DAVID Norman's letter of April 21 dealing with Conservative councillors' views on forest management was riddled with falsehoods and inaccuracies.

Firstly, Georgina Bensted is not standing again. This is public knowledge.

Secondly, Peter Amos is leaving the area due to a job promotion.

Thirdly, when he turns to my opinions, he steps outside legitimate and fair public comment. If Mr Norman had exercised due care to check the facts, he would have found that the Conservative Group (not just a "rump" but 23 councillors; more than half the Council present at that meeting) voted in favour of the following motion on December 2, 2010:

"This council is opposed to any selling off of forest land that would compromise the protection of our most valuable and biodiverse forest and lead to greater commercial exploitation and possibly reduced access.

1) This council will write to Secretary of State for the Environment expressing the sentiments above and asking for assurances that a full and complete public consultation take place within this District and be heeded.

2) This council will support and defend the historic rights, traditions and privileges of the public within the Forest of Dean.

Furthermore, this council will take every possible action to prevent the privatisation of any publicly owned forestry land in the Forest of Dean."

That was the formal Conservative position.

Secondly, at the meeting of December 2, 2010, I spoke out against any sale of land including those sales carried out by the Forestry Commission through exemptions in the 1981 Forestry Act. Because of this, I could not vote for HOOF, which, at the time, wanted to keep the Forestry Commission and the 1981 Act.

I will reiterate: I am against ANY sale of woodland in the Forest of Dean. My votes in council will prove it. Mr David Norman should withdraw his comments and apologise to me and to every individual he has publicly misrepresented.

– Grace Bensted.