So here we go again, Lydney Police Station is to close... oops! Sorry Chief Constable, I have been informed it's not closing its just that "the public won't be able to access it".

Is that any different to closing it? To me it amounts to the same thing.

£1.5 million of tax payers' money was spent on the purchase and refurbishment of this police station. What a waste of our hard earned money.

Once again the Forest of Dean is going to suffer the police cuts and the Cotswolds are to reap the benefit. Does the Chief Constable think we have no crime in the Forest? Is that why our experienced officers are moved from the Forest and deployed in Gloucester (operation "Churn"). If you think that, Mr Brain, then you had better spend some time down here and witness the crime and vandalism for yourself. Try driving through Lydney when the nightclubs turn out and dodge the drunks in the street and being sick in traders doorways for them to clean up on Monday morning.

Chief Constable, surely there are savings to be made without taking this drastic action to our Forest Police stations? Correct me if I am wrong, but did the force purchase two off road motorbikes to try to address the problems of youths riding motorcycles on forest tracks, and pay to train officers to ride them with the help of funding from local councils? Were these machines ever used or were they locked away in a garage in Quedgley and eventually sold with very little mileage on the clock? Surely this is the kind of saving that can be made.

We know that your request for a six per cent rise in the precept was turned down and you only got 2.5 per cent, but these are hard times Mr Brain, and all businesses, councils and individuals have to make savings, but why is it always the Forest of Dean that has to bear the brunt?

The Forest of Dean taxpayers deserve better than this. Please look at this decision again . The people of Lydney fought hard when you were going to close the Hill Street station. Let's hope the same will happen this time. – Terry Glastonbury, councillor (Cons) for Alvington, Aylburton and Lydney West.