HAVING read Steve Parry-Hearn's   letter introducing himself as prospective Labour candidate and the launch on November 23 of his campaign for the next Parliament, I noted he wrote at   length about saving the Forest from privatisation and a Heritage Dean with a brighter future called 'Silicon Dean'.

Steve will know that his party is already married to the Conservatives to sell Five Acres College, 200 acres of the Northern Quarter and 50 acres of the Birch wood near Coleford – there is not the thickness of a cigarette paper difference between them on these issues.

His reference to Silicon Dean also implies that he may be personally in favour of these sales.

If that is the case he should be crystal clear about his intensions, or are we to witness yet another candidate embarking on the   path of sectional party politics   which is a labyrinth of double standards.

Smoke and mirrors to appease  their local party in preference to the electorate. I am not judging you yet Steve, but   simply asking for you to be up-front with regards to these crucial issues.

Finally if Steve wishes to preserve our ancient woodland he will not be alone, because   17 conservation groups, including the RSPB, WWF and Campaign to Protect Rural England, have said in a joint statement that they are "concerned that a poorly implemented offset   system could have a negative effect on biodiversity", adding that similar schemes abroad had resulted in "net biodiversity loss". Among the areas that could be developed are sites of special scientific interest (SSSI) – those that house Britain's "very best" wildlife, which includes the Forest of Dean.

– Andrew Gardiner, Ruardean.