I have a feeling that the Forest of Dean may be at the cutting edge of a seismic change. Party politics has no place in local government. District councillors should not be following the dictats of a particular political party, but should be working full time to meet the needs of their individual wards, and the general interests of the Forest of Dean.

This is a move that the Forest Blue group appears to be anticipating, albeit somewhat hesitantly. But why don't they go the whole hog and drop the Tory blue and opt instead for a truly independent Forest Green?  That is the case I argue in a recent entry on my blog: 'Party Politics: Democracy's Oldest Enemy' (www. donaldnorfolk.cyberhelp.me).

– Donald Norfolk, Newnham-on-Severn.