I?READ with a great deal of interest of developments within the Forest of Dean.

Decisions made by the district councillors and planning leave everything to be desired. Firstly the shambles at Lydney at the old golf links housing. I personally call it pocket lining.

Is it so difficult to have employment conditions in place before bringing people in from Bristol, Birmingham and goodness knows where?

First should come employment, doctors, dentists, education and infrastructure.

Despite public warnings the roundabout on Lydney bypass has been the scene of constant accidents, 90 per cent which have not been reported. The County Highways, in my opinion, one could use the old saying 'there's none so blind as those who do not wish to see'.

I know of three young men who have been looking for work for two years or more so I would consider their needs, with hundreds of others in the Forest, should be first when any new employment is available before allowing anymore unemployed into these new houses, be it in Lydney or Angelfield in Coleford.

I believe the daddy of them all is the move of Two Rivers Housing to Newent – yet another piece of greenfield put to the sword. We could ask where the money is coming from especially as Two Rivers is supposed to be non profit making. I wonder how many will lose their jobs with this movement from Mitcheldean to Newent.

Since the closure of Xerox and the opening of Vantage Point Business Village headed by Brian Bennett and his enterprise, many people have had employment.

I would like to thank Ron Evans of St. Briavels for his letter headed 'kick 'em out', regarding the car parking issue. Again, I think it's 'there's none so blind as those who do not wish to see'. Specsavers could make a fortune at Forest of Dean District Council offices.

– Mike Meredith-Edwards, Sling.