IT is most unfortunate that Patrick Molyneux, leader of the district council, chooses to make such silly public statements in the media about the Northern Quarter. He tries to give the impression his cabinet has planning permissions in place, which allows privatisation proposals of public woodlands, waste and heritage buildings. This is simply not the case.

Yes, they and the Homes and Community Agency have been scheming away recently and fencing off a thoroughfare through the Miner's Memorial Woodland. This challenges the very fabric of society concerning common decency and respect for forest communities.

The county and district councils along with the Homes and Community Agency, also chooses to squander taxpayers' mon­ey on these proposals, which effectively pre-empts planning procedures.

The Rev Nick Bromfield has been in correspondence with the Bishops of Gloucester, Guildford and Liverpool concerning this disrespectful business, the latter named Bishop having been the chairman of the Independent Panel which visited the Forest in 2011.

The Forestry guaranteed this thoroughfare access essentially running east-west through the little wildlife Memorial Wood to the afforested mound and memorial. This dedicated track was marked by white posts and large stone blocks, laid to delineate the route, with supporting contributions by the late chairman of council councillor, George Read. Parallel to the miner's track are remains of an ancient tramway and wider stone-lined medieval road. To the south of the Memorial there are still the remains of an archway and tunnel which allowed access for the public to cross the site.

– Andrew Gardiner, Ruardean.