FIRSTLY, there is an application with the council to build 156 houses at Owen's Farm, Coleford. This site is in the old District Plan and Core Strategy but only for 140 houses and as Coleford's allocation for 650 houses is virtually complete it is a mystery why an increase is being allowed.

This site is in an iron mining gale and has never been investigated as the council always leaves this to be done by the developer.

As with the Angel?Farm Development (now Angel?Vale) there are other issues such as drainage, local flooding, no jobs in the area, deficiencies in local services such as GP surgeries oversubscribed.

I urge all concerned residents to have their say by writing to the planning department quoting the reference number P1251/12/FUL as this may come to the planning committee next month.

Secondly, there is a masive solar energy farm in the planning for the outskirts of Coleford, over three fields adjacent to the B4228 and Pingry Lane, and therefore close to Puzzlewood.

While this is a better prospect than any wind turbines in the area there still have to be questions asked.

What impact will it make on the area, and even why Coleford, as there are many more suitable places, more solar efficient, than this one.

The answer lies in that there are local entrepreneurs who want to make a profit from the payments from the energy companies which we pay for through our bills. Contact the planning department for details.

Finally, the Tesco application has gone to appeal and there will be a hearing at the council offices in due course, at which all interested parties will be able to attend and give their views.

Again, contact the council for details, or contact me if anyone requires advice on the above, on 839339 and I will try to help.

– Walt Williams, The Links,?Coleford.