CONGRATULATIONS to Richard Daniels on being elected as one of our new Verderers for the Forest of Dean.

It was good to take part in this ancient process but it was  marred for me by the fact that not all electors in the Forest of Dean could vote. Freeholders from all over Gloucestershire could vote but many Forest of Dean residents could not.

I believe this discriminates unfairly against young and old as well as women.

Lots of elderly Foresters now live in sheltered accommodation but still enjoy participating in events such as this.

Young people are now finding home ownership beyond their reach and they too should be encouraged to engage in the life of their community.

Women are more likely to be in the categories excluded from voting.

Rules made many centuries ago, applied mainly to wealthy males, are no longer relevant in the 21st century.

I suspect they also breach current equality legislation. 

We have a perfectly good electoral register which could be used as the criteria for the election.

I hope the Verderers and the High Sheriff review these rules before we have another such election.

– Kathleen Costley, Littledean.