WORK has now started on the new Community Enterprise Centre, Coleford, designed to replace both the existing library and community centre. The site is the former Old Station Way car park, adjacent to the Railway Museum.

A number of concerns have been raised by local residents. The most significant of these are: first, the lack of consultation with the townspeople; second, the remote nature of the planning decision, taken on January 22 this year by the Gloucestershire County Council planning committee after both Coleford Town Council and the Forest of Dean District Council had opposed the plan.

It seems that a county council can overrule the wishes of both town and district council. This does not bode well for democracy.

The new Community Enterprise Centre will cost £2.5 million, yet at no time has the possibility been considered of rebuilding or refurbishing the existing community centre, which could be achieved at less cost. The new building will house both the Library and planned space for user groups at the existing community centre, including youth groups and the Dr Charley's day centre for senior citizens, yet both these groups have voiced concerns that the new building will not adequately fulfill its intended purpose. In particular, many senior users are unable to use stairs or a lift to reach the first floor, when a ground floor facility would be safer and more convenient.

Plans are also in hand to rebuild the existing library and community site with housing. However, no detailed plans have been issued. What kind of housing is this to be? Social housing, i.e. available to people in need, or 'affordable housing', which begs the question, affordable for whom? Again there is a glaring lack of consultation with the townspeople of Coleford.

The Coleford Area Partnership, an unelected body, who submitted the plan, claim they are acting in the best interests of the town, yet county councillor Peter Chamberlain, who is supposed to represent the town, has been quoted, "We have pulled it off, in spite of Coleford".

Democracy only has meaning if it works at the grassroots, i.e. people have direct input into the decisions which affect them.

In this respect our so-called local democracy has sorely failed. – Sean Walsh, West Glouceste­r­shire Green Party, Bank Street, Coleford.