I refer to Mr Parry-Hearn's letter in your columns of November 20. Steve Parry-Hearn has come very late to the issue of the dangerous crossing at Lydney railway station and given this I'm afraid his intervention reeks of political opportunism without showing any actual interest in action.

This being said, I am glad that he has recognised the importance of safety at Lydney, and so am sure he will happily support and get behind our own local campaigner and MP, Mark Harper, in all his efforts to get this matter resolved.

Mark has been leading engagement with Network Rail and other local stakeholders on this issue for some time.

We have had a number of meetings to come up with a solution to this issue and his assistance making Network Rail come and sit down with Lydney Town Council, Forest of Dean District Council (who I represent at these meetings) and the county council to discuss these matters has been invaluable.

We hope that we are close to finding a solution. Mark Harper wrote to the chief executive of Network Rail two weeks ago drawing to his personal attention the safety concerns raised by the local community and to ensure that he gives this issue serious and immediate attention.

We are also working to make long-term improvements to the station that will improve the facilities at the station for commuters, benefitting both Lydney and the wider surrounding area.

Again, I hope this is an area where Mr Parry-Hearn will get behind Mark and all those who've been working on this for some time in the best interests of the local community.

– Cllr Martin Quaile, Forest of Dean District Council Cabinet Member for the Environment.