the area.

"And if I am really the youngest councillor it's high time things were shaken up – the times they are a changing!"

Last week's poll results were:

Nigel John Bluett (the Conservative Party Candidate) – 102 votes

Timothy Brian Gwiliam (Labour Party Candidate) – 276 votes

John Duncan William McOwan (UK Independence Party (UKIP)) – 85 votes

The turnout was 34.6 per cent.

Cllr Gwilliam has not yet attended a council meeting – his first will probably be on February 21. However he will be extremely interested in the the Forest of Dean District Council Scrutiny Committee report on Five Acres which will be unveiled at Lakers School at 6pm on Monday February 18. FANS is urging members of the public to attend.