I have seen in recent correspondence in Letters To The Editor complaints that the planning process at Forest Of Dean District Council is somehow illegal.

I would point out that under current planning legislation a local planning authority can delegate powers to its planning committee to decide the outcome of planning applications. So there is no illegality in

the planning decisions reached as long as the relative powers have been correctly delegated.

On a separate matter relating to planning, it is disappointing, although not unexpected that the  developer of the Allaston housing scheme is appealing against the Secretary Of State’s decision.

Clearly the residents of Lydney do not want this scheme to go ahead and the developer should bear this in mind if he has any conscience rather than a profit-at-all costs motive.

– David Fleming, Mitchel­dean.