IT seems that, under the Coalition Government, we will have to get used to a new language. Here are some new definitions that I hope will be helpful:

Public body, dedicated to protecting English forests = Big Government, run from London.

Group of local individuals led by wealthy Conservative activists who fancy owning the Forest of Dean = Forest-based charitable trust.

Library closures = Opportunity for volunteers.

Running public services on the cheap = Big Society.

Privatisation of the Forest = Exciting opportunity for community ownership.

I expect there will be a few more coming along soon, such as:

Forest fences and enclosures = Essential protection of our natural resources and exciting new leisure pursuits.

Public access to the Forest closed = Protecting the interests of the Forest-based charitable trust and its generous investors.

Strip-mining the Forest = Securing valuable coal reserves for our essential energy needs.

I suspect readers could come up with a few more!

– Nigel Costley, South West TUC?Regional Secretary, Flaxley.