FURTHER to my comments to The Forester in the article on Northern United Colliery on January 26, I wish to let our supporters know that previously I had written to councillors Morgan and Molyneux for their forthcoming regeneration meeting stating that £2,000 had been awarded to Woodside School to enable them to do a project on Northern Colliery, with their recommendations for the future of the site and buildings.

To give the scholars a short history of the pit Averil Kear and myself, author of 'The Last Deep Mine of Dean,' spent time with the scholars to enlighten them of the pit's history with visual aids and answering their many questions. The project ran for several weeks.

Surely these future adults are entitled to have a hearing and taken notice of? They have never had the politeness to reply which I do not take lightly, from the group or from Erick Pickles, Minister for Homes and Communities, with my concerns over the site's mining heritage for future generations.

All these quangos are interested in is money, money, money. The Forest coalfield is one of the oldest in the country. Is not its history worth saving for generations to come?

I lost three members of my family in the pits and have witnessed many miners killed in Northern coming up the shaft. What a terrible feeling their comrades had, listening to the knocker striking 11, we all knew what had happened.

Surely this is part of the Forest heritage for future generations?

Outsiders know nothing of the hardships that miners and their families had to endure. That is why the Northern site should be saved.

– Maurice V Bent, author and historian.