YOUR editorial titled 'Is parking the issue?' (Forest Today website, April 2) while referring to a telephone survey of 500 'representative Forest residents and an internet questionnaire' provides no comment on the validity of the survey methodology, analysis, and conclusions.

Were the survey and questionnaire formats, sample size, selection criteria, and responses/ analysis verified against commonly understood statistical principles?

Given the quality of past council surveys – for example the decision to go from committee to Cabinet administration some years ago on the basis of 700 or 800 responses out of 35,000 or more households in the Forest of Dean, lacking in checks on identity or repeat responses, the present exercise has little value. To be believed surveys have to be set up, conducted, and analysed by independent organisations proficient in such matters.

– Venk Shenoi, Blaisdon.