REGARDING the closure of the Lydney One Stop shop and the complaints of lack of consultation with the local populace: This would appear to be a case of crying over spilt milk as the decision has been taken with the objective of holding down our council tax.
A similar situation of closure of the One Stop shop exists in Newent, but there the local populace have taken this as an opportunity to provide alternative ways of resolving problems as taking a bus ride to Coleford is not an option. Once a week, the local village agents will man (or woman) the 'Chill Out' Zone to listen to and find answers to problems. Equally the question of tourist information is being addressed locally to find the best solution for the area.
Should not the people of Lydney be more prepared to help themselves and save on council tax costs rather than complain about the mythical 'they' who are having to cut their coat to fit the cloth ? In the coming few years things can only get worse in financial terms and self help will be a must. – A.D. Elkington, chairman, Forest Seniors Network.