IN what will be my last and final response to letters by Cllr Andrew Gardiner, I am pleased the Northern Quarter project that has the potential to bring so many benefits to future generations of Forest people was passed by the Forest of Dean District Council planning committee, and common sense at last did prevail 'that is of course if it is not too late.'

Yes I did describe the actions of Cllr Gardiner as hypocritical, not because of his disgraceful behaviour in the council chamber, or because his Rainbow Valley scheme was not supported, it was in fact supported by Labour councillors.

Going back to Rainbow Valley the real reasons this scheme did not get off the ground were as follows: the local builders' yard had no intention of allowing any horse-drawn tramway through their yard and neither did Hanson ever say they would vacate Drybrook Quarry, it was only to be mothballed.

Other reasons: where was the money to come from to open up tunnels under Steam Mills Road and the A4136, and what would have happened to the wildlife Andrew talks of, the tons of toxic waste that have been dumped and, when he built his vast park and ride, would the cars have been swilled away by the vast underground lagoon he told us of?

No the hypocritical behaviour refers to when the then County Councillor Andrew Gardiner wrote a letter to Mr Neville Nelder, head of transport services at Gloucestershire County Council, and Forest MP Diana Organ in March 1998 requesting the following, and I quote: "That this small but vital piece of road will greatly improve access into the Forest Vale industrial estate as well as easing the congestion and improving the safety of this area."

I must say very fine words from Cllr Gardiner.

Unlike Cllr Gardiner, who described me as a liar, I would never dream of throwing out such an accusation, yet I must admit since our so-called Forest Champion did his complete about turn to oppose the Northern Quarter, he has not only used every trick in the book but a very selective memory of past events to try and destroy this project.

When he says that myself and Cllr Tim Holder do not have an inkling about what is really happing I say this: we know that if we are stupid enough to throw this offer away we will never get another chance like it for Forest people.

The irony is that like me Cllr Gardiner is past his working life and retired. If this Northern Quarter scheme does not come to fruition it will make no difference to the likes of us yet it will to younger Foresters.

I wonder how many of these young Foresters will have to carry on queuing in traffic at Highnam roundabout every morning, how many will actually stay living in the Forest, if they do not move from their beloved Forest because of the fuel it costs them every day: the very fuel they burn will increase climate change and destroy their Forest anyway, and Cllr Gardiner accuses us of not having a inkling about what is going on.

Perhaps we should have a public inquiry into these facts.

– Cllr Graham Morgan (Lab), Forest of Dean District Council, Cinderford West.