HAVE only been a Forest resident for just over a year, a 'Vurriner' some might say.

It is a privilege to live somewhere so beautiful and amongst such genuine people. As an 'outsider' looking in, it appears the Forest is treated with a woeful lack of respect by service suppliers, public bodies and worse, the Forest of Dean district council themselves.

When a nearby road was completely shut off, with no prior notification by Severn Trent about the disruption, I mentioned to one of their workers that they are legally obliged to inform residents of any disruptions. He replied: "Well, it's only the Forest". Sadly it's a puzzling attitude that I find being repeated.

And as I slithered along the icy and treacherous pathway between the Co-op into Coleford town, fellow travellers commiserated with each other. I remarked I couldn't believe that such a well used public footpath wasn't gritted and made safe. One replied: "No, the council never spends any money on us here."

I know that the council don't seem to care about the views of Foresters on other issues too, like putting up over-zealous and ill-considering housing or standing up for much needed facilities, or for the ancient forest itself.

It seems the current council take our money, both in taxes and in the salaries they earn to do it, but don't give anything back in return to help make the Forest the best place it could be.

It is as if the quiet dignity and desire for privacy that the people of the Forest have, has somehow been misinterpreted; that they can be ridden roughshod over and their civic and legal rights ignored?

I appreciate it isn't in everyone's nature to want to complain or to take a stand. But I do think it is time we imagined how we'd like things to be better in the Forest and then voice those thoughts wherever we can, starting with the Forest of Dean District Council.

It's time the Forest got the respect it deserves from the people that have the power to change our lives.

– Name and address supplied.