CIRCA December 2010, I was approached separately by three people connected with Lydney Town?Council all with similar concerns. As the district councillor for Lydney North I began to ask questions in order to address the concerns.

Even though the finite actualities of what went on from 2005-2010 remain shrouded in the mists of time, aided and abetted, rightly or wrongly, by the Data Protection Act, the Public interest Report recently issued on behalf of the Audit Commission does give some valuable information particularly for those capable of reading between the lines.

Notwithstanding the above, I was generally pleased with how the matter was dealt with at the Public Meeting held Friday last in the Town Hall – ongoing Standards issues precluded me from speaking at the meeting.

I do believe that under the Mayor Cllr Bill?Osbourne, Chairman of Finance Cllr Brian Pearman, and the obvious competent professionalism of Jayne Smailes, Town Clerk, Lydney Town Council can correctly proceed.

It must be left for people to form their own conclusion as to why Lydney Town Council were not "open and transparent" regarding the financial implications of the matter 12 months ago, a decision that has further cost the town a substantial amount of money.

Finally I would like to thank those that have helped and advised me over this issue.

– Alan Preest, Bream.