THE Robert Hitchins Ltd Highfield Road Development Inquiry was held at Lydney Town Hall (Tuesday-Friday last week) and not completed.

First of all, I would like to give my most grateful thanks to the few members of the local public who turned up at the inquiry and to those few who gave very valuable testimony to the inspector.

Having said that, I cannot hide my extreme disappointment at the gross and unforgiveable lack of interest and involvement of the rest of the 18,000 population in the Lydney catchment area. We live in a lovely area called the Forest of Dean and anyone who has any concerns for keeping it as such should have been there or made sure that their views were represented.

I say to all those who moan and groan, to all those who could have been there for a few hours each day, to all those who had valuable information but failed to use it – 'a plague on all your houses.'

Excuse the dramatics, blame Shakespeare, but I was expecting at least a token community resistance group to be there, organised and forearmed with valuable information, evidence and insight. I have heard much bleating about – not being informed – working people can't be there – no point anyway as it's all a done deal – etc, etc, etc, blah-di-dah – but there is little real excuse for such apathetic behaviour.

I myself was late to the fray having been concerned with some local Coleford issues, but, with a few hours work, I made a stab at a statement with the bit of evidence which I could find. I am just sad to think what better job could have been done by a dedicated local group, with better information and collectively a great deal more time.

In reality, this was not a done deal and everyone who had concerns could have been involved, without question, viz:

•To those who have heard something is happening, but not when, ring the council and find out (Cllr Preest take note) – only a select few get notified – it is part of our undemocratic pro­cess.

•For pity's sake write a letter with your views, contact the council planning to find the reference number of the application or inquiry. Generally that will put you on the contact list to be kept informed for that application.

•If you don't know what the rules are – ask – ask the council, ask anyone who has dealt with opposing applications and inquiries before (the council's website is a good place to start).

•Those who want to ensure most people know, pester the Town Council to have public meetings (out of working hours of course).

•Keep as much of the population informed as possible by letters to the local press.

•Those who have an hour or two to spare each week (rather than watching X-Factor on TV), organise a local community group, pool ideas.

•Those who have strong views but are pretty busy working (do you work at weekends as well?) make sure that you contact and input into any action group.

•If you have any evidence or statistics then make sure that any local action group has it.

•Pester your local councillor to get involved on your behalf – that is what they are there for.

•Don't roll over – 'it is not over till the fat lady sings'(and even then you can stuff a sock in her mouth).

All you have to do is care for your environment!

Back to the inquiry. 'Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this Robert Hitchins' – or so they would have us believe. Robert Hitchins Ltd, purveyors of building land, wanted to do a highway robbery job on Lydney and the Forest of Dean. This inquiry, for those out of touch, was an argument over S106 monies (contributions towards the local services and infrastructure) and the affordable housing percentage (the Council's general target is 40 per cent average, RHL was only offering a maximum of 13 per cent). These are the only aspect on which our district council did not agree in the Robert Hitchins' application. And, irrespective of any other concerns, we should still have been there to support the council in its efforts to get the best deal for the Lydney area.

What about all the flooding problems, I hear cries from the multitude? Well, at an inquiry, any pertinent planning issue can be raised by the public (hopefully with evidence), whether the two parties have agreed it or not, whether they like it or not. On this issue, for example, the Environment Agency had advised the council that there was no flooding to be concerned about and were happy with the outlined drainage scheme.

It would still have been open to the public to construct a case to ensure that flooding in the area would not be made worse and so allay many fears for the future – so did Lakeside Avenue turn out in force? – Unfortunately not. Infrastructure concerns, site design, environment and even the District Local Plan could all have been raised providing there was the will. In this case, Lydney did not have the will.

This development of 750 houses, which together with other developments will swell Lydney's centre by more than 1,400 dwellings, is the largest which Lydney and the Forest of Dean has ever seen, and will ever see. Most of the 2,500 job hunters will be swelling the congestion on the A48 – but who cares, who gives a toss! It deserved a little more than six or seven people turning up to object. Yes, I know there were a few others who wrote in at the application stage and I thank them for that. But I weep to think of the impact that could easily have been made, the strong warning that 'you ignore us at your peril,' if 200 to 300 members of the public had swamped the Town Hall, or if a petition of 2 to 3,000 signatures had been handed in. Ah well, I'll just have to carry on dreaming.

Anyway, because of the four days of pedantic, turgid and dire arguing which transpired, the inquiry ran out of time. Perhaps it was the 20 minutes or so of public interruption which did it, but there is now a final day on Thursday, May 21 at 12.00 start, to discuss conditions (very important) and hear winding up speeches. For those who want a trek over the field, there is also a site visit arranged for Wednesday, May 20 at 4pm – meet at the lay-by opposite the garage in Highfields Road (note: representations cannot be put at a site visit). – Walt Williams, Coleford.