HOW refreshing to read the positive proposals from Graham Morgan regarding Cinderford rather than the doom and gloom of Ivor Ellis' rants.

At best, his biased opinions are misleading but all too often a downright fabrication of the facts – the proposed area for development is actually only seven hectares – not the several hundred acres mentioned by Mr Ellis!

Folk should be well aware this is not a large area of prime woodland but a former opencast site of such poor quality that the Forestry Commission were only able to find one species of tree to grow there and that came from Australia.

No-one wants to see the Forest's beauty spots desecrated but realistically this site is basically similar to an old overgrown mining tip.

These commendable, ambitious plans incorporating a new college should be welcomed and applauded. The youth of the Forest deserve the opportunity for the best possible education in a top, modern-day facility situated in their own district.

What a fitting memorial to the Forest's mining heritage a new college would be, benefiting hundreds of future students.

The selfish opinions of an unelected vociferous minority  should make no difference to this sensible and sensitive development project which would have huge benefits for the whole community.

– (Name and address supplied), Frank Forest.