With reference to my recent visit to the local council offices with regards to the proposed Cinderford Regeneration plans, l would like to say a big 'thank-you' to all concerned who helped me with information and answered all questions put to them by myself and my wife.

The plans as they stand at the moment seem well thought out and the displays and information boards were full of detail. l personally feel that this development would be a great asset to Cinderford and the surrounding areas.

The new college will be, I'm sure, welcomed by the upcoming students, and the prospect of having a new hotel with all its facilities must surely be advantageous to the area. This is said with no disrespect to the already existing hotels. As far as trying to introduce new industry and business office space to the area, this can only be good for creating new jobs.

The taking down of old buildings and displacing wildlife is always going to be an issue where there is proposed new building development. I do realise that wildlife is important to keep our planet on an even evolutional balance. But please can we get our priorities right – animals can be re-housed and they do adapt to their new surroundings quite well. For example, just look at the Cotswold Water park near Cirencester – wildlife and people exist quite happily there together. None of us like to think that we are going to lose 'green spaces'.

I for one would like to see more empty shops and commercial 'Brown sites' within the Cinderford area being reused but l realise it is not always possible.

Just look back to the time when there was no industrial estate at the bottom of Cinderford . This is now a thriving business park. At the time when this was being built there was not a lot of up-roar about the wildlife being disrupted. So would people who do not reside within this area not make comments about this proposed project when it does not affect them personally.

Please, please can we now look forward and not back. Cinderford and the surrounding areas need to be supported on this issue. Let's do some good for the local people instead of always being seen to ' harp back to the good old days'. Your local council is trying to look after your future and that of your children so please back them with this project.

– John Underhill (retired businessman).