ON THE day that Mark Harper announced that Mabey was to create 140 new jobs in the "Green Economy" it was reported that government targets for reducing carbon emissions will cost every household £500 per year.

According to District Council figures there are currently about 50,000 households in the Forest of Dean which means the annual cost to the local economy is £25million per year. To offset this the increase in jobs at Mabey will generate a maximum of £3.5million per year on the assumptions that all the jobs will go to residents of the Forest of Dean and the average wage will be £25,000 per year.

With the Forest of Dean losing a minimum of £21.5million per year perhaps Mark Harper could explain how this is protecting our economy.

His confidence in the Green Economy seems to be as misplaced as his efforts to privatise the Forest of Dean.

– Colin Guyton, UKIP Secretary, Forest of Dean Branch, Park Farm, Ruardean.