'WE want to hear your views on our services and budget proposals' stated the Forest of Dean District Council questionnaire.

A selection of questions with tick boxes asked people to say what services they used and should be cut/decreased. Everything from provision of affordable housing to public conveniences. In section 5, 'Service Provision' they mention that closing the One Stop Shops will save £117,000 and that 'Stop supporting Arts Fes­tivals' will save £32,000.

Forest-bigartweb with myself as the organiser wish to say that we have never received the princely sum of £32k or anything remotely near it.

The last Arts Showcase Festival "Art Attack" was in 2006 and we received a tiny amount from Forest of Dean District Council towards the large cost of insurance. The rest of the set up costs were through fundraising, in-kind labour plus the kind sponsorship of Keith Bell.

I have asked some of the cabinet members and council officers what this sum relates to and finally got the response that it is a staff salary. I presume the arts development officer post.

I feel that the wording on this questionnaire is highly misleading and ambiguous not to say "slewed". I would also like to know why this questionnaire went out on January 21 with a cut-off date of February 5, a tiny "window" for response and why there is no end date printed on the actual form.

How many people got one and completed in order that Forest of Dean District Council could tick the box 'Public Con­sultation?' Mushrooms again?! – Sue Dubois, Newnham.