WHILE I’m heartened that in December a motion was carried at full council acknowledging that the majority of the community is opposed to fracking, it highlights the disingenuous nature of Forest of Dean politics.

Even though it is a Conservative government that is inexorably forcing fracking onto communities in England, eight of those supporting the motion were Conservative councillors.

It seems that party policies are forgotten when there is a lot of public interest, a tendency I’ve noticed many times in regard to the Forest of Dean District Council. 

Generally there is little awareness of council proceedings.

If councillors misrepresent themselves in this way whenever there is public scrutiny, then residents will have a false impression of how their councillors are acting the majority of the time, when those they represent aren’t watching them. 

I am thankful that, if I am elected, I will be able to act in line both with my conscience and the policies of the party that I would represent, due to the integrity underlying Green Party policy.

- Sid Phelps – Green Party by-election candidate, Lydbrook and Ruardean.