WITH reference to your editorial on January 17 I would like to correct a misapprehension that appears to be included there-in.

The meeting in Lydbrook with regard to the flooding problems was arranged by the district council in response to work they commissioned W Atkins Ltd to carry out.

In my opinion it was quite right that the authority commissioning the work should also arrange the open meeting.

However they did not inform me, as county councillor, and I was only made aware of the meeting through my work with Lydbrook Parish Council.

In addition Lydbrook Parish Council, by the time of their meeting on Monday January 13, had not been made aware of whether a representative of the Forestry Commission would be attending.

When I tried to verify whether (deputy surveyor Kevin) Stannard would be attending with the Forestry Commission I was advised that it was not in his electronic diary but they would remind/advise him of the meeting.

I would suggest therefore that it would have been very difficult for me to advise you formally of a meeting that I had not been advised of, had no control over, and had not been able to discover the contents thereof.

Please would you make sure that if you are going to criticise that you make sure of your facts in future.

Having had the chance to reflect on the meeting on Thursday, although I am not a hydrologist, there appear to me to be at least three areas which need further investigation in order to ensure that at least a proper logic is applied to the appalling situation.

I will continue to work on these aspects with, hopefully, the co-operation of all concerned.

– County Cllr Colin Guyton, UKIP, Drybrook and Lydbrook.