THERE is an important public consultation taking place (closing date for your comments is 3pm September 30) on the Forest of Dean District Council's 'Biodiversity Strategy Technical Guidance' for the development of the Cinderford Northern Quarter.

This site has been identified by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and local naturalists as one of the most bio-diverse and important Key Wildlife Sites in Gloucestershire. The many plants support 1,300 species of wildlife including rare butterflies, damsel and dragonflies, birds, amphibians and reptiles and mammals including dormouse and bats: many are protected. 

The current development plans require the Forestry Commission to sell land which the HOOF Campaign fought so hard to keep in public ownership as well as needing some 25 per cent of the Cinderford Linear Park which was created with  government funds for wildlife and for public recreational enjoyment.

We strongly support development for employment in Cinderford and to revitalise the town and its current industrial area rather than spreading to this special site which can only draw further resources away from the current town centre.

The Biodiversity Strategy Technical Guidance purports to "provide general advice to developers and guidance on how to protect individual species and habitat". We feel this important interdependent ecosystem is too valuable to be destroyed as planned. It cannot be successfully reproduced by means of mitigation and should have never come forward for development.

– David Priddis, Simon Glover, David Dewsbury, on behalf of the local bat, butterfly and amphibian species.